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100-743: The paper was originally launched as an independent publication in October 1969 with a focus on bringing the community together. In 2001, the Blade was purchased by Window Media LLC , a group of gay-oriented newspapers circulated throughout the United States with a staff composed of professional journalists, becoming a leading source of news for the readers both in Washington and around the nation. The paper publishes weekly on Fridays and celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2019. In November 2009,

200-628: A Silver Gavel award from the American Bar Association for a four-part series of articles entitled "Legal Challenges to Anti-Gay Initiatives" which explored the legal consequences of anti-gay ballot initiatives and the constitutional challenges to them. In 2007, the paper won four Dateline Awards for Excellence in Local Journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter. Publication of

300-621: A 10- to 20-fold reduction in transmission risk. Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (" PrEP ") with a daily dose of the medications tenofovir , with or without emtricitabine , is effective in people at high risk including men who have sex with men, couples where one is HIV-positive, and young heterosexuals in Africa. It may also be effective in intravenous drug users, with a study finding a decrease in risk of 0.7 to 0.4 per 100 person years. The USPSTF , in 2019, recommended PrEP in those who are at high risk. Universal precautions within

400-532: A brief period of influenza-like illness . During this period the person may not know that they are HIV-positive, yet they will be able to pass on the virus . Typically, this period is followed by a prolonged incubation period with no symptoms. Eventually the HIV infection increases the risk of developing other infections such as tuberculosis , as well as other opportunistic infections , and tumors which are rare in people who have normal immune function. The late stage

500-406: A couple in which one person is infected, the rate of HIV infection is less than 1% per year. There is some evidence to suggest that female condoms may provide an equivalent level of protection. Application of a vaginal gel containing tenofovir (a reverse transcriptase inhibitor ) immediately before sex seems to reduce infection rates by approximately 40% among African women. By contrast, use of

600-451: A factor. During the chronic phase, the consequences of generalized immune activation coupled with the gradual loss of the ability of the immune system to generate new T cells appear to account for the slow decline in CD4 T cell numbers. Although the symptoms of immune deficiency characteristic of AIDS do not appear for years after a person is infected, the bulk of CD4 T cell loss occurs during

700-404: A high viral load and the cut was deep. In the United States, intravenous drug users made up 12% of all new cases of HIV in 2009, and in some areas more than 80% of people who inject drugs are HIV-positive. HIV is transmitted in about 90% of blood transfusions using infected blood. In developed countries the risk of acquiring HIV from a blood transfusion is extremely low (less than one in half

800-412: A lack of revenue and interest, marking the only time the paper failed to publish an edition in its history. The new focus on being a newspaper allowed the publication's circulation to grow in 1974 and 1975 from five hundred copies distributed at less than a dozen sites to over 4,000 copies available at thirty-five locations throughout the city. The June 1975 edition of the Blade dropped the word 'Gay' from

900-402: A long incubation period . Lentiviruses are transmitted as single-stranded, positive- sense , enveloped RNA viruses . Upon entry into the target cell, the viral RNA genome is converted (reverse transcribed) into double-stranded DNA by a virally encoded reverse transcriptase that is transported along with the viral genome in the virus particle. The resulting viral DNA is then imported into

1000-541: A million) where improved donor selection and HIV screening is performed; for example, in the UK the risk is reported at one in five million and in the United States it was one in 1.5 million in 2008. In low-income countries, only half of transfusions may be appropriately screened (as of 2008), and it is estimated that up to 15% of HIV infections in these areas come from transfusion of infected blood and blood products, representing between 5% and 10% of global infections. It

1100-401: A needle during drug injection is between 0.63% and 2.4% per act, with an average of 0.8%. The risk of acquiring HIV from a needle stick from an HIV-infected person is estimated as 0.3% (about 1 in 333) per act and the risk following mucous membrane exposure to infected blood as 0.09% (about 1 in 1000) per act. This risk may, however, be up to 5% if the introduced blood was from a person with

