MSM

Unmasking Black Gay Privilege

Whereas "white male privilege" is widely debated, a study by Princeton University researcher David S. Pedulla suggests that black gay men may benefit from forms of privilege as well. Such an idea is counterintuitive to many people who consider black gay men to be triply disadvantaged -- subjected, individually and collectively, to prejudices of race, gender and sexuality. But according to the study, "The Positive Consequences of Negative Stereotypes: Race, Sexual Orientation, and the Job Application Process," and echoed by a number of black gay men with whom I have discussed the issue, being perceived as gay, if one is black, may indeed impose an "offsetting stereotype" of being nonthreatening that advantages some black gay men over some black straight men. I call this phenomenon "black gay privilege."

Prevention

HCV Sexual Transmission Linked to Anal Sex, Drug Use, Lower CD4 Count

In addition to the usual risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) sexual transmission seen in most previous studies - such as anal sex and having other sexually transmitted infections - researchers in the Netherlands also saw an association with nasal and injection drug use and lower CD4 cell count, they reported in a poster presentation at the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2015) in Seattle, USA.

Needle Exchange Is Allowed After H.I.V. Outbreak in an Indiana County

An outbreak of H.I.V. in southeastern Indiana prompted the governor on Thursday to declare a public health emergency as officials worked to stop the spread of the virus that causes AIDS.

Science

New Hepatitis C Treatments Cost-Effective, But Only for Selected Patients, Study Shows

A study led by Boston Medical Center (BMC) researchers demonstrates that while new therapies to treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) are highly effective, they are cost-effective and provide the greatest value in specific groups of HCV-infected patients. The findings of the study, led by Benjamin P. Linas, MD, MPH, from BMC's section of infectious diseases and the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Treatment

New Hepatitis C Drugs are Costing Medicare Billions

Medicare spent $4.5 billion last year on new, pricey medications that cure the liver disease hepatitis C - more than 15 times what it spent the year before on older treatments for the disease, previously undisclosed federal data shows.

Supervisor Wiener: Reclassifying HIV Drugs as "Specialty" is Discriminatory

A hearing held on March 25, 2015 at a San Francisco City and County Budget and Finance Committee called attention to the insurance company practice of reclassifying HIV medications as "specialty" drugs in the highest formulary tier-effectively increasing out-of-pocket drug costs and placing them out of reach for many patients. Advocates for the HIV/AIDS community spoke out in concern over how these discriminatory practices affect patients-and offered suggestions for how insurance companies can improve transparency and drug pricing going forward.

Miscellaneous

Arkansas Passes Indiana-Style 'Religious Freedom' Bill Criticised As Anti-Gay

State ratifies Religious Freedom Restoration Act that critics see as a way to discriminate against gay and lesbian people under the guise of religious freedom

In Indiana, Using Religion as a Cover for Bigotry

Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, who last week signed a religious-freedom law driven by bigotry against gays and lesbians, has been complaining that the law's opponents - which include top business leaders and civil-rights groups - are spreading "misinformation."

Only Openly Gay Player in Men's Division 1 College Basketball Responds to Indiana's Religious Freedom Law

"For him to go and try to fix it gives me a lot more hope as I head to Indiana, where I am heading this week. It will make me feel a lot more comfortable when I'm down there." Derrick Gordon, the first NCAA men's Division I basketball player to come out and compete as an openly gay player, weighed in on Tuesday on the controversy surrounding Indiana's new "religious freedom" law. Gordon spoke to Yahoo News and Finance Anchor Bianna Golodryga just hours after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence spoke at a news conference where he struck a more conciliatory tone against critics of the legislation he signed in to law last Thursday. Just 48 hours after telling ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he would not change the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Pence vowed to do just that. He said that he would ask Indiana lawmakers to consider new legislation aimed at clarifying and fixing the law. The turnabout came after days of protests against the passing of the "religious freedom" that critics believe gave business owners the right to deny services to members of the gay and lesbian community.

With 16 Million in Obamacare, Is the Repeal Debate Over?

The Republicans are facing a 16 million person problem.

With the Obama administration announcing this month that some 16 million people have obtained health insurance since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Republicans' intense focus on completely repealing the law is increasingly looking unrealistic.

A World Shared With H.I.V.

The grayest heads among us still think of AIDS as a terrible new disease. But younger adults have never known a world without it, and many of the youngest think of it only as an annoying condition you take a pill for. They know nothing of the anguish and heroism that once surrounded the word "AIDS."