Karl Lauterbach's statement on monkeypox draws criticism
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach recently described gay men as a risk group for monkeypox. This is precisely what recently met with criticism. Among others, the AIDS charity has since spoken out. This showed up dissatisfied with the kind of communication, which was put to the day.
And indeed: In parts this kind of communication reminds of the beginnings of the Aids crisis, in whose context also gays were mentioned again and again.
However, it was not only the AIDS charity that was outraged by the statement. The claim that men who have sex with men might be more at risk of contracting monkeypox could lead to dangerous stigmatization.
Counterarguments and a meanwhile heated discussion
Anyone who does not take a closer look at the subject and merely reads that gay men are particularly at risk of contracting monkeypox could get the wrong impression. Among other things, many experts are of the opinion that the virus is not only transmitted through sex.
Criticism is also levelled at the term "at-risk group" in particular. After all, in the 1980s, such thinking already ensured that a large part of the LGBTQIA+ community was marginalized and hostile. The danger of that very thing happening again certainly seems to exist. Especially since many people's nerves are still raw due to the Corona pandemic and there is a desire to "finally get back to normal". Another crisis in the mix with stigmatization could thus become even more explosive.
Aidshilfe further stressed that it was definitely wrong to blame "gay men" or "people from Africa" for the fact that more cases of monkeypox had now emerged.
Other steps that could also drive corresponding stigmatization would be closures of relevant locations, as has already been the case in other countries, for example. Particularly tricky: Said "relevant locations" are not only popular meeting places for gays, but also places of retreat where they feel safe and can live out their sexuality. If these are taken away from them, the psychological pressure could theoretically also increase.
In short: The sentence "Gay men are the risk group!" leads to consequences that may not yet be assessed now. In addition, monkeypox naturally does not only affect the community. However, exactly this image would be conveyed via stigmatization.
Are vaccinations being given now?
Health Minister Lauterbach has decided to order a maximum of 40,000 vaccine doses as a precautionary measure. It is currently being discussed whether it makes sense to supply the risk group with the vaccine in question. A final decision has not yet been made. However, politicians and scientists are currently assuming that there will not be a large-scale vaccination campaign, as was the case with the Corona vaccination.
Perhaps one reason for this is that those who were vaccinated against smallpox as children are also well protected against monkeypox anyway.
The reactions in the social networks
Not only Lauterbach's statements, but also the general thesis that it is mainly gay (and bisexual) men who are afflicted by monkeypox brings back dark memories.
Opinions on the subject vary widely in the social networks. Many people from the community are currently afraid of being provided with a kind of "stamp". Among other things, because closures of gay saunas in other countries have already led to the public's attention being focused somewhat more on the community, it is now important in their opinion to be cautious.
After all, experience shows that once a culprit has been found, many find it difficult to assess the overall situation realistically.
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