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1200-432: A new venture, supported entirely by volunteering staff (who consisted of the majority of the Blade 's editorial staff, as well as a few others, at the time of its closing), launched with its first issue. Called DC Agenda , no relation to the non-profit organization of the same name, the new venture released the same week as the closing of the Blade . From the placeholder website SaveTheBlade.com: While we cannot save

1300-616: A process of cell-to-cell spread. The hybrid spreading mechanisms of HIV contribute to the virus' ongoing replication against antiretroviral therapies. Two types of HIV have been characterized: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the virus that was originally discovered (and initially referred to also as LAV or HTLV-III). It is more virulent , more infective , and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. The lower infectivity of HIV-2 as compared with HIV-1 implies that fewer people exposed to HIV-2 will be infected per exposure. Because of its relatively poor capacity for transmission, HIV-2

1400-406: A sexually transmitted illness. In many areas of the world, a third of HIV carriers only discover they are infected at an advanced stage of the disease when AIDS or severe immunodeficiency has become apparent. Most people infected with HIV develop seroconverted (antigen-specific) antibodies within three to twelve weeks after the initial infection. Diagnosis of primary HIV before seroconversion

1500-469: A wide range of topics. The Washington Blade was published weekly on Fridays with a circulation of 33,874 printed copies of each edition. News coverage focuses mainly on global and regional political issues concerning LGBT persons with additional coverage of entertainment and nightlife in the Washington, D.C. area . The masthead of the printed paper includes the slogan "The gay and lesbian weekly of

1600-411: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . AIDS The human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system . It is a preventable disease . There is no vaccine or cure for HIV. It can be managed with treatment and become a manageable chronic health condition. While there is no cure or vaccine, antiretroviral treatment can slow the course of

1700-433: Is almost invariably associated with activation of CD8 T cells , which kill HIV-infected cells, and subsequently with antibody production, or seroconversion . The CD8 T cell response is thought to be important in controlling virus levels, which peak and then decline, as the CD4 T cell counts recover. A good CD8 T cell response has been linked to slower disease progression and a better prognosis, though it does not eliminate

1800-538: Is also believed to carry an increased risk of HIV transmission as condoms are rarely worn, physical trauma to the vagina or rectum is likely, and there may be a greater risk of concurrent sexually transmitted infections. The second-most frequent mode of HIV transmission is via blood and blood products. Blood-borne transmission can be through needle-sharing during intravenous drug use, needle-stick injury, transfusion of contaminated blood or blood product, or medical injections with unsterilized equipment. The risk from sharing

1900-478: Is called acute HIV, primary HIV or acute retroviral syndrome. Many individuals develop an illness like influenza , mononucleosis or glandular fever 2–4 weeks after exposure while others have no significant symptoms. Symptoms occur in 40–90% of cases and most commonly include fever , large tender lymph nodes , throat inflammation , a rash , headache, tiredness, and/or sores of the mouth and genitals. The rash, which occurs in 20–50% of cases, presents itself on

2000-653: Is defined as an HIV infection with either a CD4 T cell count below 200 cells per μL or the occurrence of specific diseases associated with HIV infection. In the absence of specific treatment, around half of people infected with HIV develop AIDS within ten years. The most common initial conditions that alert to the presence of AIDS are pneumocystis pneumonia (40%), cachexia in the form of HIV wasting syndrome (20%), and esophageal candidiasis . Other common signs include recurrent respiratory tract infections . Opportunistic infections may be caused by bacteria , viruses , fungi , and parasites that are normally controlled by

2100-760: Is disputed, and whether it is of benefit in developed countries and among men who have sex with men is undetermined. Programs encouraging sexual abstinence do not appear to affect subsequent HIV risk. Evidence of any benefit from peer education is equally poor. Comprehensive sexual education provided at school may decrease high-risk behavior. A substantial minority of young people continues to engage in high-risk practices despite knowing about HIV/AIDS, underestimating their own risk of becoming infected with HIV. Voluntary counseling and testing people for HIV does not affect risky behavior in those who test negative but does increase condom use in those who test positive. Enhanced family planning services appear to increase

