Numbers of STIs on rise, Big Country AIDS Resources director says, as 'Angels' descends
As Abilene Community Theatre prepares to put on the first portion of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Angels in America," James Wagstaff, executive director of Big Country AIDS Resources, fears history is somewhat repeating itself.
"The young people are not educating themselves on HIV and HIV prevention and care," Wagstaff said Tuesday. "And we are seeing an increase in sexually transmitted infections in the first quarter of this year because of a lack of people educating themselves."
Measured increase
Wagstaff said the Texas Department of State Health Services and several local public health departments have documented an increase in the incidence of HIV in the 19-county service area served by BCAR.
"While we at BCAR do not have access to the DSHS data, DSHS has acknowledged publicly that the incidences of HIV is increasing," Wagstaff said.
In addition, recent research related to the incidence of HIV in Federal Public Health Service Area 6, which includes BCAR’s service area, also establishes an increase, as does data submitted to the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health, he said.
According to the grant funding research, more than 38 new HIV+ incidences were confirmed in the service area in the 12-month period ending April 30, Wagstaff said, with prevalence comparable to rates reported in the highest CDC categories for incidence of HIV.
The 19-county average of HIV incidence in BCAR's service area is 556 out of every 100,000 citizens, he said.
The 19-county average of HIV incidence is 556 out of every 100,000 citizens.
According to the CDC, Tarrant County, a county designated as a "priority locality" by the CDC for HIV reporting, has an incidence rate of "only 394 per 100,000 citizens," Wagstaff said.
The single largest increase in HIV incidence is among the Hispanic/Latino community, which demonstrated a 62% increase, followed by the demographic category “White Alon e— not other race,” in which there was a 50% increase, he said.
"The data is indisputable," Wagstaff said. "The incidence of HIV is increasing in this part of Texas."
Art imitating life
That reality is why it's important, he said, to keep telling a "robust story" of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, both in media and in art.
In Wagstaff's estimation, 1991's two part "Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes" is still the most important play, even today, on the subject of HIV, he said.
"It was written in the early 1990s, when it was still a death sentence, and it focuses on 1985, where all sorts of things were going on to allow it to spread," he said. "It deals with all of those stereotypes and all the things that are happening at that moment in time."
Preceding the play's run, which begins Thursday, is Saturday's "Angels in the Big Country," an event features what’s being touted as an educational, family-friendly drag show, done in a presentation style organizers say younger watchers can enjoy.
Folded into the drag show will be educational content. Both projects are supported by a grant from the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, HeARTS for the ARTS and the city of Abilene.
Wagstaff said Saturday's event and the play's upcoming performance are "a step forward" for the community, while also perhaps being a way to start pushing "the needle backward" in terms of cases.
Looking back to look forward
One thing that people do not realize, especially younger generations, is a side effect of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was tremendous sympathy garnered for the LGBTQIA community, Wagstaff said.
The stories of those who died helped push the overall narrative forward, he said, something he fears has been forgotten.
So, revisiting such an early time as that seen in "Angels in America" is valuable, Wagstaff said, because while the HIV/AIDS epidemic may feel as it been going on forever, what's really important is happening right now.
That includes a need for a continuance of education and removal of stigma, while transmitting important information such as a vitally important equation: Undetectable = Untransmittable.
Simply put, U=U means that people with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load — the amount of HIV in the blood — by taking prescribed antiretroviral therapy daily cannot sexually transmit the virus to others, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
It's a simple formula Wagstaff believes few in Abilene know.
"People read about it, and then they forget about it," he said. "And then, they partake in risky behavior."
Understanding consequences
STIs, in general, can lead to a number of health consequences, Wagstaff said. Those can include sterility, blindness and death, in some cases, if not treated.
Any increase in numbers causes concern because "they have to eventually come for us for care," he said.
"We're always willing to care for everybody," he said of BCAR's role. "But in this day and age, with medication, with prevention, with education, there should be zero transmission of HIV. And yet, we're seeing an increase."
The more you know
For its part, BCAR promotes free STI screening clinics, while offering a suite of resources on its website, BCARTX.org, which Wagstaff said offers solid, researched information.
Every Monday in Abilene, testing for HIV and syphilis is available in various locations across the community, he said.
"The Department of State Health Services, through its local offices, conducts the testing and the tests are paid for by the state .... through DSHS," he said, BCAR assisting in administration of the tests, providing locations and other support.
Hope Ahead
The events tied to "Angels in America" are important educational opportunities for those in the Big County, he said, so that young people can be prepared, protect themselves and move forward.
"The presentation at Saturday’s event is a demonstration of acceptance of lifestyles that may differ from our own, our acceptance of our fellow man," no matter what labels might be applied, he said, combined with a sharp focus on education and testing.
Wagstaff said he would like to see the latter components of BCAR's mission taken to other venues with programs tailored to the location in a way engaging and informative for each audience, whether it be local universities or Dyess Air Force Base.
"The conversation must be engaging and informative for the audience," he said.
Overall efforts to provide education and testing must continue and increase, he said.
"Research and anecdotal evidence make clear that university students are horribly under-educated about HIV/AIDS, STIs and the manners in which these infections are transmitted," he said. "The health of our community, our health, our children’s health requires that we continue to educate in an informative, engaging and appropriate message for all."
Brian Bethel covers city and county government and general news for the Abilene Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
If You Go: Angels in the Big Country
What: Family-friendly drag show featuring educational content.
When: 7:30 Saturday
Where: Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St.
Cost: Free
Featured speakers: Big Country AIDS Resources; Serenity House Counselors; Founders of Exodus Metropolitan Community Church; APA and the Abilene Recovery Council. Featured performances include Cecilia Ford, Lady PT and Mystique Summers of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
If You Go: "Angels in America"
What: The first portion of the play "Angels in America," subtitled, “Millennium Approaches." Meant for mature audiences, the Pulitzer-winning drama is not edited for language or content.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Aug. 13,
Where: Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St.
Tickets: $18 general admission: $15 senior, students, military; reserved, $18.
Both events are supported by a grant from the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, HeARTS for the ARTS and the city of Abilene.
Both projects are supported by a grant from the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, HeARTS for the ARTS and the city of Abilene.
About Big Counry AIDS Resources
Big Country AIDS Resources, 402 Butternut St., is a community based health care organization, governed by a board of directors chosen from the community and its 19-county service area.
Its mission is to provide quality health care services to those living with HIV/AIDS and those providing support for them.
Health care services are funded primarily by state and federal grants, which imposes significant oversight, monitoring and program assistance. The grants permit the agency to provide:
∎ Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services, including referral for other health care needs.
∎ Local Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, a state funded drug assistance program.
∎ Individual medical case management to assist clients with HIV/AIDS care and treatment, on-site dental care, on-site Avita pharmacy, mental health services.
∎ Housing assistance, assistance with insurance and overwhelmingly expensive HIV/AIDS drugs and medicines.
∎ On-site food bank and other services to help clients live as normal a life as possible.
Each client is assessed for income and level of need, and services are tailored to meet the needs of each client.
The agency's website is: www.bcartx.com.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: STI numbers rise, AIDS Resources director says, as 'Angels' descends
