Gay America: Chasing Their Identity

On June 15, 1981 the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta reported multiple cases of pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, a rare pneumonia that is commonly linked to severe weaken immune systems, which had been contracted by several gay men in Los Angeles. This would be the beginning of the mysterious AIDS (Anti-Immune Deficiency Syndrome) virus. Although several would be inflicted by the disease either by blood transfusion or drug use involving contaminated hypodermic needles, the gay community, which would be the most impacted by this disease, would rally for more research and federal funding as 1982 began.

At the time Ronald Reagan was the US President. The Reagan administration did not even publicly acknowledge the existence of the disease even after it had been documented multiple times by the press. Reagan was an on the record conservative and opposed to gay rights. After the administration’s recognition of the disease in 1985, under his administration federal funding totaled $5.7 billion over the course of his remaining tenure in office.

What Reagan and his staff realized was that AIDS was not airborne or carried through the water supply. No the spread of AIDS began in gay bathhouses where gay men would engage in anonymous consensual sex. In order to address AIDS coupled by a federal bankroll (tax dollars) there would have to be responsibility on behalf of Gay America and not monies just thrown to the wind. In other words, despite his critics, Reagan would implement fiscal responsibility. In this author’s opinion Reagan wasn’t about to allow the White House to become a sounding board for gay rights either.

No matter what his critics have said Reagan did jumpstart AIDS research. What they didn’t like was his contingency for the funding. These are the same critics who lambaste the current Bush administration for the federal deficit and oppose social program cutbacks in favor of a strong defense, although these programs inadvertently create multi generations of dependency and entitlement. However when it came to Gay America and throwing taxpayer dollars at AIDS research they predictably choose the other side of the coin.

This entry isn’t intended to defend the policies of Reagan and his administration- there is no need to defend them. No this is to address his foresight or at least the foresight of his administration. The Reagan administration knew a thing or two about responsibility in one’s personal life as it related to promiscuity and specifically what was being experienced in gay bathhouses.

Now fast forward to the present time and allow your author to discuss a current epidemic ripping apart the gay male population of America. It is a trend that is beyond description. An idea that mitigates everything the federal government and our funding has attempted to accomplish as it relates to AIDS. It spits in the eye of Reagan’s critics who attempted to demonize his name at the time of his death as it relates to AIDS and his administration’s policy. It is a choice they are making that is beyond comprehension. It is known as chasing the bug and it is something that, once again, Gay America has refused to address.

What is chasing the bug? It is considered an underground movement where gay men engage in anonymous sex in the hopes of contracting AIDS/HIV. Yes in the hopes that they will become infected with the virus. It often takes place in either gay bathhouses, which are now referred to as all male fitness clubs or on the dance club scene, often under the influence of methamphetamines and alcohol.

The theory or thinking behind chasing the bug is thought to have been based around the idea that once a gay man contracts AIDS he will no longer have to practice safe sex. They become a part of something or attempt to identify with a group. While psychologists begin to analyze this lunacy and figure out why men would play Russian roulette, conservatives should take note that this is being buried or at least not admitted to by the gay population. Once again personal choices and responsibilities or lack of rule the day and not reliance upon the federal government to combat AIDS.

Gay America continually changes as the wind blows. At first they wanted to be accepted by society, nearly forcing themselves upon others for their acceptance and weave their way through legalization of same sex marriage. This was on the heels of being gay doesn’t make you different. In prior times they wanted to be known as a minority due to their sexuality. In other words something about them distinguished their group from the rest of society. They did so by attempting to latch on Black America, as well as other well known minorities and the lumping together of minority status with anyone except a white male protestant. They still cry more for AIDS but yet have failed at keeping their own house clean. They are a group that continually spins out of control and fails to find an identity.