Preville on Politics

Act Up, where are you?

Posted on July 9, 2007 by Philip Preville

Today, when the Board of Health meets at city hall, on the agenda is a report recommending that the city ask Queen’s Park include the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine as a publicly-funded service for females aged 9 through 26. Excellent news. Now: what about men? More specifically, what about gay men?

A few lurid details to explain the issue: HPV is spread by unprotected sex and produces both genital and anal warts. It also leads to cervical cancer in women, which is why the vaccine is being recommended for public funding. It also leads to anal cancer, in both women and men, if that’s where the fun’s to be had. One study, which dates back a couple of years, found that 95% of HIV-positive gay men had HPV, and 50% of them had precancerous symptoms—not a fun thing to find out when your immune system has already given up the ghost. In the UK the gay community is all over this issue. Time for ours to raise a fuss.

Comments

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Post-Gay in Oakville July 9, 2007 at 3:11 p.m.

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Doris Mayweather July 9, 2007 at 3:36 p.m.

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Canineinsten July 9, 2007 at 3:39 p.m.

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Post-Gay in Oakville July 9, 2007 at 3:41 p.m.

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Canineinsten July 9, 2007 at 3:42 p.m.

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Buck Frankston July 9, 2007 at 3:51 p.m.

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Philip Phelps July 9, 2007 at 3:54 p.m.

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Citizen H July 9, 2007 at 3:59 p.m.

My goodness, what an erudite and active blogging community you have mr. preville! I'm not sure why but the phrase "bunch of smart alecs" jumps to my mind. Kids, maybe you should get back to work! Or maybe you don't have work. Is that the problem?

Doug Nuddler July 9, 2007 at 4:01 p.m.

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Doug Nuddler July 9, 2007 at 4:03 p.m.

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Pseudo(nym) Serious July 9, 2007 at 4:08 p.m.

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Doris Mayweather July 9, 2007 at 4:12 p.m.

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Irina Krups July 9, 2007 at 4:17 p.m.

This is a very controversial topic. There seems to be a general notion out there that women are the only victims of sexual disease and abuse. During unprotected sex, women risk the contraction of STI's, developing cervical cancer, and risk pregnancy. Men are typically seen as the perpetrators, who women must protect themselves from. This notion is not only false, but exclusionary of those engaging in male homosexual intercourse (aka anal sex). Let us not forget the AIDS virus, a powerful example of the dangers involved in unprotected intercourse in all orifices of both men and women. Every sexual partner is at risk of contracting diseases, especially the HPV virus.

Would we exclude a certain sex or race from the free flu vaccination?

Would we exclude a certain sex or race from the free flu vaccination?

Mark Lutz July 9, 2007 at 4:23 p.m.

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Billy Enigma July 9, 2007 at 4:23 p.m.

As a first time blogger on this site I am puzzled by the lack of understanding on the topic.

The only person who has added any real value is Post Gay. (Although I challenge your commitment to the politically correct)

Riddle me this Post Gay; since we can't give the vaccine to people over 26 and if we can't single out gay men in grade 4, perhaps the best option is giving all young people the vaccine regardless of whether or not they are men, women, straight or gay?

Is that PC enough for you, or still infringing on the rights of your fellow man?

Tyrone Wonger July 9, 2007 at 4:27 p.m.

Screw the Politically Correct. We are talkin about warts in places where warts should not be. Let's give it to everyone.

Biblethumper16 July 9, 2007 at 4:31 p.m.

I agree with the Ontario government. Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice. Anal sex is a choice. For those men who want to engage in it, they should be willing to pay for the HPV vaccination. Women don't have a choice. God has made it our duty to have sexual intercourse for procreative purposes. Anal sex is simply a sexual indulgence, and one that should not allow men free access to the HPV vaccination.

Hank July 9, 2007 at 4:34 p.m.

Billy, your points are very interesting. Is this a vaccine that lasts a life time?? Or is the 26 yr old age cap going to be a serious problem? What about those who are either gay or straight, never been vaccinated, and have contracted the std?? Did the person responsible for this bill give any indication of why he didn't want to include gays in the plan?
How common is this disease and how fast is it spreading?
I know I am asking a lot of questions, but I think it is important in an issue such as this (extremely sensitive in nature) that all the information be known and out there before certain things are said.

Hank July 9, 2007 at 4:43 p.m.

Biblethumber, while your arguments are reasonable, it almost sounds as if gay men should always have to pay for what you call "sexual indulgence". Everyone should have the right to engage in sexual intercourse with those they love, and they should not have to pay for it. You seem to be suggesting gay man should either be willing to pay for their right to have sex or simply be resigned to a life of celibacy, which just isn't right.

