Grace & Peace!
Charlemagne, you would do well to read more carefully.
There’s a reason why the CDC uses the label “men who have sex with men” or “MSM”: because there are men who have sex with men who do not identify as homosexual. The MSM population would likely include: male prostitutes and male sex workers of all stripes; heterosexual men who engage in situational homosexual behaviors (such as men in prison); heterosexual men who experiment with homosexual sex or who enjoy homosexual sex but do not identify as homosexual; homosexual men who have homosexual sex. The CDC is pretty clear in its terminology that its statistical commentary is not regarding the entire male homosexual population (many of whom may be celibate or may not engage in risky sexual behaviors such as penetrative intercourse of any sort with other men), but it* is* regarding all folks in the MSM population, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
So while there is certainly some overlap between the homosexual male population and the MSM population, they are nonetheless not identical. Categorical statements regarding the one population may not be completely applicable to the other–though a lazy journalist or someone afflicted momentarily by lazy thinking may say otherwise…
Under the Mercy,
Mark
All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!
You should be the one who should be reading more carefully, Mark.
From the CDC, why and where it uses the term MSM.
For assessing disease risk, the term MSM is often used instead of gay, homosexual, or bisexual because it refers to a risk behavior, rather than an identity that may or may not be tied to a behavior.
From the CDC, stating that
*
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) of all races and ethnicities remain the population most profoundly affected by HIV.
In 2010, the estimated number of new HIV infections among MSM was 29,800, a significant 12% increase from the 26,700 new infections among MSM in 20082.
Although MSM represent about 4% of the male population in the United States4, in 2010, MSM accounted for 78% of new HIV infections among males and 63% of all new infections2. MSM accounted for 52% of all people living with HIV infection in 2009, the most recent year these data are available1.*
Also from the CDC, how their staff identified respondents to the study of sexual behavior of Men Who Have Sex With Men.
*Identification of Venues Frequented by MSM
In each city, a team of staff members familiar with the local community conducted formative research to establish a list of venues frequented by MSM (9). To identify possible venues for inclusion in the venue list, the team consulted local publications, online media, members of the local MSM community, business owners, staff members at community-based organizations, key health department staff members, and persons providing medical and social services to MSM. If a venue did not exclusively serve MSM, the team observed and conducted brief interviews at the venue. Brief interviews were used to assess the eligibility of male patrons for NHBS and their sexual history with other men. If the information from these brief interviews indicated that the venue would yield a sufficient number of MSM (i.e., ≥75% of men approached would meet the eligibility criteria and reported sex with other men), the venue was included on the venue list. Clinics and other health-care settings were specifically excluded because of the potential for introducing bias in several key indicators (e.g., HIV testing history and access to health care).
*
Venues on the list were categorized as a bar, dance club, fitness club or gymnasium, Gay Pride event, park or beach, large dance party (e.g., rave or circuit party), café or restaurant, retail business, sex establishment or sex environment, social organization, street location, or another venue type, such as an event hosted by the local house ball community.
It does not appear that the CDC sent their information gathering team to the prisons. Understandably, I would think, because inmates would not classify as a random sample.
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