Understanding and Challenging Stigma toward ... - Pact Cambodia

Naming
Stigma
toward
MSM
Many of the fears are expressed as misconceptions, e.g., “MSM are mentally ill,
MSM abuse children.” These are stereotypes, things we say about other people
that we know little about. We believe these things are true, but we really don’t
know.
People have lots of questions about MSM. This shows they would like to under
stand more about MSM and how they function.
Stigma makes MSM lose their self-esteem, and it affects how they manage their
health. As a result MSM often avoid using health services and may take less
care about their sexual health, e.g., not using condoms regularly and
consistently with all sexual partners. This may put MSM at higher risk of
contracting HIV and as a result MSM may pass HIV to their male and female
partners, as MSM often have sex with both men and women, and are often
married. In this way stigma toward MSM helps to fuel the general HIV
epidemic.
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