November 26, 2011 | Health Matters

Bahamas AIDS problem due to homophobia

The high rate of HIV and AIDS in the Bahamas has a lot to do with the country's homophobic attitudes, argued Dr. Perry Gomez, director of the National HIV/AIDS Programme. 

Gomez was responding to an attack on gays by Baptist Bishop Simeon Halan, who last week said homosexuality was “anti-family” and also a “deadly practice."

A UN study has found that HIV rates have doubled in the country since 2008, with gay and bisexual men accounting for 14 percent of cases. 

"The issue with MSMs [is] that they are a very private group," explained Gomez. “It has been difficult in getting information from that group of people over the years and part of the issue is stigma and discrimination.”

The government in the Bahamas expressed support for a UN Human Rights Council resolution that promoted equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. It is a long way from supporting same-sex marriages, but it's a step in the right direction.

High HIV rates in the Bahamas blamed on homophobia [PinkNews]