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INFECTIOUS DISEASE

A New ‘Gay Disease’?

A drug-resistant strain of staph is infecting some gay men, but experts say a lot of the media coverage got it wrong.

By Karen Springen | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 18, 2008 | Updated: 6:30  p.m. ET Jan 18, 2008

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  • Posted By: Erisian23 @ 06/03/2008 9:47:06 PM

    Comment: We are all sinners; we will all reap disease, hatred, and death. Just because your preferred ways of sinning don't involve homosexuality doesn't mean you ought to feel entitled to get this self-righteous, lording yourself over others. You will also be relying entirely on mercy and forgiveness when your end comes, so let's all pray that the "You reap what you sow" mantra won't be applied to us the same way you've applied it to your fellow man or else we're all in for a long, painful, terrifying eternity.

  • Posted By: Onelastchance @ 05/13/2008 3:57:14 PM

    Comment: You reap what you sow. If homosexuals continue to sow the seed of sin they will reap disease, hatred, and death.

  • Posted By: Onelastchance @ 05/13/2008 3:52:03 PM

    Comment: You Reap what you sow. If homosexuals continue to sow the seeds of their sins they will reap the consequences of disease, hatred, and eventually death.....both physically and spiritually.

  • Posted By: ScottSummers @ 02/22/2008 10:55:29 AM

    Comment: I got one of these infections on my calf 2 years ago from my gym (I am a straight man who doesn't cheat on his wife). I thought it was just a bug bite until it my entire calf started swelling. Lancing seemed to help ease the swelling. The doctors were totally freaked out. I agree with your assessment that sexual orientation is such a silly thing to fixate on. Please leave gay people alone and for goodness sake stop vilianizing them!

  • Posted By: justjuniper @ 02/19/2008 4:11:16 PM

    Comment: 1) DON'T JUDGE - you have no right. I'm a straight woman strong in my own faith. I also have a clear understadning that the foundational premise of what we call christianity is love, grace, and acceptance - not judgement. Not your place nor mine.

    2) WHAT THE HELL IS NORMAL?? Normal is whatever you do with your partner. Whatever someone does with theirs is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

    3) JOURNALISM? These headlines and reporting could only be considered jopurnalism in 1940. What it has done instead is put an entire population at risk for not understanding the truth about this bacteria - it's already everywhere, has been for a long time, and truly does not care about the sexual orientation of its host - and brought scrutiny upon a VERY SMALL minority of people. I think you will find that comparing raw numbers vs. percentages per capita, more heterosexual adults and children will be carriers - so where did this really come from?

    • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 02/21/2008 15:50:05

      Comment: We can and should judge others whenever possible, it's the American way. Therefore, I judge that your comments about normal are absurd.

      Men and women were made with body parts that "fit" and are used for reproduction. Men were not made to fit with men and women were not made to fit with women. So, it is not normal to force things together that were not made for each other. You can hammer a screw into a wall, but that doesn't mean the screw was made to be hammered.

  • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 01/31/2008 4:28:25 PM

    Comment: Why do gays have so much disease and infections?

  • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 01/31/2008 4:19:23 PM

    Comment: Way to go gays, thanks a lot for all your disease.

  • Posted By: critical_issues101 @ 01/31/2008 1:07:22 PM

    Comment: I am a happy gay man. I do not see why everyone is trying to blame this viruse or disease on the "gay" community. It makes me mad that they are trying to blame it on us. Please help me to try and understand this better!

  • Posted By: winchester29 @ 01/29/2008 5:14:50 PM

    Comment: please don't try to bring your homophobia here, because it is really quite offensive. To answer your question, observer101, homosexuals tend to hide themselves because of people like you, pushing their insecurities and hatred toward people who don't deserve it. It IS a natural occurrence, and if people like you just learned to DEAL with it, then they wouldn't have to hide away and feel dirty and ashamed because of what YOU think.

    • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 01/31/2008 16:31:42

      Comment: You should feel dirty and ashamed. Being gay is not natural. I hate having to explain your disgusting habits to my kids.

  • Posted By: cosso89 @ 01/26/2008 12:51:11 AM

    Comment: lol wow we seem to be taking over the world us gays!!!! we just know how to reinvent ourselves and set trends!!! can't wait for another new gay disease cause USA 300 is so January 2008. Why are people so stupid and blame gays for every disease??? i would not be surprised if those stupid american scientist created this disease because they cant come to terms with their sexuality!!! look at hitler he was a jew and he hated his own kind...and my advice to fellow gay guys STOP SCREWING AROUND WITH EVERY BUFF AND HOT GUY WITH NO PERSONALITY AND THEN REGRET IT WHEN THE TEST COMES OUT POSITIVE!!!!!

  • Posted By: cinderella @ 01/24/2008 2:28:29 PM

    Comment: Ms. Springer , What was the old "Gay Disease?" What is a "Gay Disease?" Can the Flu be a"Gay Disease?"
    Yellow journalism is not a Gay issue. Please try to have some savvy and a little less sensationalism. We've all been through this crap about naming an illness to target Gay people. Your talents may be best suited for a tabloid newspaper.Cinderella

  • Posted By: tomiluka @ 01/23/2008 4:43:27 PM

    Comment: @trasher32: Sorry, this thing wouldn't put the whole thing in one post.
    part 1
    What I said originally is that it's in congruent to say that you support gay rights and then proceed to say something like 'get your garbage out of my face'. One of the rights you claim to defend is the right to be respected and I don't think the choice of words in your original post quite does it.

    And still you have failed to come up with evidence to support your argument. You label homosexuality as a genetic error. You should realize a genetic error can not be 'wrong/morally reprehensible' since there was no volition involved. (That was the intention of my original race comment, not to label you as racist) Unnatural? How? As long as there are humans there have been and there will be homosexuals, men and women who are attracted to people of their own gender. It's part of human nature. Not to mention animals do it, too.

    • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/24/2008 16:42:53

      Comment: What the hell is the deal with "animals do it too?"...Animals also eat there young and kill others young...Do you want to do that too?....Thats foolish to keep bringing the animal theory into this as a point. If anyone sees two male animals trying to mate the response is alarm, then separate the animals , then laugh. Its still NOT normal behavior. And usually if a animal is trying to mate there is probably a female somewhere in heat they cant get to so they go at it with the next best thing. Id venture to say they are not GAY and want to be with the male as a full time partner, its a need they think they have to fulfill at the time . As for humans, they know better, they know its wrong, and yet they CHOOSE to be disgusting and do that. P.S. If its so right to be gay then why do most gays stay in hiding? Maybe because they know its wrong? Things that make you go HHHMMMMM

    • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/23/2008 22:47:48

      Comment: Paragraph one: What I meant by "keep your garbage out of my face" is simply this: live your lives without trying so hard to convince the rest of us that being gay is normal. I don't want to see gay pride parades, I don't want to see LOGO television, I don't want to read about or watch homosexual acts in a movie or on television. Be gay and I accept that, but I don't want to hear all the propoganda.

      Paragraph 2: What evidence? Evidence that society sees being gay as abnormal?? The evidence is all around you in society's attitude towardss gays, you went on and on about how hard it is to be gay, isn't that the only evidence we need that society does not see gays as normal?? . I never said anyone was wrong because they're gay, if we're going along with the whole "genetic error" theory here, we can't blame people for their genetic makeup can we? Here's what it boils down to: gay sex. People are repulsed by gay sex, period. Human nature or not, it's not normal activity and people are repulsed by it.

