Dear Editor,

At a recent conference Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson again called for a revision or repeal of the buggery law in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, I wonder if Dr Ferguson’s call was based on local conditions or the international drive to legalise homosexuality in all countries. What Dr Ferguson and others have failed to realise is that legalising the act, or as some call it – tolerance – does not reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS in the homosexual community.

In the much-admired United States, a recent CDC report stated that young people, aged 13 to 24, account for 26 per cent of all new HIV infections with 1000 new infections every month.

In 2010, 72 per cent of the estimated 12,000 new HIV infections in young people occurred in young men who have sex with men, and nearly half of new infections were among young black males. Reasons cited for the higher rates of infection among young gay and bisexual men of all races was a higher rate of risky behaviours compared with their heterosexual peers.

In 2010, 72 per cent of the estimated 12,000 new HIV infections in young people occurred in young men who have sex with men, and nearly half of new infections were among young black males. Reasons cited for the higher rates of infection among young gay and bisexual men of all races was a higher rate of risky behaviours compared with their heterosexual peers.

According to the report, a large analysis of risk behaviours, among those tested who were of high school age, revealed that gay and bisexual males are much more likely to have multiple sex partners, to inject illegal drugs and to use alcohol or drugs before sex. They are much less likely to use condoms.

These factors are common throughout the gay community in every country if one were to check all reports on MSM. Of interest is that the HIV rate, generally among young people, has remained stable over the years while it seems to be increasing in the gay and bisexual community. It is a known fact that most gay or bisexual men tend to have multiple partners as well as having aggressive sexual tendencies. Legalising buggery will not reduce this type of behaviour in the gay community. The hard cold facts are that ignorance, complacency, promiscuity and a lack of condom use are the main reasons why the MSM community contracts HIV at higher rates.

So while privately there may be behind-the-scenes (no pun intended) discussions to address or repeal the buggery law in relation to homosexual acts, repealing of the law will not do anything to reduce the spread of HIV. One can possibly even envision a scenario where, if the law is repealed and the act becomes lawful in Jamaica, you could see a further increase in complacency and risky behaviour, as more and more people explore the practice with unabated freedom. This, of course, leads to a spread in HIV /AIDS, rather than a stabilisation or reduction in the population as is desired.

Donna Scott

Florida, USA