Health fear for Gay Men in Jamaica

Fear has captured the gay community in Jamaica about disclosing their HIV&AIDS status due to what they say is the widespread prejudice by citizens who oppose their sexual practices.

An advocate for the men who have sex with men (MSM) community, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the messages to MSM groups about prevention are at times not gender specific.

"If they are giving a demonstration on proper condom usage, person will use a penis and vagina, but we can't relate and there you will find a communication barrier," the lobbyist noted.

“If a MSM should go to the doctor and tell him of his HIV status and how he contracted the disease, that patient may very well have his information advertised to the public and this poses a challenge for us to disclose our information, even to medical practitioners."

The concerns were expressed during the Panos Media Workshop dubbed 'HIV Universal Access 2010'

According to the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS in Jamaica in 'Achieving Universal Access', the group of men who have sex with men (MSM) surpasses 20,000 with over 25 percent of their population infected with HIV.

"Jamaicans believe strongly that it is morally wrong and repugnant for men to have sex with men. Although men who are known to be 'gay' are usually allowed to go about their business, many Jamaicans have little tolerance for MSM who appear to flaunt or promote their sexual orientation," the report further revealed.

"It is with this stigma and discrimination that increases their vulnerability to HIV and reduce access to prevention, treatment and care."

In an effort to combat these problems, public education officer of the Jamaica AIDS Support For Life (JASL) Ocho Rios Chapter, Colette Gooden, revealed that confidential sessions are offered for MSM groups.

"A day is allotted for counseling and dealing with issues affecting them, and this is done in a confidential setting where they are the only groups for that particular day," she said.