Monkeypox: Not a gay disease
Photo by Honey Fangs on Unsplash
Article by Colin Fyfe, AMFT
If you haven’t already heard, there’s a new public health crisis happening that isn’t COVID related – Monkeypox. Although rare outside of Central and West Africa, cases of Monkeypox have started to show an upward trend, impacting men who have sex with men (MSM) communities at a much higher rate. However, Monkeypox will affect anyone who has been in recent contact with another infected individual. Social media, unfortunately, has begun to associate Monkeypox as the “gay disease” –being transmitted at gay-oriented super spreader events such as saunas, bars, and dance parties. The reality is Monkeypox is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets, touching an exposed lesion and/or viral particles that may be present on nearby surfaces.
According to the CDC, Individuals are likely to get flu-like symptoms followed by rashes on parts of the face, arm, legs, and genitals that appear 1-2 weeks after initial exposure.
Such misinformation of associating Monkeypox as a “gay disease” only perpetuates stigmatizing rhetoric and further slut shames MSM communities, a community that is too familiar with the horrific stigma and prejudice endured during the AIDS crisis.
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To clarify, Monkeypox is NOT a gay disease. All individuals, regardless of sexual orientations and/or other characteristics, need to take precautions if attending large social gatherings (e.g., raves, parties, festivals) and/or engaging in sexual encounters where skin-to-skin contact will occur.
Though there are vaccines to prevent Monkeypox, they are currently in low supply with high demand. The reality is you may still want to be social and have sexual encounters while you wait for vaccines to become more accessible.
The CDC has shared some guidelines on how to help curb the spread of Monkeypox, especially in sexual contexts, including:
- Masturbate together at a distance of at least 6 feet without touching each other.
- Consider having sex with your clothes on in an attempt to reduce as much skin-to-skin contact.
- Avoid kissing
- Remember to wash your hands, fetish gear, sex toys, and any fabrics after having sex.
- Limit your number of partners to avoid opportunities for Monkeypox to spread.
If you believe you have been exposed to Monkeypox and/or have symptoms, you may call Strut at 415-581-1600. If you are interested and eligible to receive a vaccine, you may call San Francisco City Clinic, 628-217-6600.
Colin Fyfe, AMFT is a sex and relationship therapist in San Francisco, California. He specializes in working with the LGBTQIA community, men's mental health, and substance use issues. Colin also offers online therapy.
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