Menace to Society Ii ; Not Being Up and Up On the 'Down Low'

Summary

---

When I wrote last week about risky sexual behaviors and HIV/ AIDS, I suspected there would be name-calling and lots of finger- pointing. You did not disappoint. What struck me about your reactions was that few were from women, while the majority of letter- writers blamed women and the "black community."

For those who did not read my April 23 column, "Menace to society," a cautionary recap: "It is called the 'down low' and, generally, here is how it works. A man wants to have sexual relations with another man. So, on such occasions, the two wink at each other in the supermarket, during worship services or, say, at spaghetti night at their children's school, and then decide to 'hook up.' Afterward, they go back to whatever lifestyle and relationships they were engaged in. For some, that lifestyle is utterly homosexual. For too many, that lifestyle is bisexual. Either way, HIV/AIDS remains a menace to our society."

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Menace to Society Ii ; Not Being Up and Up On the 'Down Low'

I also cited alarming HIV/AIDS statistics, such as the fact that an estimated 5,500 women are newly infected each day. I concluded by calling for everyone's undivided attention ...

See the full content of this document

---