Marriage could help curb HIV
Baku, November 29 (AZERTAC). As HIV/AIDS becomes more prevalent among the gay population on the mainland, some experts have joined the gay community in calling for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage as a means of curbing the infection.
Although the rate of HIV infection is 0.05 percent nationwide, gay men have been the hardest hit by the sexually transmitted disease, experts warned ahead of this year`s World AIDS Day, which fell on Wednesday.
In some cities, nearly one out of five is HIV positive in the gay community, experts said.
"To legalize same-sex marriage could help stabilize and sustain gay relationships, thereby lowering the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS," said Zhang Beichuan, a professor at Qingdao University and an outspoken gay rights advocate.
In the meantime, the government continues to work hard to reach vulnerable groups, particularly gay men, and to provide safe sex education and free condoms, said Hao Yang, deputy director of the disease prevention and control bureau under the Ministry of Health.
While government programs currently reach 90,000 gay men a month, Hao said it was insufficient.
Among the gay community, many back Zhang`s view on legalizing same-sex marriage. Two gay men, Zhang Zhen and Ying Zi (both aliases) demonstrated their support on Nov 20 by holding a wedding ceremony attended by 300 guests.
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