http://www.prnewsnow.com/Public_Release/Asian%20Interests/203493.html

11 May 2008
PR NEWS NOW

The Thai Ministry of Public Health has just released figures detailing the
dramatic rise of HIV infection among MSM (men who have sex with men). Estimated
at 28% in 2005, that number has increased to an all-time high of just under 31%
in 2007.

This continuing spike in infection rates, mentioned only briefly in the Thai
Press, has seemingly gone unnoticed; just as Thailand's sexual minority
including gay and MSM communities has languished from seriously low levels of
official funding and only limited research into AIDS prevention among them.

With a vibrant GLBT sub-culture, "The Land of Smiles" has annual
pride parade celebrations in four major cities; with Phuket Island's
tourist-pleasing festival marking its first decade. Achieved with minimal
official support, these self-produced public events are often focused on
AIDS/HIV awareness (Pattaya's annual parade coincides with World AIDS Day).
Without support from the government, Thai gays have been left to sink or swim on
their own; and they're sinking.

Despite Thailand's famous reputation for tolerance, its homosexuals and
"third genders" are never-the-less subject to public bias and
official discrimination: in 2004 a Culture Ministry Deputy declared war on open
gays for being abnormal influences in the media; in 2007 a member of the
assembly drafting Thailand's new constitution objected to including
protections for GLBT because such people would "make Thai society
weak." More damaging, a long term Moral Order campaign, begun under the
former Taksin administration, saw officials raiding legal businesses and
threatening arrests and closures when condoms were discovered on premises.
Condoms, the most effective weapon that gay venues had in a public health
crisis, vanished as they were deemed instant proof of wrongdoing.

Two decades ago, when homosexuals made up only 1% of Thailand's run-away
HIV infections, gays began grass roots education to prevent the kind of scourge
that had wracked communities in Europe and the US. Groups like The White Line
Dance Troupe toured straight brothels and schools, in addition to gay bars and
dance clubs, to spread the safer sex message to the larger society.

Despite being pioneers in AIDS/HIV prevention and continuing to highlight
prevention messages in its public events, the gay community received little
meaningful assistance or attention in Thailand's recent prevention efforts.

Since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration (TUC)
showed HIV prevalence of 17.3% among MSM in Bangkok in 2003, that figure has
nearly doubled in just four years. Last month the Commission on AIDS in Asia
reported that MSM infection rates in Asia as a whole are estimated to more than
double in the next decade.

To their credit, the Ministry of Public Health has significantly added its
support to developing national strategies, with the community, for dealing with
HIV among MSM. What is missing, at least since the 1997 economic crisis, is the
political will at the highest levels of government.

Unless prevention efforts change dramatically -- and UNAIDS suggests that 80%
of a sub-population at high risk must be reached directly with HIV prevention
efforts including condom and lubricant distribution, to achieve at least a 60%
change in risk behaviours -- HIV disease seems set to consume more smiles in
Thailand's future.

Citation for the 30.7% 2007 figure comes from: Pliplat T, Kladsawas K, van
Griensven, Wimonsate W. 2008. Results of the HIV surveillance among men who
have sex with men (MSM) in Bangkok, Chiangmai and Phuket. Proceeding for the
Department of Disease Control Annual Conference,

Ministry of Public Health, 11-13 February 2008, Bi-Tech Convention Centre.

MSM infection rates are averaged from locations where MSM socialize (as opposed
to commercial sex venues), specifically: saunas, bars and dance clubs, and
parks.

In 2005, the infection rate for Bangkok male sex workers was 15.4% for
venue-based and 22.6% for street-based male sex workers. Both lower than the
28% for gay and bisexual men at non-commercial venues.