David Selberg Takes Pride in His Work with Pacific Pride Foundation

» John Q on 02.20.10 @ 11:09 AM

Good on you for what you do and thanks for not demanding Sacramento reinstate your funding.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

» Keep up the good work! on 02.20.10 @ 05:49 PM

Just don’t come near us taxpayers with your hands out!

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

» Joy on 02.22.10 @ 09:45 AM

It is wonderful to see David recognized as the caring intelligent and sincere person he is. David works tirelessly for what he believes in.  A real mentor for other leaders.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

» elaz on 02.22.10 @ 03:20 PM

I couldn’t agree more…

“Thanks for highlighting the important work of this community leader and the organization he serves. And as a tax-payer, I would be in favor of having more of my tax money go to fund such efforts.  Thank you, David and PPF!”

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

» non-profit worker/don't care what consenting adult on 02.23.10 @ 07:20 PM

I thought the article was more a profile & praise of Selberg than a political statement or discussion.
I believe that Randy Shilts’ book “And the Band Played On” is still the best source of info on the conflicts in philosophy & social policy between different AIDS support groups and many other involved parties. And yes, I think the baths should’ve been closed, but that’s really neither here nor there.

I can only imagine working with such a depleted staff! I probably couldn’t cope. Kudos to everyone at PPF!!

Bill, not a bad point, but keep it in perspective.
Of course it’s a matter of personal responsibility, and of course society pays for human mistakes. So hard to change that! I wish I could dictate the sterilization of many people, but oh well.
Look at the stats on U.S. STDs. Granted, only syphilis is really deadly, if untreated. I realize I’m comparing apples to oranges, but taxpayers pay out a lot re: STD’s too.
It’s an interesting report; there are breakdowns by social groups. The stats cited below appear to include gay men.
CDC STD Surveillance 2008
http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats08/toc.htm

In 2008, 1,210,523 chlamydial infections were reported to CDC from 50 states and the District of Columbia. This case count corresponds to a rate of 401.3 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 9.2% compared with the rate of 367.5 in 2007.
Over the past 20 years, from 1989 through 2008, the rate of reported chlamydial infection increased from 102.5 to 401.3 cases per 100,000 population. [This is easily tested for; Planned Parenthood does so for virtually every patient; it’s done before birth control is prescribed.]

Gonorrhea is the second most commonly-reported notifiable disease in the United States. In 2008, 336,742 cases of gonorrhea were reported in the United States, a rate of 111.6 cases per 100,000 population, reflecting a small decrease of 5.4% since 2007. Gonorrhea rates have remained relatively stable over the past 12 years.

In 2008, P&S (primary & secondary) syphilis cases reported to CDC increased to 13,500 from 11,466 in 2007, an increase of 17.7%. The rate of P&S syphilis in the United States in 2008 (4.5 cases per 100,000 population) was 18.4% higher than the rate in 2007 (3.8 cases per 100,000 population).

Data from the National Disease and Therapeutic Index suggest that incidence of genital warts as measured by initial visits to physicians’ offices, may be increasing. [A] 1999–2004 survey years demonstrated that 5.6% of sexually active 18–59 year olds self-reported a history of a genital wart diagnosis.

http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/herpes_statistics.htm:
Around 70 percent of American adults have oral herpes [HSV 1] (cold sores; which many people do not realize is herpes).
Genital Herpes [HSV 2]
An estimated 25 percent of American adults have genital herpes. About one in five people in the United States over age 12 (approximately 45 million individuals) are infected with HSV-2.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/STDFact-herpes.htm:
Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had genital HSV infection. Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of eight).

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

» non-profit worker on 02.24.10 @ 04:33 AM

“Why are gay men such a represented demographic in the scourge of AIDS?” Why? Because of Patient Zero, an*l (gay) sex & bachannalian behavior. Because of politics & lack of self-protection. I’m not disagreeing with you, Bill, but look at the rates in other countries of hetero HIV/AIDS.
I realize HIV/AIDS is deadly for poor and 3rd world people and for uninsured and naive/ignorant 1st world people and thus unlike other STDs. I also realize it is difficult for many women to protect themselves from disease & pregnancy (again, especially in 3rd world countries).
But I did make most of these points in my first post, to the extent of agreeing with certain health care professionals in the 80’s that the baths should have been closed.
It takes decades to make a national or global education initiative effective. I like to use MADD as an example. It’s a long slow process and I have no doubt that as a gay center and an HIV test center,PPF advises & promotes safe sex. Gay centers are needed and that is only one of the reasons. More strength to them. And I, a hetero, have taken advantage of free testing a couple of times in my life. What a fateful thing: I had a hemophiliac lover in the 80’s.
It’s so difficult to change human behavior. We’re smart, but we’re also still animals.
(I also recommend author/activist Larry Kramer as a good read. He’s a gay man who was so angry at his compatriots’ slow response to and arguments against strong action in response to the epidemic.)

You don't have permission to flag this entry.