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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
LESSON HERE IS..., YOU BETTER WRAP THAT RASCAL!
Nearly Half of Black Women Have Herpes
Find out why the government thinks this group has been hit so hard by the disease.
Find out why the government thinks this group has been hit so hard by the disease.
The latest news out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is very troubling, to say the least.
A jaw-dropping 48 percent of black women between ages 14 and 49 have the virus which causes genital herpes, says the federal agency. Blacks in general are more than three times as likely as whites to have herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (39.2 percent vs. 12.3 percent).
Why is it so much higher among black women? It is likely that biological factors make women more susceptible to genital herpes than men, says the CDC. American women in general are nearly twice as likely as men to be infected (21 percent vs. 11 percent). Then add on top of that socioeconomic factors that negatively affect blacks' general state of health, and it's no surprise that black women draw the short straw when it comes to getting genital herpes.
What's worse, most don't even know they've drawn that short straw. Up to 80 percent of genital herpes infections in the United States are undiagnosed. "Many individuals are transmitting herpes to others without even knowing it," said John M. Douglas Jr., director of CDC's division of STD prevention. "It is important that persons with symptoms suggestive of herpes-especially recurrent sores in the genital area-seek clinical care to determine if these symptoms may be due to herpes and might benefit from treatment."
Sores aren't the only sign you've been infected, and many people don't even experience them. Redness and itching are other symptoms, and the disease can still be transmitted without visible sores.
A jaw-dropping 48 percent of black women between ages 14 and 49 have the virus which causes genital herpes, says the federal agency. Blacks in general are more than three times as likely as whites to have herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (39.2 percent vs. 12.3 percent).
Why is it so much higher among black women? It is likely that biological factors make women more susceptible to genital herpes than men, says the CDC. American women in general are nearly twice as likely as men to be infected (21 percent vs. 11 percent). Then add on top of that socioeconomic factors that negatively affect blacks' general state of health, and it's no surprise that black women draw the short straw when it comes to getting genital herpes.
What's worse, most don't even know they've drawn that short straw. Up to 80 percent of genital herpes infections in the United States are undiagnosed. "Many individuals are transmitting herpes to others without even knowing it," said John M. Douglas Jr., director of CDC's division of STD prevention. "It is important that persons with symptoms suggestive of herpes-especially recurrent sores in the genital area-seek clinical care to determine if these symptoms may be due to herpes and might benefit from treatment."
Sores aren't the only sign you've been infected, and many people don't even experience them. Redness and itching are other symptoms, and the disease can still be transmitted without visible sores.
The high rate of genital herpes infections among blacks may contribute toward the high rate of HIV in the black community by making transmission easier, says the CDC.
So what do we do? If you know you have genital herpes, you definitely should avoid sex when symptoms or sores are present. Remember that genital herpes can still be transmitted when sores are not present. Using condoms consistently and correctly, and limiting the number of people you have sex with are also important to limiting the spread of the disease.
For more information on the disease, check out the CDC's genital herpes fact sheet.
Sheryl Huggins Salomon is deputy editor of The Root.
For more information on the disease, check out the CDC's genital herpes fact sheet.
Sheryl Huggins Salomon is deputy editor of The Root.
1 In 6 Americans Have Genital Herpes
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported, yesterday, March 9, that about 16 percent of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49 have genital herpes which is incurable.
The CDC said about 21 percent of women were infected with genital herpes or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) compared to about 11.5 percent of men.
It said about 39 percent of blacks were infected -- including 48 percent of black women -- and about 12 percent of whites.Genital herpes can cause recurrent and painful genital sores and greatly increases the likelihood of acquiring and transmitting the AIDS virus.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported, yesterday, March 9, that about 16 percent of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49 have genital herpes which is incurable.
The CDC said about 21 percent of women were infected with genital herpes or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) compared to about 11.5 percent of men.
It said about 39 percent of blacks were infected -- including 48 percent of black women -- and about 12 percent of whites.Genital herpes can cause recurrent and painful genital sores and greatly increases the likelihood of acquiring and transmitting the AIDS virus.
THESE RELIGIOUS NUTS INSERTED THEMSELVES INTO A COMBAT MARINES' FUNERAL-HEARTLESS BASTARDS!
The father of a 20-year-old Marine who died fighting in Iraq has been ordered by the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to pay Fred Phelps' appeal costs.
On Friday the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Albert Snyder of York, Pa., father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder to pay Westboro Baptist Church's leader Fred Phelps $16,510.
Westboro Baptist Church is known for anti-gay protests and movements.
In 2006, the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder was targeted by Westboro Baptist Church. Phelps and six members of church gathered to picket the solemn affair with signs that read "America is doomed," "Matt in hell" and "Semper Fi fags."
The family sued the group after Phelps used his website to criticize Snyder.
The family won the first round in a Maryland court against Westboro Baptist Church, being awarded $5 million on the grounds of intrusion into a secluded event, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy.
However, that award was overturned during appeal. The court ruled that the protesters were exercising their right of free speech.
Now, Snyder's family must pay the legal costs for Westboro Baptist Church.