  • Posted By: tomiluka @ 01/23/2008 4:41:20 PM

    Comment: part 2

    From that perspective, homosexuality is as abnormal and unnatural as masturbation or oral sex so I guess we live in a pretty 'wrong,unnatural' country. It is not wrong the fact men or women fall in love with each other doesn't cause a damage to society. How is that garbage? And as far as most people in the US finding it repulsive forever, well, I don't know where you got those stats, but either way I know there's a lot of food that's very unpopular yet good for you. It's a social convention doesn't hold up to space and time unless your morality is so relative you find it wrong to be gay here in the US (cause most people find it repulsive) but not in Netherlands or Sweden. So how is homosexuality 'an aberration'?

    I say you should try to construct your arguments better because saying "IT'S NOT NORMAL TO BE GAY. HELLO!! " just doesn't cut it.

    If you're really concerned about the amount of 'immorality' stemming from the gay world, then here's a way to help: try to be more thoughtful and empathic. I can't show you enough studies that show connection between addiction and social abuse. You can be more helpful than you think if you and at least try to be more respectful with your language, which you should admit you were not.

    • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/23/2008 22:57:21

      Comment: I guess I'm not seeing the link between gay sex and straight sex. Any sex between a man and a woman is going to be thought of as "normal", while any sex between to men (or two women) is going to be looked upon as abnormal. Man on woman sex is accepted by society, while man on man and woman on woman sex is not. That's the bottom line. You can argue and fight all you want. but that's what it really boils down to.

      Love is wonderful, but once again, it's coming down to the sex part. I don't doubt that there are gay people out there that really love each other. I support anyone's right to love and be loved, gay or not.

      And you know, I've written long posts here detailing my positions honestly, so please don't try and write me off as some illiterate one-liner.

      You know what else, I am on your side, defending your right to be gay, even though I disagree with the lifestyle. So maybe you should stop arguing with me about semantics and be happy that me and millions of others like me are willing to put aside our own feelings on the matter and support your rights as human beings and Americans. Like I said over and over again, I support people's right to be whatever they want or are.

  • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/23/2008 1:30:37 PM

    Comment: Sorry, this wouldn't all fit in one post...

    * As for your last paragraph, it's been my observation that every gay man that I have ever met personally has dealt with severe addiction and promiscuity problems. On the other hand, most of the lesbians that I know or have known do not seem to have the same issues. I have NEVER met a "Will-and'Grace" gay man, I'm sure they're out there, but all of the gay men I have ever met have held up the promiscuous druggie stereotype quite well, which does not do much for your movement. I'd be willing to say that if all gay men were single-partner, drug free, normal acting people, then there would be a lot more acceptance of gays by society in general.

    Finally, I do feel bad for gay people because of the way that they are treated in the world. I hope you can see that I really am for treating everyone with respect and dignity, that I get along fine with gays, both men and women, and that I believe that everyone alive has a right to exist and to be happy and productive. I understand what you're saying when you tell me it sucks having to deal with being gay and all the scorn and looking down upon that it entails. My sympathies are with you, and I support your rights to be whomever you want to be and to choose the lifestyle you want. I will always support basic human rights for everyone regardless of their orientation, gender, religion, or political affilliation.

    I'm not trying to bash gays or insult anyone, although I can see how my opinion would be offensive to gay people, and I'm sorry for that, but if you want honesty on the subject I have given it to you.

    • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/23/2008 13:45:01

      Comment: WOW that was short and blunt...Id have to though that I agree with what you said.

      • Posted By: tomiluka @ 01/23/2008 16:17:23

        Comment: I saysay you should try to construct your arguments better because saying "IT'S NOT NORMAL TO BE GAY. HELLO!! " just doesn't cut it.

        If you're really concerned about the amount of 'immorality' stemming from the gay world, then here's a way to help: try to be more thoughtful and empathic. I can't show you enough studies that show connection between addiction and social abuse. You can be more helpful than you think if you and at least try to be more respectful with your language, which you should admit you were not.

  • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/22/2008 10:35:45 PM

    Comment: Regarding Joes remark about animals... Im sure that dolphins, primates and birds are not going around wanting to be gay. They have different markings to differentiate themselves as male and female. It would be silly if you actually think that male animals have a choice to be with another male sexually. They may run in packs for protection, hunting and safety, but they dont stick around each other when its mating season they actually fight eachother for the right to mate. So maybe in some goofy assed fantasy world of yours they might be having gay parties and ENJOYING themselves on Broke Back Mountain somewhere but thats simply not the case. So try another view.

  • Posted By: joegeeusa @ 01/22/2008 12:45:18 PM

    Comment: Heh, where do you people come from? I'm glad that wherever you are it's not next to me (and I'm not talking about the gays posting in here.) Rabid idiocy is apparently more contagious than MRSA. To observer101, you know so much about homosexuality (the nature of teenage choices, etc.), you must have had a choice yourself. I admire your bravery in admitting your bisexuality in such a public forum.

    The last I knew only bisexuals had a choice.

    Thrasher, do you think any sane parent raises their kids to be gay?

    "While Johnny is growing up, I want him to look around at all the adults saying people like him should burn in hell and feel like killing himself. After all, a dead kid is better than a gay kid. If he survives his adolescence, I want him to face ignorance in his day to day life, tasteless jokes, discimination, idiots who think that orientation is only about sex, and churches slamming their doors in his face. That's how I want my kid to grow up."

    Guess again. Since straight people do the majority of the breeding (Geminate pointed that out to us), who do you think gay kids are born to? If it's a question of nurture over nature, how about we sterilize these unfit heterosexual parents and stone them in the town square (if we're going to be shipping the kids off to "camps" to fix them, we'd better look to the source of the "problem" too. Unfit parents raise unfit kids.)

    If it's a question of nature, then the animal species in which homosexuality occurs (all of the primate species, dolphins and whales, birds) are obsviously also flawed. What "evolutionary" benefit could possibly exist from having healthy, non-reproducing adults providing extra food and nurturing to the young of the group (since they have extra, not having any young of their own to raise)? Oh, wait.

    Back to the general hatred in here, guess what group of young people has the highest suicide rate in the country? Two words ... "gay teens" "Thank Jesus", as Fred Phelps would say. "One more dead *** is God's will." Even if it's your child? Or your niece? Or your nephew?

    Are you still so righteous?

    But I guess most of the critics in here know all this through their vast experience. Thanks for enlightening the rest of us. I can't wait to read the next wisdom that seeps from your fingertips. If it's as deep and probing (pun intended for those of you who are anal-obsesed) as what you've shared so far, no doubt Western civilization requires every syllable for its survival.

    Blech.

    Go watch Jerry Springer. I'm done in here. :)

    -Joe G.

    • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/22/2008 21:59:36

      Comment: Joe you are mistaken. I said I'd support your rights and tolerate your lifestyle. What I patently DID NOT say was that I had to condone, like, or promote the gay lifestyle. If I had it my way there wouldn't be any gays, but as you pointed out, homosexuality seems to be some type of genetic flaw, so I'm personally hoping that science will be able to correct this flaw in our species. In the meantime I will support your rights as a human being, your right to love and eb loved and to pursue the lifestyle you wish, but do NOT try to get me on the "it's OK to be gay" bandwagon, because IT'S NOT NORMAL TO BE GAY. HELLO!!

