25 signatures reached
To: CDC
Protect the health of LGBT communities!
The government’s slow response to monkeypox has allowed a containable outbreak to grow into a health crisis. Now that the White House has declared monkeypox a national public health emergency, public health officials must utilize newly-available emergency funds to prioritize testing and vaccinations and protect queer and low-income communities!
Why is this important?
The monkeypox outbreak in the US has quickly gone from containable to crisis. There are now over 6,300 known cases in the US — almost entirely among queer men.
So far, the public health response has been inadequate. The White House just declared a national public health emergency — that’s a good thing. Now, the CDC must make use of the additional funds available in such emergencies by doubling down on providing tests, vaccines, and containment guidance before the disease becomes endemic.
The CDC must use newly-available emergency funding to provide monkeypox tests, vaccines, and containment guidance!
The rapid spread of monkeypox among men who have sex with men has called to mind the AIDS crisis for many gay and bisexual Americans. In the US, monkeypox has manifested as a virtually all-queer disease — with only 1.4% of people who have contracted monkey pox in New York City identifying as straight.
The government has been very slow to address this disease that primarily affects queer men. Vaccine stores were very low to begin with; the government has been criticized for moving too slowly to produce and distribute more. Inevitably, the situation raises questions about whose suffering counts as a crisis.
Recognizing the monkeypox crisis as a public health emergency was a good step towards addressing this crisis. Now, public health officials must make use of the new emergency funding available to answer the demands of queer male public health groups like ACT UP, the storied AIDS coalition that still advocates for health equity. People need rapid tests, vaccines, and guidance!
Emergency funds must be used to help communities treat, prevent, and contain the spread of monkeypox!
So far, the public health response has been inadequate. The White House just declared a national public health emergency — that’s a good thing. Now, the CDC must make use of the additional funds available in such emergencies by doubling down on providing tests, vaccines, and containment guidance before the disease becomes endemic.
The CDC must use newly-available emergency funding to provide monkeypox tests, vaccines, and containment guidance!
The rapid spread of monkeypox among men who have sex with men has called to mind the AIDS crisis for many gay and bisexual Americans. In the US, monkeypox has manifested as a virtually all-queer disease — with only 1.4% of people who have contracted monkey pox in New York City identifying as straight.
The government has been very slow to address this disease that primarily affects queer men. Vaccine stores were very low to begin with; the government has been criticized for moving too slowly to produce and distribute more. Inevitably, the situation raises questions about whose suffering counts as a crisis.
Recognizing the monkeypox crisis as a public health emergency was a good step towards addressing this crisis. Now, public health officials must make use of the new emergency funding available to answer the demands of queer male public health groups like ACT UP, the storied AIDS coalition that still advocates for health equity. People need rapid tests, vaccines, and guidance!
Emergency funds must be used to help communities treat, prevent, and contain the spread of monkeypox!