Like I do every year on World AIDS day, I want to take this opportunity to talk about lesbians/bisexual women and HIV/AIDS. Back in the early 90s there used to be a joke in the lesbian community. It went something like this: "If AIDS is God's punishment, then lesbians must be the chosen people." The joke was based on the misconception that lesbians don't get AIDS. Of course lesbians get AIDS. I have met HIV positive lesbians and bisexual women.
Lesbians do get AIDS. But even the way the Center for Disease Control tracks AIDS cases makes it difficult to document female to female transmission. The problem is, lesbians and women who have sex with women seem to be a low priority for studies about HIV. But I did some digging and found the truth about lesbians and HIV/AIDS.
Don't be fooled. Anyone who is sexually active needs to be informed about safer sex. Talk to your partners. Take care of yourself. Take care of the community.
© David Dallaqua
Hi Kathy,
I totally agree with you. Lesbians can contract HIV and YES we all need to take care of ourselves, each other and our community. Our future depends on it.