APA - Homosexuality was once thought to be the result of troubled family dynamics or faulty psychological development. Those assumptions are now understood to have been based on misinformation and prejudice.

APA - Pedophilia is almost exclusively found in men, and the great majority of these men identify as heterosexual.

APA - Even among people who sexually abuse children of their same gender, most are attracted to adults of the opposite gender .

APA - GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL YOUTH ARE UP TO 6 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE DURING ADOLESCENCE THAN HETEROSEXUAL PEERS

APA - GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL YOUTH ARE ALSO UP TO 6 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SERIOUS SUBSTANCE USE OR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS (DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY) THAT ARE KNOWN RISK FACTORS FOR BOTH ATTEMPTED AND COMPLETED SUICIDE

APA - EVEN AFTER CONTROLLING FOR THESE OTHER KNOWN RISK FACTORS, STATUS AS GAY, LESBIAN OR BISEXUAL MAY CONFER AN INDEPENDENT RISK FOR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE RELATED TO DIFFICULTIES EXPRESSING A MINORITY SEXUAL IDENTITY IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT PERMEATED BY ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL BIAS

APA - OTHER POSSIBLE SOCIAL RISK FACTORS FOR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE INCLUDE GENDER NON-CONFORMITY, EARLY AWARENESS OF HOMOSEXUALITY, LACK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, SCHOOL DROPOUT, FAMILY PROBLEMS, SUICIDE ATTEMTPS BY FRIENDS OR RELATIVES AND HOMELESSNESS

APA - he children of unmarried gay and lesbian parents do not have the same protection that civil marriage affords the children of heterosexual couples.

APA - Support of Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Civil Marriage

APA - Numerous studies over the last three decades consistently demonstrate that children raised by gay or lesbian parents exhibit the same level of emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual functioning as children raised by heterosexual parents

APA - optimal development for children is based not on the sexual orientation of the parents, but on stable attachments to committed and nurturing adults. The research also shows that children who have two parents, regardless of the parents’ sexual orientations, do better than children with only one parent.

APA - the issue of changing sexual orientation has become highly politicized. The integration of gays and lesbians into the mainstream of American society is opposed by those who fear that such integration is morally wrong and harmful to the social fabriC

APA - The American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as “reparative” or “conversion” therapy, which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder

APA - Numerous studies have shown that the children of gay parents are as likely to be healthy and well adjusted as children raised in heterosexual households. Children raised in gay or lesbian households do not show any greater incidence of homosexuality or gender identity issues than other children.

There are many churches that are open and accepting of the glbt

gay is so much more than who you are attracted to

just because i'm gay doesn't mean i find you attractive

84% of glbt students are harassed

85% of americans under 30 support hate crimes laws

there are 1 million gay and lesbian veterans living in the United States

hate crimes against glbt americans are on the rise

80% of catholics agree with the statement "Marriage is about love and commitment, Regardless of how i personally feel about gay people getting married, i don't think it's my place to judge these people's love for and commitment to each other"

1 out of every 10 people are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender

Hepatitis C is believed to be transmitted only by blood

virtually any source of blood or blood products seems to be capable of carrying the virus, even if the source is indirect - like a used razor, for example. This makes hepatitis C far more transmissible than most other blood borne viruses - including HIV.

. Disorders of the thyroid, intestine, eyes, joints, blood, spleen, kidneys and skin may occur in about 20% of patients. Primary liver cancer can also develop from hepatitis C, a late risk factor which seems to be present 30 years or so after infection.

HCV is not spread by sneezing, hugging, coughing, food or water, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, or casual contact.

Less than 3% might die from the consequences of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis) Hepatitis C is a leading reason for liver transplan

treatment for Hepatitis C which includes a longer-acting form of interferon has been found to cure more patients and cause less side effects This is a 50/50 chance

It's not possible to become infected with HIV by using the toilet, shaking hands, sharing utensils, phones, or clothing. It can't be passed on by things like spoons, cups, or other objects that someone who is infected with the virus has used.

HIV can not be transmitted through everyday contact with infected people at school, work, home, or anywhere else.

HIV cannot be carried by a mosquito. The AIDS virus does not live in a mosquito, and it is not transmitted through a mosquito's salivary glands like other diseases such as malaria or yellow fever. You won't get it from bed bugs, lice, flies, or other insects.

People cannot become infected by "dry" kissing. Although there are trace amounts of HIV present in the saliva of an infected person, there are no documented cases of HIV infection from kissing. There is a slight risk from deep or French kissing, especially if there are cuts or sores in the mouth.

Sharing other types of needles also may transmit HIV and other germs. These types of needles include those used to inject steroids and those used for tattooing or piercing.

HIV can not be transmitted by a kiss. Experts are not completely certain about HIV transmission through deep, prolonged, or "French" kissing. While scientists believe it is remotely possible, there has never been a known case of HIV transfusion through kissing. Most scientists agree that transmission of HIV through deep or prolonged kissing may be possible, but would be extremely unlikely.

At least 40,000 Americans become newly infected with HIV each year, and it is estimated that half of all people with HIV in the U.S. have not been tested and do not know they are carrying the virus.

AIDS has killed nearly 19 million people worldwide, including some 425,000 Americans. AIDS has replaced malaria and tuberculosis as the world's deadliest infectious disease among adults and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.

Overall, HIV infection is spreading fastest in this country among young people, women, Africin the U.S., as many as half of all new HIV infections are now associated either directly or indirectly with injection drug use (i.e., using HIV-contaminated needles to inAIDS and HIV can have various effects on the eyes.  It is vital to have regular eye exams if diagnosedject drugs or having sexual contact with an HIV-infected drugan Americans, and Hispanics.

in the U.S., as many as half of all new HIV infections are now associated either directly or indirectly with injection drug use (i.e., using HIV-contaminated needles to inject drugs or having sexual contact with an HIV-infected drug

Nearly half of the roughly 40,000 Americans newly infected with HIV each year are under the age of 25. Approximately two young Americans become infected with HIV every hour of every day, and about 25% of the people now living with HIV in this country became infected when they were teenagers.

Statistics show that by the age of 19, at least half of females and 60% of males in this country have engaged in sexual intercourse, and one in six sexually experienced teens has contracted one or more STDs

AIDS cases diagnosed among women has more than tripled, from 8% in 1985 to 27% in 2004. And although each year more men than women become infected with HIV, this gap is slowly closing. In fact, if new HIV infections continue at their current rate worldwide, women with HIV may soon outnumber men with HIV.

One out of four of these infected people could become a victim of AIDS dementia, which brings on memory loss, confused thinking, depression, and, in severe cases, an inability to walk or care for oneself.

AIDS and HIV can have various effects on the eyes.  It is vital to have regular eye exams if diagnosed

Aids & Hiv effect people in various ways, in relationships, communities, mentally, emotionally. HIV is more than a virus