The Stigma of Monkeypox: Didn’t We Learn From the ’80s? – The glove

By Ava Zardynezhad, September 12, 2022—

In late July 2022, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency, with men who have sex with men (MSM) representing a high-risk population. A few days later, news sources published the first articles suggesting that the virus spreads like a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Soon, Tweets like Majorie Taylor Greene’s made it clear that the possible dissemination of information, especially by the US media, was not entirely without intention and ulterior motives.

“If monkeypox is a sexually transmitted disease, then why do children get it,” said Greene, who has a history of regularly spreading politically biased misinformation about health and the pandemic.

Two months later, the homophobic sentiments forming around this global health emergency have become much clearer. When the issue of homophobia in the context of monkeypox is raised, many are quick to jump in to the defense, claiming that public health efforts to inform the at-risk group are not homophobic and should not be viewed as such. I agree. Health news is definitely not homophobic. It is necessary. As vulnerable people, MSM must have all relevant information available when it comes to this health crisis. What is homophobic, however, is how right-wing media, politicians and civilians have begun to shape the monkeypox outbreak and their approach to the crisis.

“I’m still waiting for gay men who have random sex with strangers during the monkeypox outbreak to be lectured and scolded by health officials like the rest of us did for going to grocery stores and restaurants during COVID are,” he said Matt Walsha right-wing commentator, fails to see the hypocrisy in his position.

“If we could be expected to give up our normal lives for a year and our children expected to give up their education, can’t we expect gay men to stop having orgies for a few months? Isn’t that a fitting sacrifice to ask of them?” he continued.

Narratives like these bring out specific issues that have surfaced with this crisis. First, treating monkeypox virus as an STD stigmatizes members of the MSM community and creates an environment where protection from the virus becomes a personal responsibility. This is a trend that we keep seeing. The MSM community is no stranger to this narrative, as this was the approach to the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, where HIV has long been labeled a “gay-related immunodeficiency.”

We saw evidence of this last month when vaccine shortages in the US and Canada held back vaccine supplies and only the first dose of monkeypox vaccine was offered in all provinces. The government’s delayed response is alarming, and given the history of diseases affecting minority communities, particularly MSM, the hesitancy in addressing this crisis reinforces old concerns.

The second problem is the denigration and over-sexualization of members of the queer community, in this case the MSM community in particular. The political narrative in the majority of the United States is defamation of queerness. Schools are capturing all conversations about gender and sexuality by restricting teaching materials and disbanding student support groups. State governments are creating a widespread fear of “gay indoctrination” and the spread of the “gay agenda.” Members of the LGBTQ+ community have long been stereotyped with promiscuity. In the conservative context of right-wing voices, sex positivity and the open navigation of sexual health and safety mean nothing.

Given recent political changes and moods in the US, this issue raises the question of whether this media and government approach creates another weapon that will facilitate further systematization of homophobia.

The stigma that comes with the monkeypox virus is dangerous. Not only does it ostracize MSM, but it can also contribute to the underreporting for fear of coming out. Presenting the disease as an STD also eliminates the risk to the rest of the population as the disease clearly spreads non-sexually as well.

However, the crisis also brings to light another alarming problem. Forty years after the HIV/AIDS epidemics of the 1980s, we may be seeing similar patterns in government treatment of the MSM community in the form of preventable deficiency, lack of preventive care, denial of testing, and more.

Ultimately, public health efforts should not be selective. Educating and providing resources to a risk group should not be traded off in favor of protecting against stigma. Ensuring the health of individuals within society should be a priority, not only independently but also specifically in relation to their race, gender, sexual orientation and socio-political orientation.

This article is part of our Voices section.