      And that's the bottom line, that it's NOT OK to be gay. It's NOT normal, it's an aberration and a genetic error. The public will always be repulsed by homosexuality, no matter how much you and your "gay community" try to self-reassure yourselves how normal your lifestyle is.

      So get over it and stop throwing all this garbage in our faces, just live your life and stay out of mine.

      Oh, and that was not very clever, trying to insult observer by calling him gay. That really sounds strange, like a black guy calling a white guy the N-word as an insult. Kind of blew (no pun intended lol) all of your credibility right up front, didn't ya?

      • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/22/2008 22:41:53

        Comment: Good points

        • Posted By: tomiluka @ 01/23/2008 12:47:09

          Comment: I'd like to point out a couple of things:

          * I detect a hint of hypocrisy in your comments. You say 'I'd support your rights and tolerate your lifestyle' but then go on to say 'If I had it my way there wouldn't be any gays.' It's like you don't want to be labeled intolerant or a bigot but then you go an talk like one. If you want to 'support gay people's rights' you have to respect the right of gay people to be here. Suggesting they shouldn't or their existence should be prevented is not respecting that right.

          * I'd like to know, from what point of view can you determine homosexuality is 'normal' or 'OK'? How is it a genetic 'error'? From a rational point of view, I think your paradigm is that every member of every species SHOULD be able or willing to breed (because, you know, evidently there's a shortage of humans in the world), otherwise incurring in some kind of anomaly, but I have to remind you that there's also barren humans, some of them by choice. Are these people not allowed to exist? Is a person defined by their reproductive mode or lack thereof? From a Biblical POV, well, you have to ask yourself if Jesus would be sitting there writing the words you wrote, bearing in mind he never said anything against homosexuals. However, in case this is your criteria to judge people's sexual behaviors, then kudos to you for respecting the scriptures, I'm sure you never masturbated (also an aberration) and saved yourself for marriage. From a mathematical point of view I guess you could say heterosexuality is the norm, but in the US so is being white, and I don't think you want to imply that people are wrong or deviated just because they don't adhere to the statistic norm, would ya? furthermore, homosexuality was long erased from the list of illnesses from the WHO, because it was long shown that being a homosexual doesn't compromise a person's ability to work, love, function in society in a productive way nor it means it is a threat to the collective welfare. In other words, it IS ok to be gay. There's nothing inherently wrong with being gay and if you have a way to prove otherwise please be kind to share.

          * I'd also like to point out that although a segment the gay community can be dealing with problems of promiscuity and addiction, it doesn't many every gay man is like that. It doesn't even mean that the individuals that deal with these issues should be discriminated or abhorred. No one should. I'm not here to make you love homosexuality. I don't care about that. I would just want you to start thinking twice when putting strong words like those out there, when speaking of 'repulsion' and 'aberrations', because I'm sure if you knew how much it sucks to be dealing with that since the moment you were put on this planet, you wouldn't do it. I'd like you to think of all the children that have to suffer years before they engage in any 'deviant behavior', when they refuse to plays sports or express preference for hanging out with girls, when they are cons

          • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/23/2008 13:38:43

            Comment: The rest of my post got posted at the top of the thread. Oops.

          • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/23/2008 13:30:04

            Comment: Well Tomiluka, you make some interesting points.

            * First off, I don't see the hypocrisy in supporting gay people's rights, while at the same time condemning the lifestyle. If we suppose for a moment that homosexuality IS a genetic error, then that would put it in the same class as mental retadation, autism, and birth defects. I would in no way try to impinge on any of these groups' rights, but I would support science actively searching for a fix in the genetic code that would no longer allow these errors to occur. Since we're not there yet, there will be more genetically handicapped people here with us, and we should do everything to make sure that they are treated fairly and not discriminated against because of their defects.

            * Your next diatribe was all about how we know whether or not homosexuality is "normal" or not. First, everyone has a right to exist. Once they're here they're here and we have to treat them with respect and be fair to them regardless of their condition. People that are born barren obviously had no control over their condition, and the ones that have their tubes tied, get a hysterectomy, their 'nads snipped, or whatever have made a personal choice. So yes, once you're here, you certainly have a right to live a happy life. I don't know why people keep quoting scripture, I have not used religion in my logic at all, this line of reasonong is completely agnostic. I don't see anything wrong with masturbation, it's a fact of life. I'm not trying to bible thump here. Religion has no bearing on my opinions. So when you get right down to it, my opinion on what's "wrong" with homosexuality is that it's just plain unnatural for two men or two women to perform sexual acts on each other, and yes the thought is repulsive to the vast majority of people. I love the way you try to bring others into the same group as homosexuals, implying that by thinking homosexuality is wroing automatically means I'm being prejudiced against everyone who's not white. Nice try, but I'm not biting (or buying) on that. I don't argue that homosexuals can be productive and useful to society, so can many handicapped people, and you all deserve to be treated fairly and live your lives happily. Finally, it's OK with YOU and other gay people to be gay, but I am sorry to burst your bubble when I say that the vast majority of this country does not think that it's OK to be gay, and that's what really matters, isn't it, that's what sets the bar as to what's ok and what's not, WHAT SOCIETY thinks, not me. To that end, I think the public has been very cllear about their views on homosexuality, most recently in the whole "gay marriage" debate, the vast majority (over 80% as I recall) strongly oppose it, implying that thet strongly feel that gay marriage is not valid and is immoral. Sorry if that sounds unenlightened or discriminating, but that's what the American people think, like it or not.

    • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/22/2008 20:20:33

      Comment: First off Im not or have I ever been gay or bi sexual..obviously that is the type of people you desire to have around you. Being hit on by a guy is not my idea of fun, and I wouldnt want to wish it on any straight man, but if thats your thing then more power to you...freak. And if my child decided he or she was gay I would definately want to know what the hell I did wrong for that child to be that way. After the shock I would still love and care for my child NOT his or her nasty partner. Thats just me. And if he or she killed themselves then I would still hate gay ppls nasty habits and attitudes. It would not change my opinions or feelings toward the fact that gay tendencies are WRONG. Self righteous or not, gays are NOT pleasant people, are not hygenic when practicing their vices, and are loud mouths who think ALLLLL would love to hear there nasty exploits. So whether or not you approve of my opinion is moot....All I said is facts, And I am absolutely sure you know it to be true.

  • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/21/2008 5:57:41 PM

    Comment: observer101, I'm not sharing the hostility that you have to gays, but then I really can't argue with anything you said either.

    One more point I'd like to make regarding gays and our tolerance of them: Don't expect us to teach our children that it's "Normal" to be gay or allow gay couples to adopt. 'Cause it ain't gonna happen.

  • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/21/2008 5:37:00 PM

    Comment: Gaydom isnt a disease...Its a nasty habit from ppl wanting attention and the shock value from there teenage years. Now its supposedly cool to be gay. Theres is money and "friends", and attention to be had in it nowadays. How ever one looks at it, its morally wrong. Men arent meant to have sex with one another to procreate. Nothing on this earth does that but humans. Most of the time its dudes that have been exploited in some way as a child, or didnt have what it took to get chicks, so they resorted to other loser dudes to have sex with. There is no medical excuses or genetics involved. Just nasty choices. I agree with others who say that most gays that have the " IM superior and deserve special treatment" gays are out of control. To all you gays out there STOP BEING LOSERS and pulling the Im special because im gay crap...No one is really impressed with it. If you want to be treated like reg ppl then act like a normal person. I dont hear hardly any hetros going around LOUDLY proclaiming there nightly sex life and exploits more than gays. And if some gay strain of staph is infecting gays , then great...Maybe you will stop having unprotected sex. P.s. It seems that more and more gays are suicidal and just dont care who they have sex with, what they catch, or what there infected with. POOR THEM :)

  • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/21/2008 5:11:27 PM

    Comment: "Stop categorizing behavior as "gay" or "straight" when it's simply "human."

    A man having anal sex with another man is "Gay" behavior, is it not? It's certainly not "straight" behavior because a woman and a man would have to be involved, and it's definitely not "Human" behavior because all humans can't do this (we'd all have to be male). Same with man-on-man oral sex.

    So, you want to be treated equally as humans, but you want us to forget about what is actually happening when the door closes, is that it? You're all the same as everyone else except you like to like to have sex with your own gender, is that it?

    I'm not denying "gay love" or that people are born gay or even that gays deserve the right to be treated equally under the law, I'm just trying to make the point that there is distinctly GAY behavior, and although all gays are Humans, all Humans are not gay, which is what your post seems to be implying.

  • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 01/21/2008 4:56:45 PM

    Comment: Hey BayAreaGuy, are you saying the rectum was designed for sex? I would strongly disagree that anal sex is prevalent in heterosexual couples. Well, maybe in the San Francisco area, but not the rest of the planet.

    I have no problems with gays, what I have a problem with is "miltant" gays who think that they are superior because they are gay. We seem to have a lot of those around here, you know the lesbians (and "momentary lesbians" - they're my favorite) and gay men that look and talk down to straights, like we're not "in the know" because we don't have sex with our own gender.

    I have no problem whatsoever living side-by-side with gays, on an equal basis, but to suppose for a second that you're better than straights is just self-reassuring bull.

  • Posted By: BayAreaGuy @ 01/21/2008 10:51:11 AM

    Comment: Hey "justwanttoknow"! That whole "anal sex is rough on the body" comment is ludicrous. Is there a STRAIGHT man out there who doesn't engage in anal sex? If there is, I haven't met him...and neither have any of my straight female friends. It's a myth that gay men engage in more anal sex than straight people do. Look at any porn flick (admittedly not a perfect representation, but art imitates life).

    The whole Crying Homophobia thing was to be expected in the 70s, btw. No one had ever heard of a disease striking only gay men, and plenty of people were calling it "God's wrath," so of course we cried foul.

    And regarding your comment that "gay people sewed the seeds of suicide," how do you think straight people have dealt with syphilis all these milennia? That's right...they ignored it, kept on having sex, and in your words "straight people sewed the seeds of suicide."

    Stop categorizing behavior as "gay" or "straight" when it's simply "human."

    • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/21/2008 18:41:15

      Comment: No KIDDING? so if one sees beastiality, or gang rape dvds then its ok to be that way? You are sick in the head if thats your philosophy. its not human its nasty. If I saw my child doing something they werent supposed to be doing then I would tell her no no. And she would LEARN its not ok. Its human to do the wrong thing and learn that its wrong. Its just plain nasty to do what you know is wrong, and enjoy it. Put it this way. If you feel guilty after the fact , as most if not all gays do feel, then its wrong. if you do enjoy the wrong thing and do it over and over then you would be a sereal screwup.

  • Posted By: justwanttoknow @ 01/21/2008 7:07:27 AM

    Comment: Practicing gay men were "13 times more likely" to get MRSA. It doesn't make it a gay disease, but it makes it a disease with a whopping good chance of devastating gays as well as affecting all segments of society because, unlike AIDS, can be transmitted on SURFACES. We are reaching the end of the antibiotic age because most people, gay or straight, have abused antibiotics. These facts do not constitute homophobia. When AIDS broke out in San Francisco in the 1980's, the reaction was the same....the cries of "homophopbia!" Meanwhile, the gay community did NOTHING...they left the gay bath houses open while an unwitting population sewed the seeds of suicide. It will affect everyone, but it will affect gays worse. Most straight people know at least someone in their family who is gay, and no, we don't have a death wish against anyone. But DENIAL is not a healthy thing. Anal sex is simply rough on the body and opens people up to more bacteria. As the gay community has flourished, so have sexually transmitted diseases and their potency and ability to mutate. It's very concerning for everyone, no matter what your sexual practices are. We would like to think we can go to the hospital for surgery and not come home with MRSA complications.

  • Posted By: frank rivera @ 01/21/2008 6:27:23 AM

    Comment: Living in the gay community in California, and being gay and OUT there, it is scary in a way. If staph infection spreads so easily than dancing next to someone who is sweating who may have it, than their is a cause to be alarmed. On the other hand this staph infection did start by senior citizens in hospitals and than spread through gay men in the hospitals taking care of themselves. This was a story that has its origins from awhile now. I did hook up once online with someone in San Diego, California who actually had, several years ago. I landed on this guys house and I saw his bruises and he told me they where staph infections, he had patches. I was so angry at him I actually didn't run out but I sat down and told him why was he having sex with me or other man if he had this infection that is actually worse than AIDS! You see AIDS you die from it, but at least you get to live several years, but with this staph is another way of saying I HAVE LEPROSY. You die fast and it is so ugly and serious to have it. After speaking to this guy I left home and was so afraid of life itself and my free life that since than I look at anyone I meet since than sexually. Being in the gay community is harder than living in straight community for sure. I truly believe that STAPH infection is caused by Tweekers who do not take their medicines and have sex 27/7. Tina is not a female friend and it is the cause of this risk free infections in the gay community. I never taken drugs in my life and I wont sleep with anyone who is doing it. I think that it is a serious disease if you confront it and see it, but cases are so small it is actually hard to meet someone who actually has it. Since than I did meet someone who had something going on on his *** and I was so scared I told him off and almost called the police.

  • Posted By: avigon @ 01/20/2008 10:34:00 PM

    Comment: Shame on you news week! Way to exploit homophobia with your stupid headline

  • Posted By: joegeeusa @ 01/20/2008 8:13:23 PM

    Comment: Wow. It's amazing how people will hide behind the mask of anonymity to say such unspeakable things. I see Fred Phelps' folks have found their way here, as has a certain arrogant Mensan I've confronted on this issue before. On the bright side it's exactly these kinds of Springer-esque "discussions" which, when brought before middle America, advance the cause of the very people who the bigots in here attempt to demonize.

    Attacking gays from the Bible is disingenious when so many moderate churches today preach the words of Christ, Matthew 7:1-5, interpret Leviticus as the history it is (with apologies to all of you practicing Levite Jews), and read the writings of Saint Paul with the same discretionary eye that allows modern theologists to look beyond now-unacceptable Biblical teachings regarding the conduct and punishment of women, children, and slaves.

