HIV Diagnoses Increase Among Males 13 to 24

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report recently showing lower HIV rates overall, but an increase in cases among males ages 13-24. The report only looked at those already diagnosed with HIV, but there is concern that many more may be infected and not know it. Coupled with high risk behaviors, health officials fear it could have the makings of another epidemic like the one experienced in the 1980s.

“It’s been more than 30 years since the first cases were reported,” said Amy Lansky, deputy director for surveillance, epidemiology and laboratory sciences at the CDC. “It’s harder to maintain that sense of urgency.”

The report lists several possible reasons for the increase in cases in the 13-to-24 age group.

“Delays in diagnosis, temporal trends in diagnoses and variations among groups may reflect earlier changes in HIV incidence,” the report states. “Reports show that many at high risk do not test annually and the overall percentage of youth who had ever tested for HIV during the period of analysis was low compared to other age groups.”

Dean Greer is the national coordinator for Desert Steam/Living Waters ministries, a program that helps men and women find healing from unwanted same-sex attractions. He is also HIV positive.

“In my opinion, young people today are most susceptible to media bias that celebrates gay sex with no consequences,” he told CitizenLink. “They have not been given a true vision to aspire towards relationally/sexually, and settle for so much less.”

The reality, he explained, “is that more young people today are having more high risk sex than ever before — we are simply seeing the stats of that reality. The numbers don’t lie.”

Greer, a husband and father, calls that tragic.

“My own life — as well as the lives of countless others — bears the fruit of the healing possible for all,” he said. “It’s the transformation available to everyone as followers of Christ. The problem of those who claim change is not possible is that they no longer believe they need a Savior.”

Desert Stream/Living Waters focuses on balancing compassion with truth — a combination that Greer says makes all the difference.

“The heart of Desert Streams is reconciliation through the cross of Christ,” Greer said. “Reconciliation to Jesus in our identities, our genders, our relationships. Everyone is invited to receive His mercy there, no one is exempt nor disqualified.”  CitizenLink