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fi^l mU9]U9 ftns msfAWmixfivmiSijM PERSPECTIVE An Enchanting Forest - • Jt- Developed in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina just outside - of Boone, you will find a gated V community built exclusively for I your lifestyle. Build a log cabin or j . ’ natural wood sided home on a one jjfi ■ 3cre private wooded homesite in a 165 acre mountain development. Priced from the mid $50’s, our enchanting forest awaits you. - A Gay & Lesbian Community In The Blue'Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. tofC-st'/lc The Wav Others Dream Of IJving! • Beautiful Views r /ij j • Gated Community • Community Oriented > • Clubhouse/Pool/Amenities ai^reeA o\^e • Hiking Trails ^ • Rolling Streams • Enchanting Forests Natural Surroundings For More Information, Please Call Us At 336-385-1136 www.carefreecove.com 4 NOVEMBER 4.2006 • Q-NOTES Editor’s Note by David Moore . Q-Notes staff Mecklenburg County’s syphilis epidemic? No matter if it’s with a long-term partner or someone you just met five minutes ago — sex can be a lot of fun. The fact of the matter is, though, you don’t know very much about that someone you just met five minutes ago. Whether you met at a bar, on a street cor ner, in the grocery store or in an internet chat room, there’s no denying the fact you don’t really know what (or who) they’ve been doing before you met. They could have picked up anything and might just be walking around infected with an STD that they could unintentionally transfer to you via a casual sexual encounter. Everybody says oral sex is pretty safe — even without a condom the likelihood of being infected with HIV is minimal. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of HIV trans mitted through oral sex. But a lot of other nasty things can be transmitted through unprotected oral sex. Herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, intestinal par asites and hepatitis are examples of STDs that can be transmitted during oral sex with an infected partner. Currently in Mecklenburg County trans mission of syphilis among gay m6n has reached previously uncharted levels. “Certainly we are overrepresented,” says John Glorioso, a syphillis elimination coordi nator for Mecklenburg County. “In 2005 gay men accounted for 35 percent of all cases. During the first quarter of this year we’re see ing a 27 percent increase already.” According to Glorioso, Charlotte is on the leading edge of an overall increase in syphilis across North Carolina. “It looks like this problem may be with us for a while,” he continues. “Fifty-one out of 150 patients were gay men. We’re seeing this with HIV positive and negative men.” All too often individuals aren’t aware they’re infected because they don’t notice or recognize the symptoms. During the first stage a chancre or lesion may appear on the penis, inside the rectum or mouth, on the tip of the tongue or a finger. Secondary symptoms include mucous patches in the mouth, skin rashes on the body and particularly icky moist, warty patches on the genitalia or skin folds called condylomata lata. During secondary syphilis, additional symptoms such as fever, malaise, loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes may also be noted. This stage is the most contagious stage of syphilis. \^ile it usually resolves within weeks, in some cases it may last up to a year. “It’s easier to treat primary and secondary stages,” explains Glorioso. “If a person has had it more than a year they’re going to face some challenges.” Not surprisingly, the increase of STD transmission can be directly linked to internet chat room hook-ups. “A lot of people are hooking up these days for casual sex encounters over the internet,” says Glorioso. “That’s why I do internet out reach through chat rooms.” The Metrolina AIDS Project and Glorioso are providing syphilis testing and rapid HIV tests every Wednesday at Charlotte’s Gay and Lesbian Community Center. For more details, call 704 432-TEST. I Vote for equality Nov. 7! Equality NC PAC is proud to support these Democratic candidates in the Nov. election In the North Carolina House: District 21: Rep. Larry Bell District 29: Rep. Larry Hall District 30: Rep. Paul Luebke District 31: Rep. Mickey Michaux District 33: Rep. Bernard Allen District 34: Rep. Grier Martin District 35: Rep. Jennifer Weiss District 36: Greer Beaty District 37: Ed Ridpath District 38: Rep. Deborah Ross District 41: Ty Harrell District 42: Rep. Marvin Lucas District 45: Rep. Rick Glazier District 54: Rep. Joe Hackney District 56: Rep. Verla Insko District 57: Rep. Pricey Harrison District 58: Rep. Alma Adams District 59: Rep. Maggie Jeffus District 66: Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin District 71: Rep. Larry Womble District 100: Rep. Jim Black District 102: Rep. Becky Carney District 106: Rep. Martha Alexander District 107: Rep. Pete Cunningham District 114: District Rep. Susan Fisher In the North Carolina Senate: District 1: Sen. Marc Basnight District 7: Sen. Doug Berger District 9: Sen. Julia Boseman District 10: Sen. Charlie Albertson District 14: Sen. Vernon Malone District 16: Sen. Janet Cowell District 18: Sen. Bob Atwater District 19: Sen. Tony Rand District 20: Sen. Jeanne Lucas District 21: Sen. Larry Shaw District 23: Sen. Ellie Kinnaird District 27: Sen. Kay Hagan District 28: Sen. Katie Dorsett District 32: Sen. Linda Garrou District 37: Sen. Dan Clodfelter District 38: Sen. Charlie Dannelly District 49: Sen. Martin Nesbitt Significant Local Races: Orange County Commissioner: Mike Nelson Wake County Clerk of Court: Lorrin Freeman In Mecklenburg County, MeckPac has endorsed for County Commision: Parks Heims, Wilhemenia Rembert, Dumont Clarke and Jennifer Roberts. In South Carolina: Vote no on Amendment 1.
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