SexyMD July 9, 2007 at 4:44 p.m.

Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.

The surest way to eliminate risk for genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact with another individual.

For those who just can't resist, there is the vaccination.
The length of vaccine protection (immunity) is usually not known when a vaccine is first introduced. So far, studies have followed women for five years and found that women are still protected. More research is being done to find out how long protection will last, and if a booster vaccine is needed years later.

Biblethumper16 July 9, 2007 at 4:49 p.m.

Hank. This is a very sensitive topic for the religious community, whose opinion is often unjustifiably ignored. This kind of safety net will only encourage people to engage in homosexual activity, something that should be discouraged. Past experience prevents me from expecting anyone on this blog to agree with my opinions, but I just want to get the opinion of the Christian community out there.

Post-Gay in Oakville July 9, 2007 at 4:54 p.m.

Why have my comments been removed???? I can understand trouble makers like Caninestein, but why me?

Doris Mayweather July 9, 2007 at 4:54 p.m.

What happened to our comments?

anonymous July 9, 2007 at 5:02 p.m.

Perhaps someone has figured out that a bunch of you are entertaining each other on this blog!

Dave July 9, 2007 at 5:03 p.m.

OK..I am coming clean, I am Caninestein. I am not a dog, I am a human being who believes in the human right to self expression and freedom of speech. I am also a person who understands that free speech does not mean you can say whatever you want whenever you want particularly when another persons beliefs and lifestyles could be assaulted unjuistly. Which is why I read Toronto Life's policy on blogging, and have concluded that you have no reasonable grounds to dismiss me, or any of the other bloggers from this discussion. No harmful thing was said, especially in comparison to the crass oversimplifications of some of the more recent bloggers (biblethumper) So I ask you, Mr Preville, or whoever is initiating this, to please re-post these statements. They are all worthy of everyone's time, and all in accordance with the rules of Toronto Life.

Dave July 9, 2007 at 5:05 p.m.

A bunch of us are entertaining each other on the blog? Where did you come up with that genius observation. Of course we are. That's what a blog is, or at least that's what I have always thought it is. Discussion is stimulating, stimulation is fun, fun is entertainment. we rabble it up on this blog for that exact purpose.

Dave July 9, 2007 at 5:08 p.m.

And as for you, Bible Thumper, there is no place for the opinions of the Religious community in a discussion about the allocation of state resources. If your church group wants to decide how to allocate their own funds, than that is their choice, but your opinion has no merit in the halls of power.

Pseudo(nym) Serious July 9, 2007 at 5:12 p.m.

I have no idea why someone would think I posted my comments in jest. I will no longer be participating on this discussion board!

Rational Policies July 10, 2007 at 6:35 p.m.

The HPV vaccine is only somewhat useful and is likely to increase the prevalence of HPV and related cancers. It only protects against several strains of the virus, and thus can`t replace annual pap smears. However the population mostl likely to be non-compliant with annual smears is that which is viewed as gaining from the modest protection of the vaccine and also most likely to not understand the limited protection that the vaccine provides and most likely to be even more negligent in having annual smears.

In light of this, the money spent on HPV vaccines is wasted as compared to other efforts to improve awareness of HPV and the imperative to have annual pap smears. Recent studies of smear analysis - very low accuracy and very high variability between observers - indicate that even the money spent on smears is likely wasted and should be focused on other methods to identify or treat HPV related cancers. The vaccine is a VERY good thing, but it is not the panacea that too many observers such as Preville are claiming.

As to the relationship between HIV and HPV - that is to be expected. Acquiring HIV is related to acquiring all STDs - unprotected sex with many partners. Acquisition of one STD greatly raises the chances of acquiring others - herpes and HPV increase the chances of getting HIV, HIV increases the chances of getting HPV and herpes. This underlines the idiocy of socialised medicine - everyone thinks that they should have an input on your behaviour because they pay for your healthcare and every medical decision becomes a political issue rather than the personal and idiosyncratic decision that it should be.

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Author Bio Pic

Philip Preville

Veteran freelance writer Philip Preville lived much of his life in Montreal and Edmonton before he was lured, like so many Torontonians before him, by the promise of more work and a better living. A National Magazine Award winner and former Canadian Journalism Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Massey College, Preville writes Toronto Life’s politics column. He lives with his wife and one-year-old son in Riverdale, just close enough to the Don Valley Parkway that he can hear it when he steps outside his house—but just far enough away that it doesn’t keep him awake at night. On his office wall hangs a 1938–39 press pass belonging to his grandfather, Elias Gannon, who wrote for the Montreal Star.


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