Health Issue? Really Now…
Hooray for disrupted internet connections!
Each week, I enjoy Peiss’ book a little more. This week, I’ve realized how difficult it must be for a homosexual to live under such a high magnification.
I find he Health Inspection Report in Document 5 humorous, but it frightens me at the same time. The funny part is imagining how disappointed some, not all, health inspectors must have been when given the assignment to spy on homosexuals in public places (I’m convinced by the Bayer essay that some enjoyed such a job against homosexuality). What’s even funnier is how uncomfortable homophobic health inspectors must have been sitting in a movie theater while men gave each other fellatios. What do you think a male health inspector replied to his wife after he came home from work…
“Hey honey, how was work?”
“I saw a few men blow each other. I bought peanut soap to cleanse myself tonight.”
Now onto the scary part, the directions in the report required the inspector to give a description of the partners involved, including “manner of dress” and “race.” This is a blatant attempt to stereotype a particular fashion style, and also to a lesser degree racial profiling. I now sympathize with metrosexuals.
If the Department of Health really wanted to ensure the safety of the public, why didn’t they conduct this investigation at all movie theaters? I’m sure non-homosexuals as well as kids of all sexual orientations are as likely to resort to such places for some action, too.
Also, the risk of contracting AIDS is higher in homosexual men because they engage in anal sex more frequently. This means that there’s still a chance in heterosexual men and women, but where’s the scrutiny there?
Bayer’s essay also helped me point out another clear act of bias. If these bathhouses were responsible for spreading AIDS, how come politicians, agencies, and the homophobic public don’t bring up heterosexual brothels as a place that puts its customers and employees at risk? In a brothel, someone can definitely exercise their individual liberty to alter there sexual activity and contract herpes, syphilis, and all other sorts of goodies there. And just to note, prostitution is lawfully illegal in the United States. So how come in the history of the media, major outlets have given way more attention to issues that involve homosexuality, while prostitution rings generally fly under the radar in the public eye?
The last section in Document 3 is titled, “Rights of People with AIDS.” It saddens me, because the writer felt the need to confirm that those with AIDS still indeed have inalienable rights. Milk was such a good film. Sean Penn really does look Harvey Milk.
One of my current biology professors was actually hired by New York City to help find a cure for AIDS. According to him, he told them that there will never be a cure because the enzymes that facilitate the virus are also vital to the immune system. And unless someone finds a way to specifically isolate and wipeout these infected enzymes, and then replace them, there will never be a cure. It’s a bummer, but I still have hope.
Tags: Homosexuality, Peiss, public health, Repression, Respect