Lawsuit against WBC – funeral pickets ruled protected speech
On March 10, 2006 WBC picketed the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder.[72][73][74] On June 5, 2006 the Snyder family sued[75] Fred Phelps, WBC, and unnamed others for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On October 31, 2007, WBC, Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, were found liable for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A federal jury awarded Mr. Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages, then later added a decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and an additional $2 million for causing emotional distress (A total of $10,900,000). The organization said it would not change its message because of the verdict.[76][77][78]
The lawsuit named Albert Snyder as the plaintiff and Fred W. Phelps, Sr.; Westboro Baptist Church, Inc.; Rebekah Phelps-Davis; and Shirley Phelps-Roper as defendants, alleging that they were responsible for publishing defamatory information about the Snyder family on the Internet, including statements that Albert and his wife had "raised [Matthew] for the devil" and taught him "to defy his Creator, to divorce, and to commit adultery." Other statements denounced them for raising their son Catholic. Snyder further complained the defendants had intruded upon and staged protests at his son's funeral. The claims of invasion of privacy and defamation arising from comments posted about Snyder on the Westboro website were dismissed on First Amendment grounds, but the case proceeded to trial on the remaining three counts.[79][80]
Albert Snyder, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, testified:
"They turned this funeral into a media circus and they wanted to hurt my family. They wanted their message heard and they didn't care who they stepped over. My son should have been buried with dignity, not with a bunch of clowns outside."[81]
In his instructions to the jury U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett stated that the First Amendment protection of free speech has limits, including vulgar, offensive and shocking statements, and that the jury must decide "whether the defendant's actions would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, whether they were extreme and outrageous and whether these actions were so offensive and shocking as to not be entitled to First Amendment protection."[82] See also Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, a case where certain personal slurs and obscene utterances by an individual were found unworthy of First Amendment protection, due to the potential for violence resulting from their utterance.
WBC is seeking a mistrial based on alleged prejudicial statements made by the judge and violations of the gag order by the plaintiff's attorney.[83] An appeal is also likely. WBC has said that it is thankful for the verdict.[84]
On February 4, 2008 U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett upheld the ruling but reduced the punitive damages from $8 million to $2.1 million. The total judgment now stands at $5 million. An appeal by WBC is still pending.[85] Liens have been ordered on church buildings and Phelps' law office in an attempt to ensure that the damages are paid.[86]
On September 24, 2009, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Westboro Baptist Church. It found their picket near the funeral of Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder is protected speech and did not violate the privacy of the service member's family, reversing a lower court's $5 million award.[87] On 8 March 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in Snyder v. Phelps, (Docket No. 09-751, March 8, 2010).[88]
On Friday the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Albert Snyder of York, Pa., father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder to pay Westboro Baptist Church's leader Fred Phelps $16,510.
Westboro Baptist Church is known for anti-gay protests and movements.
In 2006, the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder was targeted by Westboro Baptist Church. Phelps and six members of church gathered to picket the solemn affair with signs that read "America is doomed," "Matt in hell" and "Semper Fi fags."
The family sued the group after Phelps used his website to criticize Snyder.
The family won the first round in a Maryland court against Westboro Baptist Church, being awarded $5 million on the grounds of intrusion into a secluded event, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy.
However, that award was overturned during appeal. The court ruled that the protesters were exercising their right of free speech.
Now, Snyder's family must pay the legal costs for Westboro Baptist Church.
Lawsuit against WBC – funeral pickets ruled protected speech
On March 10, 2006 WBC picketed the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder.[72][73][74] On June 5, 2006 the Snyder family sued[75] Fred Phelps, WBC, and unnamed others for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On October 31, 2007, WBC, Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, were found liable for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A federal jury awarded Mr. Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages, then later added a decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and an additional $2 million for causing emotional distress (A total of $10,900,000). The organization said it would not change its message because of the verdict.[76][77][78]
The lawsuit named Albert Snyder as the plaintiff and Fred W. Phelps, Sr.; Westboro Baptist Church, Inc.; Rebekah Phelps-Davis; and Shirley Phelps-Roper as defendants, alleging that they were responsible for publishing defamatory information about the Snyder family on the Internet, including statements that Albert and his wife had "raised [Matthew] for the devil" and taught him "to defy his Creator, to divorce, and to commit adultery." Other statements denounced them for raising their son Catholic. Snyder further complained the defendants had intruded upon and staged protests at his son's funeral. The claims of invasion of privacy and defamation arising from comments posted about Snyder on the Westboro website were dismissed on First Amendment grounds, but the case proceeded to trial on the remaining three counts.[79][80]
Albert Snyder, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, testified:
"They turned this funeral into a media circus and they wanted to hurt my family. They wanted their message heard and they didn't care who they stepped over. My son should have been buried with dignity, not with a bunch of clowns outside."[81]
In his instructions to the jury U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett stated that the First Amendment protection of free speech has limits, including vulgar, offensive and shocking statements, and that the jury must decide "whether the defendant's actions would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, whether they were extreme and outrageous and whether these actions were so offensive and shocking as to not be entitled to First Amendment protection."[82] See also Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, a case where certain personal slurs and obscene utterances by an individual were found unworthy of First Amendment protection, due to the potential for violence resulting from their utterance.
WBC is seeking a mistrial based on alleged prejudicial statements made by the judge and violations of the gag order by the plaintiff's attorney.[83] An appeal is also likely. WBC has said that it is thankful for the verdict.[84]
On February 4, 2008 U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett upheld the ruling but reduced the punitive damages from $8 million to $2.1 million. The total judgment now stands at $5 million. An appeal by WBC is still pending.[85] Liens have been ordered on church buildings and Phelps' law office in an attempt to ensure that the damages are paid.[86]
On September 24, 2009, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Westboro Baptist Church. It found their picket near the funeral of Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder is protected speech and did not violate the privacy of the service member's family, reversing a lower court's $5 million award.[87] On 8 March 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in Snyder v. Phelps, (Docket No. 09-751, March 8, 2010).[88]
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