    Confronting some "real" issues: let's protect the family from the (Republican and Democrat alike) government we've abdicated our rights to, protect marriage from the heterosexuals for whom divorce has become the equivalent of "relationship abortion", and take our churches back from zealots who would do to Christianity exactly what has been done by Wahhabi fundamentalists to Islam.

    When we've finished that, let's get government the Hell out of our wallets, our bedrooms, and our schools, and set about making this country great again by once again elevating intellectuals like Albert Einstein and Robert Goddard to the forefront (and putting the steroid-using mega-million earning super-athletes back in their rightful places as second-fiddles to those making *real* strides for mankind.)

    I want the government and the pulpit to stay out of my bedroom and set about doing constructive things that better the lives of our citizens. If the outcry about removing common sense from our society were half as loud as the outcry about removing God from our money, we wouldn't have ninety percent of the problems we have, and blaming our problems on five to ten percent of the country who is of a different sexual orientation is ignoring the other ninety to ninety-five percent who nod their heads and endorse whatever other moral outrage is offered to them because an attractive talking head on TV told them it's what they should do.

    WAKE THE HELL UP! In twenty years our kids won't be wearing bracelets that say "WWJD?", they will be wearing bracelets that say "WWBD?" "What Would Beijing Do?" We can do something * real* about it now (I don't want to hear about sex -- vaginal, anal, oral, or otherwise -- at the pulpit, or on C-SPAN. What ever happened to the Good Samaritan?)

    Or we can continue to distract ourselves with small shiny objects.

    God help us all.

    -Joe G.

  • Posted By: r7l1t3 @ 01/20/2008 8:10:19 PM

    Comment: I hate to say this all sounds like dejau, but it really does al sound lik deja vu. Hopefully, we'll deal with this health crisis better thanwe dealt with the AIDS crisis. History's got to teach something, right?

  • Posted By: Jonathan1005 @ 01/20/2008 7:16:29 PM

    Comment: Sick twisted bastards. It is you who will not be happy till all gay people are dead. Then what? Mexicans? Blacks? Where does hate end? NOWHERE, except where it begins.
    Staph infections are not sexually transmitted. This proves the fools that believe everything they hear from the press and mindlessly go running with the mob towards the burning stable.
    Get it together already.
    Jesus would vomit if he returned, at all this hatred spewed.
    Peace out!

  • Posted By: Geminate @ 01/20/2008 6:50:25 PM

    Comment: Homosexuals obviously will never be happy until everyone is dead. Their two-edged sword is genocide by ending reproduction, and genocide by spreading diseases. They are completely out of control and need to be institutionalized. Why in the world would I ever accept a group of sick and twisted individuals who's only goal is to end the human race? It is time for the men and women of this world to stand up and end the tyranny of these people who are very mentally disturbed and insane. It's time to adopt a zero tolerance stand concerning homosexuals. It is time to help these people by rounding them up and getting them the serious help that they so desperately need. Let's build a strong world, not a sick and dying one.

  • Posted By: DaNattiKid @ 01/20/2008 6:29:42 PM

    Comment: CONTINUED FROM BELOW... So maybe the CHRISTIAN BIGOTS - particularly the BIGOTED Christian women out there... Maybe they should be afraid of this new strand of MRSA because their homophobic obscessed husbands might very well out cruising the parks and bath houses.

  • Posted By: DaNattiKid @ 01/20/2008 6:26:45 PM

    Comment: If this new, deadly strand of MRSA is spread to heterosexual people, it won't be spread to heterosexuals by openly gay men. Openly gay men don't bother to have sex with females... It will be spread to heterosexuals by CLOSETED gay and bisexual men. The "Ted Haggards" and "Larry Craigs" of Christian Bigoted America will be the ones to thank. CLOSETED men who are too fearful to live openly and honestly because of the MANUFACTURED CHRISTIAN BIGOTRY invented by HATE GROUPS like Concerned Women For America. So maybe the CHRISTIAN BIGOTS

  • Posted By: DaNattiKid @ 01/20/2008 6:20:38 PM

    Comment: If this new strain of MRSA spreads to heterosexuals, it won't be spread by openly gay men. Openly gay men rarely bother to have sex with females. If this deadly MRSA is spread to heterosexuals, it will be spread by CLOSETED gay and bisexual men... Men who are too fearfull to live openly and honestly because of the CHRISTIAN BIGOTRY invented by HATE GROUPS like Concerned Women For America...

  • Posted By: itsallrelevant2 @ 01/20/2008 6:12:21 PM

    Comment: First MRSA is a bacteria that is a bug that has become a superbug due to the overuse of antbiotics. It then is passed on via contact whether it be sexual or non sexual. It wasn't mentioned if the men in SanFran were positive for HIV or AIDS, if they were positive for eithe then they are using extreme antibodies to help keep their already weakened immune system stable. If they then acquired MRSA it is already strong and possibly mutated after cycling through their system, passing the mutated strain on to the next person. It could happen to anyone and I love how the media and conservatives immediatly jumped on this and are all about "ITS THE GAYS" they will kill us all. Heterosexuals and gays alike are all at the same risk of acquiring MRSA .

  • Posted By: cfalbin @ 01/20/2008 5:48:52 PM

    Comment: You know what is good about this disease; that is can and will infect everyone. It's been a "Gay issue" or the "freaks in S.F." are at fault. Well this is what you all deserve for being so arrogant that this is not your problem and it will go away as soon as those gays all die off or are institutionalize like the idiot Geminate states. Geminate chooses to be arrogant with his Holier than thou attitude. Shouldn't we ignore his statement because he is an idiot or honor it by acknowledging it?

    • Posted By: Geminate @ 01/20/2008 18:12:47

      Comment: Obviously you are gay, my condolences, literally. I am not arrogant, I am honest, and yes, I 'am' holier than you, it's not just an attitude. My IQ is 184, tested 3 months ago, so no, I am certainly not an idiot. . I am angry that the disease of homosexuality has caused countless untold deaths, especially innocents, merely children - you should be ashamed. I hold you and you like personally responsible, you will pay, there will be a Judgment Day.

      • Posted By: cinderella @ 01/27/2008 00:31:04

        Comment: How can anyone with an IQ that you claim to have say such stupid twisted ***?

      • Posted By: pageonesfeministwife @ 01/21/2008 18:15:09

        Comment: Hmm, I"m pretty sure that in end times God is the judge...Not you. May God have mercy on your soul Germinate.

  • Posted By: Phoenix Woman @ 01/20/2008 4:33:05 PM

    Comment: Hey, Homophobes! MRSA has been in hospitals and nursing homes and high school, college and athletic contact sports for years, and was probably created through overuse of antibiotics. And the guy behind this latest "study" has been busted for lying like a rug -- or like a freaked-out homophobe: http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/is-mrsa-the-new-gay-plague/

  • Posted By: Geminate @ 01/20/2008 4:06:29 PM

    Comment: The disease is homosexuality. It is causing the quality of life to degrade nationally for all people. Instead of fighting the symptoms, viruses and diseases, we should be fighting the cause - homosexuality. Homosexuality is a form of insanity, as legitimate as being bi-polar or schizophrenic. We need to institutionalize the sick, and find a cure for them. As long as we fail to treat the cause, the sickness will spread and possibly destroy the world. It's time to do the right thing - stamp out homosexuality, make it illegal and treat those that are ill with it, both mentally and physically.

