Obama aide backs India\'s moves on homosexuality

NEW DELHI : Two of India\'s most controversial moves to combat HIV/AIDS -- legalizing homosexuality and the plan to introduce sex education in schools -- has found some fresh support from Dr Helene Gayle, US president Barack Obama\'s chief adviser on HIV/AIDS.

Dr Gayle, who is in India, told TOI in an exclusive interview that both these strategies will help reduce the stigma against marginalized communities and also help demystify sex, thereby helping young Indians grow up to \"become healthy sexual individuals\".

She said that HIV numbers are constantly dipping in India -- both decrease in cases due to better interventions and better tools to reach realistic estimates.

\"But India\'s decision to decriminalize homosexuality will greatly help reduce stigma and societal exclusion of populations like the gay community. This will lead to more people of marginalized communities coming out in the open allowing HIV interventions to reach them. Recognizing sexual diversity is vital for any country\'s fight against HIV.\"

Dr Gayle, who spent over 20 years as director of the AIDS programme at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also advised India to have an \"age appropriate sex education module\".

\"This will help youngsters make safe choices which, in turn, will help them emotionally and physically. Even in the US like in India, the pendulum on sex education swung both ways -- from being restrictive to being open,\" Dr Gayle said.

Sex education is already underway in most states. However, last year, some states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh were against the move, fearing it would corrupt young minds.

According to WHO, early sex education delays the start of sexual activity, reduces sexual activity among young people and encourages those already sexually active to have safer sex. Researchers have found no support for the contention that sex education encourages sexual experimentation or increased sexual activity.

Dr Gayle also criticised the nearly dozen countries who still ban entry of HIV patients. US was one of them till last year when the Senate repealed the legislation prohibiting HIV-positive visitors and immigrants to enter the country.

\"Having such a ban does not have public health benefits. It\'s just discriminatory,\" Dr Gayle said.

At present, countries like Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Qatar, Oman, Russia, Colombia, South Korea, Yemen and Armenia ban entry of HIV patients. Some 67 countries around the world have a variety of HIV-specific laws that restrict the entry, stay or residence of people living with HIV.

Warning the world against becoming complacent about HIV, Dr Gayle said HIV continues to be a major infection. \"There is unacceptably high rate of people being newly diagnosed with HIV. We need new prevention tools like vaccines and microbicides. Governments should continue to put HIV as top priority.\"

Scientists in South Africa are suggesting a radical shift in the fight against HIV -- they think that everyone, initially in South Africa but eventually in all high risk areas, should be tested for HIV and if they\'re positive, be put on anti-retroviral drugs for life.

But Dr Gayle said, \"ART greatly reduces transmission rates. Universal testing isn\'t the answer. Answer to preventing HIV is for people to reduce high risk behaviour. Compulsory testing will not be effective. India must increase HIV testing sites specially for high risk groups like sex workers and men who have sex with men.\"
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