Full text: Motion to Support Inclusive HIV Prevention Strategies

This is the motion I motivated at tonight's GSA Carleton Council meeting. Passed no opposition 2 abstensions.

Whereas pharmaceutical companies have successfully lobbied for proprietary PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) prescriptions (Truvada) to become available to all “gay men” on demand in the state of New Jersey; and

              

Whereas provincial and federal HIV prevention strategies are currently in formation; and

Whereas PrEP prescriptions have serious health side effects^[1], and their preventative capacity dramatically falls when just a single dose is mis-administered. (The average PrEP prescription transmission reduction rate is 44%, compared to 92% under ideal circumstances); and

Whereas PrEP is prescribed for the reduction in transmission of only 1 of the 2 known strains of HIV; and

Whereas the use of PrEP as a widespread HIV prevention strategy, unlike condom use, does not promote health, it promotes sero-negativity; and

Whereas the (American) AIDS Healthcare Foundation has begun a campaign against the widespread prescription of PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy; and

Whereas sex workers and the recurring partners of HIV patients have heightened exposure risks to HIV; and

Whereas the prescription of PrEP based on the identities of “gay men” is both homophobic and unscientific because it conflates risk with an identities rather than behaviours; and

Whereas the GSA and CFS have lobbied against this same unscientific homophobic policy motivation regarding blood donation; therefore

Be it resolved that he GSA executive write an open letter the federal and provincial Health Ministries with two explicit recommendations:

1)      Endorsement of PrEP prescriptions on demand for sex workers and the recurring partners of HIV patients

2)      Opposition to the prescription of PrEP for “gay men” on demand

Be it further resolved that the GSA delegates to the next CFS-O meeting present motions mandating the CFS-O leadership as well as encourage other member locals to write open letters to the federal and provincial Health Ministries affirming the two listed recommendations.

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^[1]Common side effects include: headache, stomach-area (abdomen) pain, and decreased weight. Serious side effects include liver problems and a buildup of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis). New or worsening kidney problems, including kidney failure. Bone problems. Changes in body fat. Changes in your immune system.