'Porno Pete' LaBarbera tries to have it both ways with CDC health data on gay men

LaBarbera

On his webpage, Peter LaBarbera is exploiting a Centers for Disease Control Fact Sheet to demonize the lgbt community:

A new fact sheet put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a “troubling rise in syphilis infections among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM).” The federal health agency reports that MSM “account for three quarters (75 percent) of all primary and secondary syphilis cases.” The CDC Fact Sheet, “Reported STDs in the United States: 2012 Data for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis,” states: 

 “Trend data show that men who have sex with men (MSM)* account for three quarters (75 percent) of all primary and secondary syphilis cases. Primary and secondary syphilis are the most infectious stages of the disease, and if not adequately treated, can lead to visual impairment and stroke. Syphilis infection can also place a person at increased risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV infection. Surveillance data from several major cities throughout the country indicate that an average of four in 10 MSM with syphilis are also infected with HIV.”  

 The CDC reports an 11.1 percent rise in primary and secondary cases of syphilis from 2011 to 2012, with 15,667 reported cases in 2012. It states that the “rate increase was solely among men, particularly gay and bisexual men.”

Now when anti-gay activists such as LaBarbera cite CDC data, they generally cherry-pick the data, making a big deal about the numbers but also omitting that the CDC has also pointed out how homophobia can play a part in these STD rates. This time, LaBarbera actually cites the CDC when it comes to homophobia, but with his own caveats:

As is typically the case, the (very pro-homosexual) CDC cites factors like “homophobia” and “stigma” to attempt to explain the high homosexual syphilis rates. The Fact Sheet states: 

“Although a number of individual risk behaviors (such as higher numbers of lifetime sex partners or unprotected sex) contribute to disparities in the sexual health of MSM, other social and cultural factors may also play a role. For example, MSM with lower economic status may have limited access to health care and therefore may be particularly vulnerable to poorer health outcomes compared to other men. Complex issues like homophobia and stigma can also make it difficult for gay and bisexual men to seek appropriate care and treatment.”

LaBarbera probably considers this mention a way to for him to say "see, I am not cherry-picking." However, I think it illuminates his homophobia even  more. His snide remark about the CDC being "pro homosexual" is mind-boggling in its stupidity. The CDC doesn't show favoritism towards any group whose health issues it points out. The CDC is an objective organization which works to give the most accurate answers to health issues facing this country.

When you strip away that bull@! explanation LaBarbera attempts to throw at the CDC, you are left with a man attempting to walk a tightrope of logic, or lack thereof. He freely cites information to blame lgbts for bad health issues while at the same time admitting that the source of his information (the CDC) totally disagrees with his rational.

In other words, there is no need for anyone to point out LaBarbera's lack of integrity in doing this. And there definitely is no need to say that LaBarbera is a clueless, lying homophobe for his bad citation of CDC data.

LaBarbera is freely performing both of these tasks himself.

Thank you, Peter. I knew that sooner or later, you would see things our way.