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2200-422: Is done by measuring HIV- RNA or p24 antigen . Positive results obtained by antibody or PCR testing are confirmed either by a different antibody or by PCR. Antibody tests in children younger than 18 months are typically inaccurate, due to the continued presence of maternal antibodies . Thus HIV infection can only be diagnosed by PCR testing for HIV RNA or DNA, or via testing for the p24 antigen. Much of

2300-595: Is especially high, estimated as 1.4–1.7% per act in both heterosexual and homosexual contacts. While the risk of transmission from oral sex is relatively low, it is still present. The risk from receiving oral sex has been described as "nearly nil"; however, a few cases have been reported. The per-act risk is estimated at 0–0.04% for receptive oral intercourse. In settings involving prostitution in low-income countries, risk of female-to-male transmission has been estimated as 2.4% per act, and of male-to-female transmission as 0.05% per act. Risk of transmission increases in

2400-400: Is largely confined to West Africa . After the virus enters the body, there is a period of rapid viral replication , leading to an abundance of virus in the peripheral blood. During primary infection, the level of HIV may reach several million virus particles per milliliter of blood. This response is accompanied by a marked drop in the number of circulating CD4 T cells . The acute viremia

2500-531: Is often also associated with unintended weight loss . Without treatment a person living with HIV can expect to live for 11 years. Early testing can show if treatment is needed to stop this progression and to prevent infecting others. HIV is spread primarily by unprotected sex (including anal and vaginal sex ), contaminated hypodermic needles or blood transfusions , and from mother to child during pregnancy , delivery, or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva, sweat, and tears, do not transmit

2600-565: Is possible to acquire HIV from organ and tissue transplantation , although this is rare because of screening . Unsafe medical injections play a role in HIV spread in sub-Saharan Africa . In 2007, between 12% and 17% of infections in this region were attributed to medical syringe use. The World Health Organization estimates the risk of transmission as a result of a medical injection in Africa at 1.2%. Risks are also associated with invasive procedures, assisted delivery, and dental care in this area of

2700-541: Is recommended as soon as the diagnosis is made. An HIV-positive person who has an undetectable viral load as a result of long-term treatment has effectively no risk of transmitting HIV sexually. Campaigns by UNAIDS and organizations around the world have communicated this as Undetectable = Untransmittable . Without treatment the infection can interfere with the immune system , and eventually progress to AIDS , sometimes taking many years. Following initial infection an individual may not notice any symptoms, or may experience

2800-420: Is referred to as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The use of the single agent zidovudine reduces the risk of an HIV infection five-fold following a needle-stick injury. As of 2013 , the prevention regimen recommended in the United States consists of three medications— tenofovir , emtricitabine and raltegravir —as this may reduce the risk further. PEP treatment is recommended after a sexual assault when

2900-542: Is spread by three main routes: sexual contact , significant exposure to infected body fluids or tissues, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding (known as vertical transmission ). There is no risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to feces , nasal secretions, saliva, sputum , sweat, tears, urine, or vomit unless these are contaminated with blood. It is also possible to be co-infected by more than one strain of HIV—a condition known as HIV superinfection . The most frequent mode of transmission of HIV

3000-467: Is through sexual contact with an infected person. However, an HIV-positive person who has an undetectable viral load as a result of long-term treatment has effectively no risk of transmitting HIV sexually, known as Undetectable = Untransmittable . The existence of functionally noncontagious HIV-positive people on antiretroviral therapy was controversially publicized in the 2008 Swiss Statement , and has since become accepted as medically sound. Globally,

