Australia’s gay aboriginal men have a high HIV risk

Australia's National Center in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research says that aboriginal gay men in the Queensland area of the country are at a much higher risk of HIV infection than other gay men or heterosexual aboriginals, reports the Sydney Star Observer. About half of the gay aboriginal men interviewed by the agency reported unprotected anal sex with a casual partner within the previous six months, a considerably higher rate than reported by other gay men in the country. The study also found that about 60% of the aboriginal gay men were unaware of their current HIV status.

The researchers also learned that gay aboriginal men report a high level of discrimination from other aboriginal people and racial discrimination by other gay men. More than one third of the gay men surveyed said they had been discriminated against by other members of the aboriginal community; more than half said they had been racially discriminated against by other Australian gay men. (Advocate.com)