    • Posted By: pageonesfeministwife @ 01/21/2008 18:17:49

      Comment: You should take your 184 IQ to the library and read a book about communicable diseases. MRSA has nothing to do with sexuality.

  • Posted By: bbehan2003 @ 01/20/2008 3:13:22 PM

    Comment: Sneezy, you failed to read the analysis about how MRSA is spread: it can be spread without the swapping of any body fluid -- this is because it is spread through skin-to-skin contact. So, this reference that is made to gay men's supposed preference for "swap[ping] body fluids internally with multiple people" actually reflects a completely tangential rant about a non-cause of MRSA--reflecting the writer's personal bias more than reality.

  • Posted By: bbehan2003 @ 01/20/2008 3:12:05 PM

    Comment: Sneezy, you failed to read the analysis about how MRSA is spread: it can be spread without the swapping of any body fluid -- this is because it is spread through skin-to-skin contact. So, this reference that is made to gay men's supposed preference for "swap[ping] body fluids internally with multiple people" actually reflects a completely tangential rant about a non-cause of MRSA--reflecting the writer's personal bias more than realuty.

  • Posted By: rolandcrosby @ 01/20/2008 2:13:00 PM

    Comment: Dudes. I appreciate the fact that you're reporting on the misleading media coverage of MRSA lately. But, y'know, you kind of undermine all that by giving the article the equally-misleading headline "A New 'Gay Disease'?".

  • Posted By: Sneezy @ 01/20/2008 1:34:46 PM

    Comment: There are probably health risks associated with many lifestyle or career choices. But when a person swaps body fluids, internally, with multiple people, the risks of swapping an illness likely increase. Saying so does not constitute homophobia. It is naive and dangerous to ignore obvious increases in risk factors for the sake of being politically correct. I didn't say that calling it a "gay disease" was appropriate. I was just stating why the media was calling it that, and obviously they want to stir controversy to sell newspapers. And saying that a person is at higher risk of catching a communicable disease by practicing unsafe sex is not on par with a so-called "hate crime". Hate crime penalties are discriminatory, racist, and unconstitutional, but that's a discussion for a different day. And if a person does not like gay people, that doesn't mean they're homophobic. It means that.....they don't like gay people. Throwing the word "homophobic" around to get someone to back down from an argument is also not helpful. Luckily I don't buy into the political correct garbage. Understanding the disease, how it's spread, and how to educate folks on minimizing risk of exposure will be hampered by all the politicizing of the topic. It disgusts me that the looney left and the righteous right want to politicize something that affects the health and lives of thousands of people.

  • Posted By: gooligan @ 01/20/2008 12:31:50 PM

    Comment: Interesting that until now, MRSA wasn't labeled a lifestyle disease. Not until it strikes gays is it a lifestyle disease. But if it's a lifestyle disease now, then it has been all along. Which would mean that young Christian athletes live an unhealthy lifestyle - all that tackling and righteousness! Why? Because many of the more highly publicized outbreaks has been in young athletes who play on astroturf. But oddly, I don't remember anyone labeling high school football as an unhealthy lifestyle. Or how about being a teacher, given that a few months ago a highly publicized outbreak killed a teacher and the bug was found on many students. Does that make being a grade schooler in America an unhealthy lifestyle? Or a teacher? though in fairness, the high school athletes are MUCH more afflicted so we must conclude that playing football is an unhealthy lifestyle. Or high school wrestling, which was another major outbreak that maimed young athletes and caused a wrestling program to be shut down for months. But I don't recall histrionic posts that labeled American football as an unhealthy lifestyle, or wrestling, or athletics generally, or teaching, or working in hospitals . . . though in fairness STAYING in hospitals has been denounced as unhealthy. Why are none of these other groups that have been prominently featured for MRSA prevalence considered to have "unhealthy lifestyles"? maybe because there's not a well established fear and persecution of them?

    MRSA right now is being researched as having COMMUNITY BASED transmission. That means that maybe American football is an unhealthy lifestyle (which it certainly is, as is gymnastics and soccer if one looks at incidence of brain injuries, and golf for incidence of back injuries). So if a person in a gay community such as are more prevalent in San Francisco brings home MRSA from his job or a restaurant or visiting a high school athlete friend, say, then there'll be an outbreak in, amazingly, a GAY COMMUNITY! My goodness, what a shock. Does that mean that being gay is the primary factor? Or does it mean being in a community is? Right now there's not sufficient information for transmission mode described in the stories I've seen, but until we start labeling ALL the LIFESTYLES and persecuting them just as badly, then I'd like to see people hold off using the "gay lifestyle" thing. The day we have hate crimes and rampant accusations of unhealthy lifestyles against high school football players is the day I'll buy that the "gay lifestyle" comments are grounded in ANYTHING but homophobia.

  • Posted By: gooligan @ 01/20/2008 12:20:26 PM

    Comment: Over the last year MRSA has been seen prominently in American athletes at all levels, including pro, high school, grade school . . . MRSA has notoriously killed and maimed several high school athletes and theories are that astroturf abrasion of skin has provided a good growth medium. But I don't see histrionic blogging labeling MRSA as God's judgement on American atheletics. One of the cases I recall being featured noted what a good young Christian man, so promising, one victim was - so where are the articles denouncing MRSA as God's judgment on Christian athletes? Labeling this a "gay disease" or singling out gays is no more or less valid than calling this a divine repudiation of . . .well . . . anything. A Christian high school athletes especially unhealthy? Or school teachers - another group that's had a recent high profile death of MRSA? Or gardening ladies, who've also had MRSA deaths? Gays are no more or less unhealthy. Essentially, this disease attacks HUMANS based on immune response and if there's an outbreak in the Castro, well, statistically it'll hit gays. When there WAS an outbreak in a grade school, the disease hit children and teachers - so maybe being a child or a teacher is unhealthy or maybe, statistically, children and teachers are what you find mostly in schools. Or when the bug is transmitted by astroturf, then statistically is it going to attack pilots? Not unless they're rolling on the turf. Statistically THAT will attack athletes. When it WAS transmitted on wrestling mats, then statistics would have support histrionics that wrestling is unhealthy, but the conclusion would be wrong. Homophobia and fear of gays is still widespread in the US (look up hate crimes against gays, which IS a disorder linked to behavior, being the behavior of bigotry!), and you'll find that homophobia is quite well established in the US in the year 2008. But MRSA isn't homophobic. MRSA is happy to kill anyone who skins a knee or tackles a quarterback on astroturf or, say, lives next door to a guy who brought it home from the grade school where children deposited it on the school bus door he cleaned.

  • Posted By: Sneezy @ 01/20/2008 9:54:14 AM

    Comment: This has been labeled a "gay disease", because the lifestyle of a large portion of the gay community still engages in dangerous (unhygienic) behaviour and it spread quickly. As a gay man, I've been around the block a few times myself. I almost always played safe, but definitely put myself at risk a few times by letting another body part do the thinking on occasion. Luckily I've never contracted anything. But I have known many guys through the years that _always_ throw caution to the wind. If this becomes pandemic, the gay community will probably blame Bush out one side of their mouth while continuing to engage in unsafe sex with the other side. The name calling doesn't help anyone.

