4 I February 6, 2015
The Guilfordian
WORLD & NATION
V ▼ WW\A
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM/WORLDNATION
The Deep South
continues to struggle
in war against HIV
BYAIPERMUSUPOVA
Staff Writer
The United States has always been divided into geographical fractions
based ori race and socioeconomic status. Today, the fragmented character of
Anierican history has led to a new life-threatening problem — the growing
prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection in the Deep South.
“There is a synergy of plagues that put people at risk for HIV,” said Dr.
Laurie Dill, director of Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama, in an interview
for A1 Jazeera America. “One of them is racism. One is poverty. One is poor
education. One is domestic violence. One is rural access. One is stigma.”
A recent study at Duke University, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill and the Centers for Disease Control disclosed that the increasing
numbers in statistics on HIV diagnoses, prevalence, and case fatality rates in
the Deep South — including North Carolina — are related to poor health care
access and insufficiencies in the national health insurance system.
“People living with HIV in the South may experience greater difficulty
accessing health care, as previous research has identified that a lower
proportion of individuals Uving with HIV are covered by Medicaid in
the South,” said Dr. Susan Reif, a lead author of the study and principal
investigator at Duke University Global Health Institute. “Medicaid tends to
cover fewer services for individuals in the South, and the South has received
less Ryan White Care Act funding per capita than other regions, although
that gap has narrowed over time. In addition, none of the Deep South states
have chosen to expand Medicaid, so gaps in health care access and access to
other critical services such as HIV case management, mental health care, and
transportation between the Deep South and other regions may continue to
widen.”
Moreover, there are other solid factors that influence the c
HIV epidemics in the Deep South. In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control'
reported that blacks experience the most severe burden of HIV, which
has remained unchanged for the past four years according to the national
statistics. ’
“There obviously isn’t just one cause or explanation for uhese
disproportionate numbers, but I’d say that HlVrrelated stigma is a big factor,”
said sophomore Nellie Vinograd^ majoring in sociology and anthropology.
“Not only were the number of HIV diagnoses higher in the South than in
other regions, but the number of deaths related to HIV were higher as well.
(This) makes me think that people are possibly not seeking proper treatment
because they feel shame or fear Concerning their disease.”
In fact, the research suggests that social stigma, fear, stereotypes, poverty,
low levels of education and disparities in the health care system have become
the most contributing elements of HIV epidemics in the South.
“The Deep South has struggled to keep up with the rest of America in
the fight against HIV/AIDS because of a lack of education among young
minorities,” said senior Kahlil Ferine. “Many youth may feel that being at
risk for contracting HIV means having sex with someone they don’t or barely
know. With this mindset at work, unprotected sex becomes all the more
prevalent in their small towns, as healthy partners are perceived as those
whose past relationships are known. In reality, one cannot diagnose STDs
in another by simply looking at them and considering their sexual history. “
Now that Reif s research team has revealed the dire truth about HIV in
America, we should be working on strategies that can better solve HIV/AIDS
issue in the South.
“I think, at this point, we need to be looking at this issue with more of a
lens on an inside perspective,” said sophomore Jocelyn Foshay. “We should
be more open to the feedback and experiences that come with being afflicted
by HIV/AIDS from those directly involved.”
A more focused investment in education, fighting stigmas and stereotypes,
addressing poverty and improving the health care system is needed to lower
the number of HIV cases.
“The cause of the observed outcomes (higher incidence, lower survival
rates) lies in higher rates of poverty and unemployment in the Deep South,”
said Natalya Shelkova, assitant professor of economics. “Until the states
come up with the solution for providing the poor with adequate health
insurance, we will not see an improvement in the health outcomes for the
HIV/AIDS patients.”
Allison making NC
history os first trons
party chair candidate
The Deep South has struggled to
keep up with the rest of America in
the fight against HIV/AIDS because
of a lack of education among young
minorities... healthy partners are
perceived as those whose past
relationships are know.
Kahlil Ferine, senior
$3
Janice Covington Allison breaks new ground through her campaign for North Carolina Democratic Party chair.
BY BRIANNA PARKER
Staff Writer
Janice Covington Allison is making history
as the first transgender candidate for the
North Carolina Democratic Party chair, but
the journey is not without roadblocks.
Allison made waves in 2012 when she
became the first transgender delegate to attend
the Democratic National Convention. By
announcing her candidacy for the party chair
position on Jan. 5, she is yet again leading
the charge for the transgender community.
Elections will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7,
in"Raleigh. If elected, one of Allison’s main
goals is to negotiate a statewide employment
nondiscrimination act that is inclusive of the
whole LGBTQA community.
Nondiscrimination laws are important
because, even in progressive circles, members of
the trans community still face discrimination..
At a candidate forum on Jan. 20, Allison’s
opposition, former Rep. Patsy Keever, was
captured on an audio recording calling
Allison a man, according to QNotes, an LGBT
news source based in Charlotte. The comment
was made during Allison’s forum address, in
which she spoke of the identities she claimed
during the 2012 DNC delegate elections.
“I ran as a senior citizen ... I ran as a
disabled vet ... I ran as a woman ... I ran as
LGBT. And what did I leave out? There’s one
more,” Allison said during the address. Keever
then responded “a man.”
Regarding the incident, Allison told The
Guilfordian, “I don’t know whether she meant
it or whether it was a slip, or whether it was
just ignorance. I don’t know.”
Allison and Keever have since made
amends. “Water under the bridge,” said
Allison. “That’s the way I thought and that’s
why I hugged (Keever) at the forum last
weekend. I’m not excusing her for doing it,
but I just kind of felt sorry because people
were beating up on her.”
Many North Carolina LGBTQA leaders
continue to endorse Keever. Allison said,
“Well, you know, it’s their privilege to support
anybody they desire. That’s what democracy is
about. But I do feel kind of hurt.”
She added that many gay people, men in
particular, do not support trans people.
“They think of us as gay men who dress
like women, and that’s not what we’re about,”
said Allison. “You know, hey, if we’re going to
be with you and part of the acronym, we’ve
got to be accepted by all.”
Despite the controversial nature of Allison’s
candidacy, a win for her would be important
for many people.
“I think it is very important to include
trans individuals within leadership and
political positions,” said junior Cara Messina.
“Visibility is important and it is necessary to
start larger conversations about inclusivity
and acceptance.”
This view is echoed by other Guilford
College students.
“(A trans party chair) would honestly be
the greatest thing to actually happen,” said
sophomore Taylor Brown, who describes
himself as transmasculine and gender-fluid.
“It would be a big change for our state’s
history but not only the state’s history but
for the LGBT community as well,” said
Brown. “It would also show, within our LGBT
community, that trans people can also make
a difference and not just lesbians or gay
members,”
For Brown and other young members of the
trans community, Allison has some advice.
“Don’t be afraid of the world,” said Allison.
“Go out there and just grab it by the tail and
shake it and find out what falls out. Just be
you. Don’t be afraid. I used to walk in the
shadows on the sidewalks and hide. It’s not
like that anymore ... things are changing for
the good”.