THE FACTS:
1. Since 1964 government agencies have reported that smoking tobacco puts individuals at greater risk of lung cancer, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and Type II diabetes. In the 1960s men who smoked were 12.5 times more likely to develop lung cancer and women were 2.7 times more likely. Currently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate men and women who smoke tobacco are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer (CDC, 2014, Smoking). 2. When this evidence became conclusive, government agencies instituted preventative programs to lower the number of individuals who smoked, especially in the student population. The CDC touts these preventative programs as “…a major public health success with few parallels in the history of public health. It is being accomplished despite the addictive nature of tobacco and the powerful economic forces promoting its use” (CDC, 2016, History). 3. The risks of HIV infection and syphilis resulting from male homosexual behavior are multiple times greater than the risk of lung cancer and other diseases from smoking tobacco. Using 2014 statistics the CDC estimated the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) at 2 percent of the total population, yet in 2014 MSM accounted for 83 percent of all new HIV cases in males 13 years and older (CDC, 2016, HIV), and “MSM accounted for 83% of all P&S [primary and secondary] syphilis cases among males in which [the] sex of [the] sex partner was known” (CDC, 2016, Syphilis). When these figures are calculated into a times ratio, MSM are over 115 times more at risk of contracting the HIV virus and syphilis through homosexual sex than men who do not engage in homosexual sex. (1) 4. Many mental health professionals have recommended programs and counseling that would have the effect of lowering the number of young males who engaged in homosexual behavior. They have made the case that young males who “question” their gender role and sexual orientation can and have been guided to a heterosexual identity by helping them develop a masculine identity. Government agencies have not promoted the prevention of homosexual behavior and homosexuality. Instead, the CDC has spent preventative efforts on more HIV testing, educating on “safer” forms of homosexual sex, and promoting the use of medicines when an individual thinks they have been exposed to the HIV virus (CDC, 2016, HIV). 5. Unlike the public interest policies that reflect willingness to take on the politically powerful tobacco industry, government agencies have not been willing to confront the powerful LGBTQ political cartel. AIDS historian Randy Shilts, a gay man who died of AIDS in 1994, documented that from the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in 1981 health officials adjusted their dialogue to appease gay activists. He wrote that from the first day of the epidemic the guiding principles were “Don’t offend the gays and don’t inflame the homophobes.” (Shilts, 1987, p. 69) Sadly, government agencies are still abiding by that maxim. There are no national campaigns warning youth not to engage in homosexual behavior as there are for using tobacco. Young people are not being told that a homosexual orientation is changeable. There is no national campaign to encourage sexually questioning young people toward a heterosexual identity. If, according to claims by the CDC, the programs to lower the number of people who use tobacco have been a major public health success, then the lack of any effort to decrease HIV infections by lowering the number of people who engage in homosexual behavior should be seen as a major public health failure. It is seriously negligent to fail to warn vulnerable children, adolescents, and adults of the major health risks of homosexual sex. References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Updated July 6, 2009). History of Surgeon General’s Reports on Smoking and Health: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/history/index.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Updated September 19, 2016). HIV among gay and bisexual men. Retrieved September 21, 2016 at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Smoking and cancer. Pamphlet retrieved September 21, 2016 from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/50th-anniversary/pdfs/wynk-cancer.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Updated July 19, 2016). Syphilis – CDC fact sheet (Detailed). http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis- detailed.htm Shilts, R. (1987). And the Band Played On – Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffin. (1) To arrive at the over 115 times ratio a figure of 119,944,000 was used for the U.S. population of men age 15 and older in 2012. The figure was obtained from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_the_United_States), which was taken from the CIA World Factbook. Although a population number of males age 13 and older would have fit the CDC estimates more accurately, as well as 2014 population figures rather than 2012, the ratio would only change minutely with a perfect population match. Four percent of the 119,944,000 figure would put the population of MSM at 4,797,760 and the 96 percent of men who do not have sex with males at 115,146,240. In 2014 “Gay and bisexual men accounted for 83% (29,418) of the estimated new HIV diagnoses among all males aged 13 and older” (CDC, 2016, HIV among gay). If 29,418 represents 83 percent of new HIV cases among men 13 years and older, then the total number for men 13 years and older was 35,443 and the number of new HIV cases for men aged 13 and older who do not have sex with men was 6025. For MSM in 2014 the risk of contracting the HIV virus was figured by dividing an estimated population of 4,797,760 by the 29,418 cases which equaled 1:163 or 0.00613497. For men who did not have sex with other males their risk of contracting the HIV virus was figured by dividing an estimated population of 115,146,240 by the 6025 cases which equaled 1:19,111 or 0.00005233. When the risk ratio of MSM is divided by the risk ration of the men who did not have sex with males the resulting figure showed that MSM were 117 times more likely to contract the HIV virus. |
Children and teens who 'Question' their sexuality or gender are not part of the LGBTQ community. They are part of their parent's family and may need protection from LGBTQ activists and policies. Tom Coy - Guard Our Children YOU CAN HELP! Guard Our Children is registered as a Michigan Super PAC. Donations are not tax deductible. Until it is defeated, all funds donated in 2020 will go to fight against the LGBTQ initiative to add "sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression" to Michigan's civil rights act. Donations by check need to include your name and address. If the donation is over $100, you are required by Michigan law to include your occupation, your employer, and your employer's address. If you are retired, just note “retired.” Corporate checks can also be received. Make checks payable to "Guard Our Children" and mail to: P.O. Box 402, Davison, MI 48423. To donate online click here: Donate online |