Monkeypox Is Not a Gay Virus, the CDC Reminds Those Concerned
Views expressed in The Advocate’s opinion articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, Pride Media.Monkeypox is not a gay disease.
It is not a gay virus. It is not a gay plague. It is not HIV 2.0.I can’t tell you how many times over the last week or so I have been asked about monkeypox.
Because I write for The Advocate, most everyone I know assumes that I know all about monkeypox.Straight friends have asked me, “Are you going to get monkeypox?” Gay men have said to me, “This sounds like how AIDS started.” And the more I read and hear about monkeypox, the more I’m a little annoyed at how the media has anointed men who have sex with men as the biggest threat to our survival from monkeypox.It’s a conundrum for the media.
While the queer male population is presenting more than other communities, it’s the media’s job to warn these men about the increased risk at the moment; however, as a longtime PR professional who has worked with the media for years, I know there is some sensationalism with how monkeypox is being covered, particularly with headlines that scream, "Click here immediately!"“Monkeypox Is Spreading Among Gay Men Worldwide.” How about "Monkeypox IS Spreading Worldwide" and put gay men in the subhead?“CDC Officials Sound the Alarm for Gay and Bi-Sexual Men as Monkeypox Spreads Through the Community.” Alarm?