3100-429: The 2008 U.S. presidential election , Senator John McCain 's decision to participate in a written interview with the Blade marked the first time a Republican presidential nominee agreed to be interviewed by a gay publication. On November 16, 2009, the paper was abruptly shut down because of the financial status of its parent company, Window Media, and its majority shareholder , Avalon Equity Partners . Employees at

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3200-480: The Blade 's editorial reasoning for the 'outings' by stating that "It is 2004, not 1954, and sexual orientation in and of itself is no longer a 'private fact' beyond the pale of inquiry." The Blade , he wrote, "would investigate and report about whether influential Hill aides are gay if facts about their sexual orientation raise highly newsworthy questions of hypocrisy in the stands taken by anti-gay members of Congress for whom they work." A former staff writer of

3300-474: The Blade and several related publications, including the Southern Voice , were shut down after Window Media announced it was closing business. After Blade staff members were told they no longer had jobs, plans were made for a new gay publication entitled DC Agenda , since the trademark for Washington Blade was still held by the now-defunct Window Media. It was announced on April 27, 2010, that

3400-468: The Blade were aware of Window Media's financial troubles, but the timing and total closure of the publication came as a shock to the entire staff. Kevin Naff, editor of the Blade , said employees "found out when two of the corporate officers were waiting for us when we got to work this morning". Since the Blade had been a profitable newspaper, and because the debt-ridden Window Media was no longer draining

3500-517: The Blade . The reporting of the AIDS crisis from this timeframe allowed the newspaper to come of age to the mature and professionally driven publication seen today. In June 1988, the editors of the paper used a computer to layout the paper for the first time. The 1990s saw increases in readership and circulation of the Washington Blade . In April 1993, during the 1993 Gay March on Washington ,

3600-660: The DC Agenda becoming the name of the arts and entertainment section. On March 24, 2017, the paper launched a version in Los Angeles , called the Los Angeles Blade . On September 12, 2024, the Washington Blade became the first LGBTQ newspaper to be given an exclusive interview with a sitting U.S. president. Reporter Christopher Kane sat down with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office and discussed

3700-484: The DC Agenda would rename itself to the Washington Blade . The ownership group of the Agenda consisted of many former staff members of the Blade , who purchased the trademark and paper archives out of bankruptcy court. The first issue of the newly independent Blade debuted on April 30, 2010. The Washington Blade, originally called The Gay Blade , published its first issue on October 5, 1969. Taking its roots from

3800-479: The Mattachine Society of Washington's newsletter in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Blade was conceived as a way to fill in a perceived gap in the organization of social communications within the gay community of Washington, D.C. It was created by Nancy Tucker and Lilli Vincenz . The Blade was originally published as a single page and distributed hand-to-hand in a variety of gay bars throughout

3900-590: The WHO disease staging system for HIV infection and disease , and the CDC classification system for HIV infection . The CDC's classification system is more frequently adopted in developed countries. Since the WHO's staging system does not require laboratory tests, it is suited to the resource-restricted conditions encountered in developing countries, where it can also be used to help guide clinical management. Despite their differences,

4000-608: The Washington Blade also ran a free news clipping service called the BladeWire. This service collected news stories of interest to the LGBT community from a variety of local, state, regional, national, and selected international media sources. The service was generated by the Blade s editors and was published on the internet. A feature of the BladeWire also allowed it to be syndicated onto other websites using JavaScript . During

4100-412: The Washington Blade has noted objections to this perceived campaign to label individuals by their sexual orientations and has used a blog to register these objections. In July 2005, Jeff Gannon began writing editorials for the paper. His pieces included criticism of gay blogger John Aravosis , who had helped uncover Gannon's pornographic ads. Editor Chris Crain attracted his own criticism from many in

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4200-469: The Washington Blade in Washington, D.C. is the weekly newsmagazine, Metro Weekly , and nationally the Bay Area Reporter of San Francisco . For a brief period starting in 1979, the Blade also had competition from Blacklight, the city's first African-American gay monthly periodical. Archives of the Washington Blade were maintained at their Washington, D.C. offices and on Microfilm at

