New York City, long panned by American conservatives as one of the places that all the liberals live and everything is wrong with America, apparently isn’t quite at the level of comfort with homosexuality that one would assume from such a global destination.  Four out of ten gay men report not telling their doctors about their sexual preference, which markedly lowers the chance that they’ll be tested for HIV. 

Photo credit

We don’t need to begin to discuss the plague that HIV has been in the past, or how it’s continuing to visit horrors upon both gay and straight individuals today—suffice to say that 40% of the gay population not telling their doctor is a very, very bad thing.  The study, done by the New York public health department, placed some blame at the feet of the doctors for simply not asking.  It’s a sign of the distance yet to be covered that doctors and patients are “don’t ask don’t tell”-ing each other, but there is some hope—under 28 years of age, the level of openness with doctors doubles, and of those out with their health professional, 68% have had an HIV test. 

By Pinke.biz writer Ben Ray. Check out his blog at What's Required.

Do you want to write for Pinke? We're looking for writers all over the world to write about the gay issues that matter all over the globe. We're particularly looking for travel writers and writers in Asia/Africa/the Middle East, but we'll consider anyone with great writing skills and an interest in the subject. Email Pinke editor Robert Knox for more information.