Bug Chasing – the myth that just won’t go away.
Despite very little if any concrete epidemiological data to support the assertion that bug-chasing (people intentionally seeking to become HIV infected) really exists, this urban legend continues to surface. In today’s Boston Metro an article about the shameful statistics of homelessness among gay youth a throw-away comment about the phenomena was highlighted and pulled out in a special box in the article labeled “Contracting HIV.”
When pressed, the source for the article agreed that there is only anecdotal evidence that homeless queer youth claim to be seeking HIV in order to receive services, and that in fact, these claims are likely to be cries for help rather than actual plans of action. Adolescence is by its very nature a time for drama, and what’s not more dramatic than alleging suicidal intentions? I don’t doubt for a minute the desperate nature of being a homeless queer kid – I just don’t want us all to overreact and further marginalize and demonize homeless queer kids by taking everything they say too seriously. And, the truth about homeless queer kids is that an estimated one-quarter to one-third of them report engaging in survival sex during their time on the streets. That’s a horrifying enough reality without over blowing anecdotal cries for help.
And as for the hullabaloo that there is a community of gay men out there seeking HIV, again, I think the evidence is incredibly limited. I’ll even agree with Andrew Sullivan for a moment in his brilliant piece on Salon.com refuting claims made in Rolling Stone Magazine in 2003.
There’s more than enough work to be done to support queer youth and support people at risk for HIV without making up scary stories.