4300-622: The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. HIV/AIDS is considered a pandemic —a disease outbreak which is present over a large area and is actively spreading. The United States' National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Gates Foundation have pledged $ 200 million focused on developing a global cure for AIDS. There are three main stages of HIV infection: acute infection, clinical latency, and AIDS. The initial period following infection with HIV

4400-609: The spermicide nonoxynol-9 may increase the risk of transmission due to its tendency to cause vaginal and rectal irritation. Circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa "reduces the acquisition of HIV by heterosexual men by between 38% and 66% over 24 months". Owing to these studies, both the World Health Organization and UNAIDS recommended male circumcision in 2007 as a method of preventing female-to-male HIV transmission in areas with high rates of HIV. However, whether it protects against male-to-female transmission

4500-493: The CCR5 protein when present in both chromosomes very effectively prevents HIV-1 infection. HIV seeks out and destroys CCR5 expressing CD4 T cells during acute infection. A vigorous immune response eventually controls the infection and initiates the clinically latent phase. CD4 T cells in mucosal tissues remain particularly affected. Continuous HIV replication causes a state of generalized immune activation persisting throughout

4600-563: The Congressmen. In later years, these accusations have resurfaced as Kevin Naff , current editor of the Blade , has accused The Washington Post of 'straight-washing' stories about LGBT individuals. Naff wrote that "When someone is described as 'flamboyant,' 'eccentric' or 'a lifelong bachelor,' we know what's being implied... Readers of the Washington Post had better hone their gaydar skills, because in story after story,

4700-433: The LGBT community. Some authors implemented the use of humor in addressing potentially sensitive subjects, such as N. Leigh Dunlap in her long-running comic strip Morgan Calabrese. On May 25, 2001, the print edition announced the sale of the Washington Blade to Window Media , LLC, a group of gay publications. With the new ownership came several changes to standardize the paper with other Window Media publications, such as

4800-939: The Microfilm Reading Room of the Library of Congress , and in the Alternative & Underground Press Collections of ProQuest (formerly called UMI) in Ann Arbor, Michigan . The newspaper is a member of the National Newspaper Association , the National Gay Newspaper Guild , and the Associated Press . According to a survey conducted by Simmons Market Research in April 2000 for the Washington Blade,

4900-565: The absence of treatment will eventually progress to AIDS, a small proportion (about 5%) retain high levels of CD4 T cells ( T helper cells ) without antiretroviral therapy for more than five years. These individuals are classified as "HIV controllers" or long-term nonprogressors (LTNP). Another group consists of those who maintain a low or undetectable viral load without anti-retroviral treatment, known as "elite controllers" or "elite suppressors". They represent approximately 1 in 300 infected persons. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

5000-499: The absence of treatment, the risk of transmission before or during birth is around 20%, and in those who also breastfeed 35%. Treatment decreases this risk to less than 5%. Antiretrovirals when taken by either the mother or the baby decrease the risk of transmission in those who do breastfeed. If blood contaminates food during pre-chewing it may pose a risk of transmission. If a woman is untreated, two years of breastfeeding results in an HIV/AIDS risk in her baby of about 17%. Due to

5100-515: The acute phase of disease. HIV/AIDS is diagnosed via laboratory testing and then staged based on the presence of certain signs or symptoms . HIV screening is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for all people 15 years to 65 years of age, including all pregnant women. Additionally, testing is recommended for those at high risk, which includes anyone diagnosed with

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5200-406: The cell nucleus and integrated into the cellular DNA by a virally encoded integrase and host co-factors. Once integrated, the virus may become latent , allowing the virus and its host cell to avoid detection by the immune system. Alternatively, the virus may be transcribed , producing new RNA genomes and viral proteins that are packaged and released from the cell as new virus particles that begin

