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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 161
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 06:11 pm: | 
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9/21/06-
It's Not 'Straight' or 'Gay,' It's What You've Done
Nearly 10 percent of men who told public health pollsters they were straight also told them they'd had sex with a man in the previous 12 months, according to a study conducted in New York City.
While significant questions remain about how reliable these figures are, experts in gay men's medicine say it's a real phenomenon among all ethnic groups and one that should be publicized more.
"It's found among all groups, certainly including white males," said Dr. Stephen Goldstone, whose practice at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital treats mostly gay men.
Recent reports, including a segment on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," have publicized the practice known among African American men as "the down low," in which men "love their wives but have sex with men" - and don't identify themselves as homosexual.
The new study, based on a 2003 phone survey of 10,000 residents by New York's public health department, found that 38 percent of the men (who said they were straight but had had sex with a man in the previous year) were white, 29 percent were Hispanic, 23 percent black and 10 percent Asian, multiple race or other.
Though there are questions about how accurate the study is, the researchers and health professionals agree that the underlying message is important.
"We still have a lot to learn about how to ask people about this sensitive issue," Dr. Harold Sox, editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine, told ABC News. "The main reason we published it was to send a clear message for doctors - that it's not enough to just ask a person's sexual identity."
Goldstone agreed that many doctors have a long way to go.
"Sometimes, doctors even assume that because a man has a wedding ring, he's not having sex with men," he said. "The labels homosexual or heterosexual or gay and straight are simply not enough. Doctors must ask specifically 'What are you doing - have you had sex with a man?'"
"I didn't need this survey to give me the general picture," said Goldstone, who has been treating gay men in the New York area for three decades and is also a professor at Mt. Sinai. "We're now taking great care to teach our medical students about this."
The extreme sensitivity of this issue among most respondents makes it difficult to get accurate statistics, as the study's lead author, Preeti Pathela, admits.
In fact, simply reversing the order of some questions produced a markedly different result, as suggested by preliminary data from a similar survey by the group two years later. Asking the men about women partners first, and then about men partners - switching the 2003 order - "resulted in a much lower" percentage of men who said they'd had sex with men.
The 2003 study also reports that the men, when compared to men who say they are gay, are more likely to:
belong to a minority racial or ethnic group,
be foreign born,
have a low educational level.
They are also less likely to have been tested for HIV in the previous year and to have used a condom in their last sexual encounter, the study said.
There's important news there for wives, says Pathela. Seventy percent of the men said they were married. (The study does not report how many men may have come out to their wives.)
Whatever the Exact Percentage, Internet May Help
Experts say that whatever the exact percentage of men who say they're straight but have sex with men, the Internet promises to provide them with important medical information by leapfrogging sensitive issues of denial and deception.
"In the privacy of their rooms, there are now places gay men can Google to get answers about issues they may find hard to talk about with pollsters or their doctors," said Goldstone, who runs a website at GayHealth.com.
He says his long experience with the many ethnic groups in New York has taught him that virtually all cultures still have intimidating prohibitions against gay sex.
"It's not safe to be gay in most parts of the world, including large parts of the United States," he said.
Courtesy of ABC News at www.abcnews.com
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5441027&nav=1TjD |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 6586
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 10:12 pm: |
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I still don't see WHY doctors should be querying men (and women) about their sexuality. |
Prettybabygirl
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Prettybabygirl
Post Number: 617
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 10:29 pm: |
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So according to this study, more white and hispanic men are on the "dL" than brothers.
I guess I owe Kola an apology for our argument a few months ago. LOL!!!!  |
Shemika
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Shemika
Post Number: 199
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 12:35 am: |
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Great post, but I think what's not safe is to be a woman involved with a down low man or to be a straight male around a bunch of doodie dippers. Ask all the men getting raped in prison how safe it is. A lot of them are aggressive and all they care about is grasping that next flash in the pan. The fact there's such a big deal about awareness and protection for people who practice homosexuality, but indifference to the countless ones attacked, harassed and molested by them disproves that claim. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 1487
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 12:53 am: |
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ABM - I would think that a doctor needs to know if a man is taking it up the ass in order to better treat him for any adverse medical conditions that might arise from this practice. STDs. Tearing of anal tissue. Anal cancer. Leaky ass and all the other nasty shit that goes along with it. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 6587
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 02:19 am: |
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Mzuri,
A thorough physical exam would reveal those issues without a physician having to specifically ask whether or not a man engages in homosexual activities. |
Savant
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Savant
Post Number: 169
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 02:40 am: |
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Not necessarily, Abm.
Some men are "tops", some "bottoms", some versatile, some only into oral sex... |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 1488
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 02:42 am: |
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ABM - Not necessarily. The doctor still needs to know if you are engaging with multiple sex partners, etc. And I done told you before that you need to take your tired Black ass to sleep at night!!! I slept all day (most of it anyway) so I'm allowed to be up, but you're not. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 1489
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 02:43 am: |
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Jinx!!! |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 2779
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 12:35 pm: |
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Mzuri:
That's not the only way gay men have sex. Some of them only engage in mutual touching and masturbating each other. In fact they tell me they don't like taking it up the ass but that straight (?) men think they do and are always raping them in the butt.
Don't take this personally, but something--and I don't know what it is-- about your posts makes me want to lure you to a meeting and take you prisoner and keep you my captive sex slave for years and years. You might want to ask the doctor about that next time you're in for a physical.
Abm:
The doctors got to know everything you are doing so they can prescribe proper treatment. How are they to know, say you have impaired vision, whether you got that way from an astigmatism or you have been whacking off to superhero comix? |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 1490
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 01:24 pm: |
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Note to Self: Don't ever meet Chris Hayden (as if I'd want to fuck his tired ass for years and years) LOL!!! |
Moonsigns
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Moonsigns
Post Number: 1475
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 02:41 pm: |
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LMAO @Mzuri's reply ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 2782
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 04:20 pm: |
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Mzuri:
You're the one who is coming on to me through the posts.
MoonUnit:
We might let you watch if you are a good--whatever you are. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 1513
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 04:30 pm: |
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How do you figure that I am coming on to your overgrown butterball ass? I've already told you I don't do fat boys. And since I'm coming on so hard, why would you need to put me on lockdown. Huh playa??? |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 2787
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 04:55 pm: |
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Mzuri:
Hey, you're the one doing the B&D. I was just trying to lead you to Jesus. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 1515
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 05:06 pm: |
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I ain't into none of that kinky shit, and even if I was, I wouldn't do it with you. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 2790
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 23, 2006 - 10:49 am: |
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Mzuri:
GET IN MY BELLY! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 6410
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 08:11 am: |
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Doctors can make general query and recommendations without quizzing foks about whether they are "tops" or "bottoms". You don't have to ask a man does he like to take it up the a$$ to recommend that he regularly use condoms and get STD/HIV testing and colon/rectal exams. Hell. A GOOD doctor would do those things on general principal.
It's a mistake to require doctors to probe into foks sex practices, especially if such homosexuality. If anything, that might chase foks even deeper into the closet and/or dissuade them from getting needed medical attention and assistance. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 1548
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 02:26 pm: |
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I disagree. Because you have this thing called doctor/patient confidentiality. What you reveal to your doctor must be held to the strictest. And it really is in the best interest of the patient to tell the doctor as much as possible. Including that they smoke reefer, drink alcohol or any other vices they might have. Doctors aren't normally psychic and they have too many other patients to play guessing games. If a person doesn't feel comfortable revealing intimate details or secrets to their doctor, they should find someone else that they can trust. |
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