HUMAN SEXUALITY AND AIDS

The sexual behaviours placing an individual at risk for HIV infection are those also placing
him/her at risk for gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis B, chlamydia and unplanned pregnancy. This
article proposes that approaches to HIV prevention must be included within a broad context of
human sexuality. To address disease prevention in the absence of including people's
relationships, social, behavioural and emotional needs is futile. Compartmentalization, denial of
risk by various populations, and societal barriers are all factors to be overcome in the fight
against HIV transmission. Specific strategies involved in a comprehensive approach are outlined
under the categories of predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors contributing to healthy
sexual behaviour.

PIP:

Since the same sexual behavior which places individuals at risk for HIV infections can also lead
to gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, hepatitis, and unplanned pregnancy, prevention
strategies against AIDS must be addressed within the broader context of human sexuality. The 3
major issues in disease prevention are 1) compartmentalization, which focuses on prevention of
a single disease, problem, or class of people, and which has failed in its approach; 2) a state of
denial, which prevents people from learning more about the risks involved with their behavior;
and 3) societal barriers including taboos, reticence, stigmatizing a disease, and ambivalence.
Since successful prevention strategies involve a broad base of personal competencies, a
comprehensive approach is called for. Strategies which address predisposing factors affecting
behavior attempt to reach schools, communities, families, and health professionals. Specific
examples include curriculum development in schools, brochures distributed by pharmacies and
family planning clinics, posters targeted to specific populations, television programs, and
pamphlets and reference materials for physicians. Enabling factors which allow a change in
behavior are approached through access to education, access to resources, and strengthening
personal skills. Reinforcing factors are strengthened in clinics, the media, and the community.
For example, a package containing information about postponing sexual activity, sexually
transmitted diseases, and HIV as well as 2 condoms was attached to tuxedos rented for
graduation exercises. No disease exists in isolation, and no preventable disease can be
successfully avoided in isolation. Integrated behavior change is necessary to reach the goal of
health and create a social norm of safe sexual relations

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted disease that attacks the immune
system. Our main cells (T4), which are needed to fight off illnesses, become overwhelmed by
diseases and are then unable to protect the body from illnesses and infections.

The herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1) was determined to have three origins of replications
that were identified and that they were large. Generally a plasmid usually only has 1 origin of
replication. Replication occured by the rolling circle mechanism for this virus. HSV-1 infects a
human by first gaining access to a person's sensory neurons and then traveling through the
axons of the neurons in order to start an infection in the sensory neurons that aggravate the site
of infection. Vial latency is where the viral DNA is present however it stays in the body without
having symptoms in a subdued form where symptoms do not appear until the virus is triggered.
Lehman, Robert. Wanderings of a DNA Enzymologist: From DNA Polymerase to Viral Latency.
Annu. Rev. Biochem. January 16, 2006.
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 HUMAN SEXUALITY AND AIDS

Sex and human sexuality are a core part of being human, so it's natural to wonder about sex in
all of its different forms. Sexual disorders are like people -- they come in all different kinds of
shapes and sizes. A sexual disorder doesn't mean something is "wrong" with you. It only means
that you're experiencing the kind of issue that can suddenly affect anyone, at any time in their
lives, for any reason or no reason whatsoever. While many sexual issues can be traced back to a
physical problem or a sudden change in one's life circumstances, many sexual disorders' causes
are not well-known or understood.

The good news is that nowadays, having a sexual concern such as erectile dysfunction (ED) or
problems with getting aroused is no big deal. There are a wide variety of treatments -- from
medications to a specific form of psychotherapy -- that can help virtually everyone with a sexual
disorder, no matter what the concern.

Keep in mind as you read through this section that sexuality exists on a continuum. A concern
only rises to the level of a "sexual disorder" if it is causing the person a great deal of distress in
their life, and they would like to rectify the behavior or problem. Some of the disorders listed
below are otherwise considered healthy parts of normal human sexuality. For instance, if a
person has a fetish and he or she is fine with it (and it's not causing other trouble in the person's
life), then it's not considered a disorder.