    If someone calls this a "gay disease", or hates gays, or is disgusted by gays, it doesn't mean they're homophobic. Phobia is a fear. Invest in a dictionary. For those that say people get sick because of their sins, then that "logic" would imply that everyone who dies, or is raped, or has a family member die deserves it. I don't think the God they write of in the Bible enjoys seeing people suffer and die.

    IJ UK, you're way off topic and while the US is not perfect, we were smart enough to figure out over two hundred years ago to stop wasting money on a disfunctional monarchy. What's your excuse?

  • Posted By: Sneezy @ 01/20/2008 9:52:30 AM

    Comment:
    This has been labeled a "gay disease", because the lifestyle of a large portion of the gay community still engages in dangerous (unhygienic) behaviour and it spread quickly. As a gay man, I've been around the block a few times myself. I almost always played safe, but definitely put myself at risk a few times by letting another body part do the thinking on occasion. Luckily I've never contracted anything. But I have known many guys through the years that _always_ throw caution to the wind. If this becomes pandemic, the gay community will probably blame Bush out one side of their mouth while continuing to engage in unsafe sex with the other side. The name calling doesn't help anyone.

    If someone calls this a "gay disease", or hates gays, or is disgusted by gays, it doesn't mean they're homophobic. Phobia is a fear. Invest in a dictionary. For those that say people get sick because of their sins, then that "logic" would imply that everyone who dies, or is raped, or has a family member die deserves it. I don't think the God they write of in the Bible enjoys seeing people suffer and die.

    IJ UK, you're way off topic and while the US is not perfect, we were smart enough to figure out over two hundred years ago to stop wasting money on a disfunctional monarchy. What's your excuse?

  • Posted By: IJ UK @ 01/20/2008 7:50:20 AM

    Comment: it's a pity you cranky Yanks don't spend a bit more time looking at your own lifestyle and a bit less complaining about other peoples, great nation the US! your a joke around the world, every other country thinks you just a bunch of no hopers.
    if you dug your nose out of a fantsy book about a fantasy god and started to look at what a disasterous effect you and you country are having on the world you might just be able to kiss your own *** goodbye just before the ballon goes up.

    • Posted By: pageonesfeministwife @ 01/21/2008 18:30:29

      Comment: I have to agree with IJ UK-America is full of "no hopers". I'm embarrassed by our America societal structure that supports hate.

      • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/22/2008 20:27:28

        Comment: Well Im sure the love for the monarchy is what started America ...isnt it? Dont think so.

    • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/21/2008 17:48:01

      Comment: Seems nothing really come from the UK but bad teeth, bad singers and bad styles. No good Ideas, you are stuck in old times. Just sip your tea, try and bite into your BISQUIT, and wait for the U>S>A to bail you out of another major conflict as always.

  • Posted By: thetruthhurts @ 01/20/2008 7:48:53 AM

    Comment: If the disease is spread by anal sex and the rate is 13 times higher in gay people than this article was written to make gay people sound like they have nothing to do with the fact that gay people are causing the disease to spread. Deja Vu. Remember AIDS? It started out in the gay community then got into the straight community. But homosexuals deny that ever happened too.

    • Posted By: miamiman @ 01/21/2008 10:47:29

      Comment: The 13 times more likely thing is the key. The sexual practices of the gay community never seeemed very sanitary to me personally. It seems that this whole thing is a matter of hygeine and cleanliness sexual or not. denial is not a solution for the gay community and they should be proactive in dispelling this by modifying their practices or devoting extra effort to hygiene and disinfection. Dont have anything against gays just seems logical under the circumstances. you all are born that way. no "normal" guy wakes up and decides that this is a great thing to try later on. just doesnt happen. So its not really a choice of lifestyle in my book so condemnation will not come from me even though I belong to the Christian community.

  • Posted By: getzel @ 01/20/2008 7:17:03 AM

    Comment: Sounds like the media got it exactly right last week

  • Posted By: getzel @ 01/20/2008 7:16:21 AM

    Comment: Sounds like te media got it just right ast week

  • Posted By: queers are sick @ 01/20/2008 5:46:52 AM

    Comment: God says homosexuality is a sin and there are consequences to sin. I have absolutely no sympathy to those who participate in perverted BEHAVIOR and then try to force people to accepty their BEHAVIOR as "normal". No matter how hard they try, they will NEVER get God to accept their wicked sinful BEHAVIOR

  • Posted By: queers are sick @ 01/20/2008 5:46:23 AM

    Comment: God says homosexuality is a sin and there are consequences to sin. I have absolutely no sympathy to those who participate in perverted BEHAVIOR and then try to force people to accepty their BEHAVIOR as "normal". No matter how hard they try, they will NEVER get God to accept their wicked sinful BEHAVIOR

    • Posted By: observer101 @ 01/21/2008 17:43:36

      Comment: agreed

  • Posted By: Muhammed @ 01/20/2008 12:56:07 AM

    Comment: Oooohh as long as Stackhouse can say it is not a gay disesase that changes everything! We don't want to panic and then let heterosexuals think they are safe! WOW major point! The disease doesn't care what you call it or how you spin it. If you got it, you got problems. Talking about it only using certain words does nothing, NOTHING! Minimizing it is stupid! Sound the alarm and EVERYBODY BEWARE!
    Muhammed

  • Posted By: pta82 @ 01/19/2008 10:52:25 PM

    Comment: As more drugs become available to the general population, diseases will try to find some way to adapt to their environment without preference to whatever sexual identity that an individual practices. Whether or not a certain group of people are affected cannot be truly evaluated unless every single person who is sexually active has undergone the study mentioned in the article; only then can one determine whether or not that the proper research has been done correctly to identify a cause of origen, a tendency to be prevelant among homosexuals or any other factors that may come into play. If this is to be broken down into who is more susceptible for obtaining this "new" disease between heterosexuality or homsexuality, then I believe that the researchers are regrettably ignorant to the fact that they do not have all their facts in order. For example, one has to take into consideration that the general world society is no longer based on heterosexuality or homosexuality; in fact, one has to include bisexuals and transexuals into the equation as well. Where do they fit into the whole scheme of a sexual based identity? Until researchers begin to base their facts on humans as a whole group and not just sexual based identities, then they will never overcome their barriers that prevent them from obtaining factual data that is prevelant for all of society to know.

  • Posted By: pta82 @ 01/19/2008 10:51:00 PM

    Comment: As more drugs become available to the general population, diseases will try to find some way to adapt to their environment without preference to whatever sexual identity that an individual practices. Whether or not a certain group of people are affected cannot be truly evaluated unless every single person who is sexually active has undergone the study mentioned in the article; only then can one determine whether or not that the proper research has been done correctly to identify a cause of origen, a tendency to be prevelant among homosexuals or any other factors that may come into play. If this is to be broken down into who is more susceptible for obtaining this "new" disease between heterosexuality or homsexuality, then I believe that the researchers are regrettably ignorant to the fact that they do not have all their facts in order. For example, one has to take into consideration that the general world society is no longer based on heterosexuality or homosexuality; in fact, one has to include bisexuals and transexuals into the equation as well. Where do they fit into the whole scheme of a sexual based identity? Until researchers begin to base their facts on humans as a whole group and not just sexual based identities, then they will never overcome their barriers that prevent them from obtaining factual data that is prevelant for all of society to know.

