He'd also told me that he's an AIDS educator at this particular organization. It is not known how common the practice of barebacking is in San Francisco or in other parts of the country, although a recent report published in the New York Times suggested that in that city, gay men have reduced their levels of unsafe behaviors. In San Francisco, however, public health authorities are pointing to a number of indicators suggesting that the HIV infection rate is going up, and speculation runs rampant as to why that is the case. It's a challenge that I put out there. DPH and CAPS have often used the media to publicize their concerns about statistics indicating a rising rate of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in San Francisco.
Fear is a powerful tool.
Even schoolchildren are likely to be aware that condoms, when used properly, significantly reduce the chances of passing HIV, the virus that cause AIDS, and other STDs between partners. Gaither, also known as Sister Mary Mae Himm, serves as a volunteer member of the HPPC, a panel appointed by the director of public health to prioritize the city's HIV prevention planning, while Folger directs a Stop AIDS Project series of prevention forums for HIV-positive men, a component of the CDC demonstration program in the city. It also suggests that public health experts educate barebackers about how they can reduce their risk of acquiring HIV, or of passing it to their partner, if they are, in fact, going to be barebacking anyway. But Tierney could not point to any existing or planned DPH-funded program designed to do that. Always watch for outdated information.