5300-425: The chronic phase. Immune activation, which is reflected by the increased activation state of immune cells and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines , results from the activity of several HIV gene products and the immune response to ongoing HIV replication. It is also linked to the breakdown of the immune surveillance system of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier caused by the depletion of mucosal CD4 T cells during

5400-595: The city's first African-American gay monthly periodical in August 1979, which attempted to compete with the Blade . Coverage of the City Council special election in April 1991 garnered intensive criticism of biased coverage and led to calls for reforming the paper's editorial board. In 1993, the Blade and its publishing company threatened to sue the Fairfax County Library over a potential ban on

5500-409: The city. Afraid of a backlash over the publication, many of the initial authors of writings in the Blade used pen names during the early years of publishing. The initial publications were entirely created by volunteers from the community with two editors, Nancy Tucker and Bart Wenger, at the helm. Wenger stated the initial goals of the publication were to "...engender a sense of community" and that it

5600-492: The disease and enable people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives. An HIV-positive person on treatment can expect to live a normal life, and die with the virus, not of it. Effective treatment for HIV-positive people (people living with HIV ) involves a life-long regimen of medicine to suppress the virus, making the viral load undetectable. Without treatment it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ). Treatment

5700-424: The distribution of the Blade at its branches. Also, the 2001 sale of the Washington Blade to Window Media , LLC led to intense criticism from former employees, editors, and media pundits of the consolidation of so many gay newspapers' editorial boards into the same company, leading to fears of homogenizing of content and editorial control. A former staff writer has also accused the paper of playing politics through

5800-620: The early 1980s, HIV/AIDS has had a large impact on society, both as an illness and as a source of discrimination . The disease also has large economic impacts . There are many misconceptions about HIV/AIDS , such as the belief that it can be transmitted by casual non-sexual contact. The disease has become subject to many controversies involving religion , including the Catholic Church's position not to support condom use as prevention. It has attracted international medical and political attention as well as large-scale funding since it

5900-424: The end of this stage many people experience fever, weight loss, gastrointestinal problems and muscle pains. Between 50% and 70% of people also develop persistent generalized lymphadenopathy , characterized by unexplained, non-painful enlargement of more than one group of lymph nodes (other than in the groin) for over three to six months. Although most HIV-1 infected individuals have a detectable viral load and in

6000-465: The first 2.5 months of an HIV infection, a person's infectiousness is twelve times higher due to the high viral load associated with acute HIV. If the person is in the late stages of infection, rates of transmission are approximately eightfold greater. Commercial sex workers (including those in pornography ) have an increased likelihood of contracting HIV. Rough sex can be a factor associated with an increased risk of transmission. Sexual assault

6100-491: The first weeks of infection, especially in the intestinal mucosa, which harbors the majority of the lymphocytes found in the body. The reason for the preferential loss of mucosal CD4 T cells is that the majority of mucosal CD4 T cells express the CCR5 protein which HIV uses as a co-receptor to gain access to the cells, whereas only a small fraction of CD4 T cells in the bloodstream do so. A specific genetic change that alters

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6200-463: The gay community for this decision, due to Gannon's history of anti-gay reporting as well as Gannon's refusal to disclose his sexual orientation. He has said, "My personal life is a private matter, despite the fact that I have become a public person." Crain defended his decision in a September 2005 editorial and claimed the "steady stream of feedback/vitriol" had declined "a little" with each new Gannon article. Window Media Window Media LLC

6300-414: The health care environment are believed to be effective in decreasing the risk of HIV. Intravenous drug use is an important risk factor, and harm reduction strategies such as needle-exchange programs and opioid substitution therapy appear effective in decreasing this risk. A course of antiretrovirals administered within 48 to 72 hours after exposure to HIV-positive blood or genital secretions

6400-425: The human immune system such as CD4 T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells . It directly and indirectly destroys CD4 T cells. HIV is a member of the genus Lentivirus , part of the family Retroviridae . Lentiviruses share many morphological and biological characteristics. Many species of mammals are infected by lentiviruses, which are characteristically responsible for long-duration illnesses with

