Surviving AIDS: Simple Answers to Complex Questions About AIDS and Adolescent Homosexuality

Abstract:
Twenty-one percent of all AIDS cases in the United States have been diagnosed in persons 20-29 years of age. Many or most of these infections were actually acquired during adolescence. The majority of AIDS cases in teens and young adults were transmitted by high-risk sexual activity between young men. AIDS is not a gay disease, but it is an urgent danger to the lives of gay and bisexual teenagers. It threatens their emotional and social well-being, as well as their health. Unfortunately, gay and lesbian teenagers have urgent concerns about day to day survival that can easily seem worse than worries about AIDS. These teenagers typically have few resources for help. Confusion and controversy about homosexuality keep many people from giving help and support to gay and lesbian teenagers--the help and support that they need to develop a healthy identity. In the interest of AIDS prevention, this guide was developed to clarify some of the misinformation and confusion about youth homosexuality. The questions that are discussed here have been raised by Twin Cities' school professionals during information and outreach sessions conducted by the Youth and AIDS Project. This manual is to be used as a resource for your own questions, to guide your work with teenagers and AIDS prevention.

Author(s): REYNOLDS, Susan; REMAFEDI, Gary; YOAKAM, John; CWAYNA, Kevin


Date Published: 1/1/1993

Pages: 38

Location Code: 6170