We've compiled a growing library of articles and information related to sexual dysfunction, as
well as other articles on more general sexuality and relationship concerns. Check below for
symptoms associated with sexual disorders, and on the left-hand menu for additional
information and articleThe House of Bishops has commended for study a guide to some aspects
of the debate on human sexuality. Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate,
requested by the House three years ago, sets out a variety of views on homosexuality,
bisexuality and transsexualism and seeks to promote informed reflection on them. It neither
changes nor suggests changes to current Church policy.

"Recent events have highlighted the need for such a guide," said the Rt Rev Richard Harries,
Bishop of Oxford and chairman of the group of bishops that produced the Guide, "and the
House of Bishops believe it has become timely to publish this study guide now to help Christian
people think through different aspects of gay, lesbian and transsexual relationships."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said that the report was intended to deepen
the Church's study on the issue: "It is clear that there is a real need for more study of the issues
raised by human sexuality. We have done a great deal of work as a church on this matter and we
know that there is much still be to be learned.
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"I hope that this report will help us to develop our understanding and to address the challenges
that we still face."

When the House asked a group of bishops, in 1999, to prepare a study guide on some issues in
human sexuality, it was conscious of the need to listen to the experience of homosexuals as
called for in the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10. Furthermore there has also been a
great deal of published material in this field since the House's 1991 Statement Issues in Human
Sexuality appeared.

In June 2003 the House of Bishops - following discussion at the annual meeting of all Church of
England bishops - agreed to publish Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate
under its authority and to commend it to the Church for study. As is stated in the Foreword to
the document, 'it works within the parameters of the House's 1991 Statement Issues in Human
Sexuality and does not seek to change the position of the House of Bishops from the one
expressed there'. It is a study guide, designed to complement Issues rather than to make
specific policy statements or recommendations.

The document is intended as a resource to enable people within the Church to understand
these complex and sensitive matters more clearly and reflect more deeply on them. A short
accompanying booklet, A Companion to Some Issues in Human Sexuality, with study material
for individuals and groups, is being provided to assist the wider Church - in the General Synod,
dioceses, parishes and elsewhere - in its continuing reflection.

The timing of any debate on the document in the Synod will be a matter for the Synod's
Business Committee. The Synod next meets in February and again in July.

Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate, price £12.95, and A Companion to
Some Issues in Human Sexuality, price £2.50 are published by Church House Publishing and are
available from all Christian bookshops and Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street,
London SW1P 3BN, tel. 020-7898 1305, e mail bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk, or on the web at:
www.chbookshop.co.uk (mail order available).

1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10

Human Sexuality

This Conference:

(a) commends to the Church the subsection report on human sexuality;

 HUMAN SEXUALITY AND AIDS

(b) in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a
woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to
marriage;

(c) recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a
homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral
care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives
and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of
homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all
baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of
the Body of Christ;

(d) while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to
minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn
irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and
commercialisation of sex;

(e) cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in
same gender unions;

(f) requests the Primates and the ACC to establish a means of monitoring the work done on the
subject of human sexuality in the Communion and to share statements and resources among
us;

(g) notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns
expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters
of marriage and sexuality and asks the Primates and the ACC to include them in their monitor n
December 2003 the House of Bishops' Group on Issues in Human
Sexuality published their ‘discussion document’, Some Issues in Human
Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate(London: Church House Publishing, 2003). The
document is a guide to the theological debate on questions that have arisen in
response to the 1991 House of Bishops report, Issues in Human Sexuality (see
p. ix). This article is a contribution to the discussion. I first question whether the
document is a ‘guide’ and whether the quarrels between Anglicans are best
designated a ‘debate’. Then within the limits of a single article I illustrate from the
first three chapters grave problems of omission, of biblical interpretation, and of
ethical development.ing process. s on sexuality and relationships.
 HUMAN SEXUALITY AND AIDS

In December 2003 the House of Bishops’ Group on Issues in Human Sexuality published their
‘discussion document’, Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate (London: Church
House Publishing, 2003). The document ‘is a guide to the theological debate on questions that
have arisen in response to the 1991 House of Bishops report, Issues in Human Sexuality (see p.
ix). This article is a contribution to the discussion. I first question whether the document is a
‘guide’ and whether the quarrels between Anglicans are best designated a ‘debate’. Then within
the limits of a single article I illustrate from the first three chapters grave problems of omission,
of biblical interpretation, and of ethical development.