On The Stigma And Changing Trends For HIV Positive Members Of The Jewish Community

By Edward Lee


It is enough deadweight to suffer from the physical load of a disease or an illness. How much more if one would have to suffer mental and emotional stress galore brought about by discrimination and stigmatization to a certain disease. This is an experience commonly borne by the HIV Jewish Community NYC.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the viral strain that leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome at its advanced stage. Usually, it is transmitted through contact with body fluids that are infected. However, there are also perinatal cases where the mother transmits the virus to her fetus during pregnancy.

The stigma surrounding the disease is a staple knowledge to most. Even a reputable newspaper media outlet referred to it as a new kind of cancer in 1981. Consequently, AIDS has been much bandied about as something called gay cancer. If thats overwhelming enough to take into account, all the more so when you take the conversation into another nifty channel thats called religion.

A common oversimplification of a disease of this magnitude is that it is something that homosexuals primarily incur. Its a topic for another day, but the LGBTQ minority is one that is universally not accepted in most major religions. Of course, there are sympathetic subsets in every group, but there is no single denomination where conservatives and all out hate groups dont exist. Therefore, AIDS is something thats perceived in most religions as rightful punishment for sinful conduct.

Which is something thats just plain incorrect, however you may look at it, even in the so called rightful punishment lens. After all, AIDS is transmitted in various other ways besides multiple sexual partners and intravenous drugs. Even if you virulently insist these are sinful actions, theres a considerable difference between consequence and punishment, and those with the virus dont need their suffering augmented by aspersions on their character.

The Torah, Judaisms holy book, teaches that the person is created in the image of their God and is inherently worth of dignity just by that criterion. Conversely, however, people who are living with this disease experience a loss of self worth and esteem because of this tenet. There is no central authority on HIV groups or awareness in Jewish communities that is accepted the majority of Jews. Consequently, discrimination abounds.

However, to append on the shortcomings of their religion, certain individuals banded together and formed their own special gay synagogues where they can address the problems relevant to them. Some synagogues hold training and seminars on HIV awareness, prevention, and safety. This augurs well for the future trends of AIDS awareness.

It goes without saying that the Jewish community in NYC is taking baby strides towards normalization. Of course, this normalization is not about accepting AIDS as a way of life, but of accepting its sufferers back into the fold. Greater sympathy and knowledge of its effects will gradually bring us closer to its complete prevention, maybe cure.

There is a certain synagogue that made a relevant rallying cry, stating that Silence is equal to death, and Action equates to life. No better catchphrase is needed in order to destroy the taboo that surrounds HIV infection. Ignorance is the greatest stumbling block towards this goal, so it pays to be educated and aware.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire