Reports suggest that a vaccine has been found that is 100% effective at preventing certain strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). These strains are primarily associated with cervical cancer in women and anal cancer in gay men. The virus has not been tested on men so, though it is likely to be effective, we cannot be certain at this point.

For some years now, anti-gay activists have been screaming about how “homosexual behavior” causes “gay cancer” such as this bit from our friends at Focus on the Family:

Solid, irrefutable evidence proves that there are lethal consequences to engaging in the defining features of male homosexuality—that is, promiscuity. Active homosexuals are vulnerable to dozens of sexually transmitted diseases.19 According to one report, the risk of anal cancer rises by an astounding 4,000 percent for those engaging in homosexual intercourse and doubles again for those who are HIV positive.20

What they have not been telling you is that the occurrence rate, while greater than in the heterosexual community, is only about 35 out of 100,000 (or 0.035%), which might help explain why it had not yet been tested on gay men. Additionally, HIV positive men are twice as likely to get anal cancer than non-HIV infected men.

However, if this new vaccine does what is expected, “gay cancer” may become so rare as to disappear from the anti-gay arsenal.

I’m sure they’ll find something to replace it.

Categorized in:

Tagged in: