Then and Now: HIV, Mpox, and Fighting Stigma

Stories of Care

The relationship between gay and bisexual men and public health is one that has been forged through the experience of the HIV and sexually transmitted infection epidemics. The proliferation of the mpox virus among this population has thrust this historically fraught relationship into the spotlight once again. Characterizing a disease by associating it with a single population or a particular identity has dire consequences, undermining the public health response to the detriment of patients and healthcare personnel alike. What can we learn from past epidemics that have affected the gay and bisexual community? This episode examines the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the mpox response, and how we can use these experiences to further combat stigma in healthcare.