    Patraek Alexandar

  • Posted By: rosven @ 01/19/2008 10:20:22 PM

    Comment: ... published this week in the online edition of the Anus of Internal Medicine." Understood gay doctor. Just tell your gay patients to keep their Staph's out of other men's coccus aureus!

  • Posted By: rosven @ 01/19/2008 10:16:49 PM

    Comment: "... published this week in the online edition of the Anus of Internal Medicine." Enough said.

  • Posted By: DKBL @ 01/19/2008 9:28:42 PM

    Comment: The NEGATIVE health aspects of homosexual sex have been long documented. Newsweek can bury its head in the sand and try to justify its liberal leanings to promote homosexuality to a national platform as just another healthy lifestyle choice, but the research speaks for itself. The anus was created for defecation, not sexual activity!

    HIV/AIDS and Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
    http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/index.htm

    The Health Risks of Gay Sex Catholic Education Resource Center, By John R. Diggs, Jr. M.D.
    http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/homosexuality/ho0075.html#06

    The Negative Health Effects of Homosexuality Family Research Council- Issue No.: 232, By Timothy J. Dailey, Ph. D.
    http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IS01B1

  • Posted By: gdod25 @ 01/19/2008 8:44:01 PM

    Comment: People pooling their ignorant again and pinkpanther is a great example but homosexuallity can't be defended by either world view (creation - evolution). Especially not be evolution which should be obvious to all. Did like quetzl's post tho

  • Posted By: Mrs. Hen @ 01/19/2008 8:00:35 PM

    Comment: What's new, and what's alarming, is that MRSA infections are now suspected to be transmitted by heterosexual activity, between husbands and wives and between other monogamous couples. *Infectious Disease News* (1), in its April 2007 issue, reported that three cases of heterosexual activity transmission of MRSA have been identified and confirmed in Manhattan.

    Binh Diep, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco who led the study on MRSA in Gays says "once this (disease) reaches the general population, it will be truly unstoppable."



  • Posted By: MPetrelis @ 01/19/2008 2:44:38 PM

    Comment: Great article with made cogent points made about who's at risk for the staph infection. Please be aware that the UCSF press office has issued an apology for its biased and offensive news release. You can read it at my blog: http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2008/01/gays-want-apology-from-ucsf-on-staph.html . And the UCSF site has also posted the apology: http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/ .

  • Posted By: quetzl @ 01/19/2008 2:11:12 PM

    Comment: Isn't nature and natural selection absolutely wonderful? Aids, hepatitis, syphilis, gonorrhea, condyloma accuminata, mononucleosis, mrsa, herpes, chancre/chanchroid, and a host of other entities in the biological realm will determine the morbidity and mortality of those who elect to engage in high risk behavior regardless of the time, money, and effort expended to justify such pattern of behavior. Biology doesn't give a tinker's damn about your social/behavioral/political/sexual issues. If your orientation stands counter to survivability, you are toast.

    • Posted By: Tamara @ 01/20/2008 17:46:04

      Comment: To quetzl: BRAVO!! Well Said!

  • Posted By: TxAngellGirl @ 01/19/2008 1:26:29 PM

    Comment: MRSA has been around for quite a while. It is a nasty virulent little bug that has the tendency to attack the white blood cells that arrive to kill it. I have had it for over a year and a half. Before I was even diagnosed I had passed the bug to my husband and infant daughter. Although I am a nurse I was more than likely exposed to it at my local gym. An open wound gave it a portal and from there it was downhill. I see an infectious disease doc who refuses to write antibiotics unless the wound doesn't drain or if the location of it is in proximity to the brain or spinal cord. Before I saw this doctor, my other physicians kept writing me antibiotics and I continued to get these skin infections at least 2 times a month. On top of that, those 3 physicians were writing to WRONG DRUG! Since I have started seeing my specialist my frequency of infection has decreased dramatically and I have only had 3 infections in the last year. This is because my body has learned to recognize this bug and fight it off on it's own. Granted this is not an option for those that are immune compromised, but for your average person, yea, this is the way to go. If you have been Dx with MRSA, I urge you, demand a referral to a physician who specializes in infectious diseases.

  • Posted By: TxAngellGirl @ 01/19/2008 1:24:58 PM

    Comment: MRSA has been around for quite a while. It is a nasty virulent little bug that has the tendency to attack the white blood cells that arrive to kill it. I have had it for over a year and a half. Before I was even diagnosed I had passed the bug to my husband and infant daughter. Although I am a nurse I was more than likely exposed to it at my local gym. An open wound gave it a portal and from there it was downhill. I see an infectious disease doc who refuses to write antibiotics unless the wound doesn't drain or if the location of it is in proximity to the brain or spinal cord. Before I saw this doctor, my other physicians kept writing me antibiotics and I continued to get these skin infections at least 2 times a month. On top of that, those 3 physicians were writing to WRONG DRUG! Since I have started seeing my specialist my frequency of infection has decreased dramatically and I have only had 3 infections in the last year. This is because my body has learned to recognize this bug and fight it off on it's own. Granted this is not an option for those that are immune compromised, but for your average person, yea, this is the way to go. If you have been Dx with MRSA, I urge you, demand a referral to a physician who specializes in infectious diseases.

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/19/2008 12:57:20 PM

    Comment: IN TEN YEARS WE HAVE INVESTED 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 IN RESEARCH TO CURE 2-10 ILLNESSES, INCLUDING CANCER? ALL WE CAN ACOMPLISH IS TREAT, NEVER CURE! NAME 5 ILLNESSES WE THREW TONS OF CASH AT, WHICH PRODUCED A CURE-YOU CAN'T, NOW YOU KNOW WHY ITS A SUPERBUG, TREAT,[ CAUSES A STRONGER BUG] NEVER CURE, AND THE BUG IS SMARTER THAN WE ARE, OR FAR MORE PROFITABLE TO TREAT, THEN CURE! THAT KILLS ALL PROFIT, AND, GREED IS A, DEADLY SIN, CORRECT FOLKS!!! WAKE UP AND DEMAND CURES FOR YOUR DOLLAR, NOT JUST TREATMENT, WHICH LEAVES US ALL IN PERIL, AND IT'S THE FAULT OF THE PHARM RESEARCH WITH THE GOVS BLESSING, IT'S GOOD FOR THERE STOCKS! WE ARE GETTING OVERCROWEDED, IF IT KILLS TREAT IT, DON'T CURE IT! WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN WAY, AS IT IS TODAY! IF A CURE IS EVER FOUND! IT WILL SIT ON THE FDAs DESK FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, TILL IT MIGHT BE APPROVED, TO USE ON AMERICAN CITIZENS! WAKE UP SMELL THE PROFIT, NOT THE NEEDLESS DISCRIMINATION

    • Posted By: Thomas88 @ 01/19/2008 13:05:51

      Comment: please don't shout

      it's easier to read when you don't use all caps.

      thank you

      • Posted By: TxAngellGirl @ 01/19/2008 13:31:08

        Comment: MRSA is completely treatable given the correct antibiotics are prescribed when there is a NEED for them to be prescribed. And the antibiotics that are oral are CHEAP!