6500-400: The immune system. Which infections occur depends partly on what organisms are common in the person's environment. These infections may affect nearly every organ system . People with AIDS have an increased risk of developing various viral-induced cancers, including Kaposi's sarcoma , Burkitt's lymphoma , primary central nervous system lymphoma , and cervical cancer . Kaposi's sarcoma is

6600-407: The increased risk of death without breastfeeding in many areas in the developing world, the World Health Organization recommends either exclusive breastfeeding or the provision of safe formula. All women known to be HIV-positive should be taking lifelong antiretroviral therapy. HIV is the cause of the spectrum of disease known as HIV/AIDS. HIV is a retrovirus that primarily infects components of

6700-409: The infection in five groups. In those greater than six years of age it is: For surveillance purposes, the AIDS diagnosis still stands even if, after treatment, the CD4 T cell count rises to above 200 per μL of blood or other AIDS-defining illnesses are cured. Consistent condom use reduces the risk of HIV transmission by approximately 80% over the long term. When condoms are used consistently by

6800-528: The layer that lines the inner part of eyelids and the white part of the eye) is also more common in those with HIV. Additionally, people with AIDS frequently have systemic symptoms such as prolonged fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen lymph nodes, chills, weakness, and unintended weight loss . Diarrhea is another common symptom, present in about 90% of people with AIDS. They can also be affected by diverse psychiatric and neurological symptoms independent of opportunistic infections and cancers. HIV

6900-413: The likelihood of women with HIV using contraception, compared to basic services. It is not known whether treating other sexually transmitted infections is effective in preventing HIV. Antiretroviral treatment among people with HIV whose CD4 count ≤ 550 cells/μL is a very effective way to prevent HIV infection of their partner (a strategy known as treatment as prevention, or TASP). TASP is associated with

7000-566: The mandated use of the capitalized version of the word 'Gay' in order to make a political statement. The newspaper has been accused from time-to-time of forcing public figures out of the closet . This policy of ' outing ' individuals surfaced in 1996 during the debate over the Defense of Marriage Act , when the Blade and The Advocate were going to out Congressmen Jim Kolbe and Mark Foley . Neither publication did out either politician, and both publications later denied ever intending to out

7100-539: The many common infectious diseases with similar symptoms. Someone with an unexplained fever who may have been recently exposed to HIV should consider testing to find out if they have been infected. The initial symptoms are followed by a stage called clinical latency, asymptomatic HIV, or chronic HIV. Without treatment, this second stage of the natural history of HIV infection can last from about three years to over 20 years (on average, about eight years). While typically there are few or no symptoms at first, near

7200-411: The median age of their readership was forty-one and 85% of their readers were between the ages of twenty-five and fifty-four years old. 92% of the readership is employed with 70% of the readers in professional and managerial jobs . The median income of readers was $ 57,200 per year, with median household income at $ 84,000. Overall, 79% of the Blade 's readership holds a college degree with 42% of

7300-476: The middle and folded. As the looks of the paper evolved, so did the news coverage. The Gay Blade began to focus less on being a newsletter used to organize the community and more of a newspaper for the community. In July 1974, the first newsprint edition was published and signaled an evolution in the history of the Gay Blade. A fifth anniversary edition of the paper was not published in October 1974 because of

7400-437: The most common cancer, occurring in 10% to 20% of people with HIV. The second-most common cancer is lymphoma, which is the cause of death of nearly 16% of people with AIDS and is the initial sign of AIDS in 3% to 4%. Both these cancers are associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Cervical cancer occurs more frequently in those with AIDS because of its association with human papillomavirus (HPV). Conjunctival cancer (of

7500-656: The most common mode of HIV transmission is via sexual contacts between people of the opposite sex ; however, the pattern of transmission varies among countries. As of 2017 , most HIV transmission in the United States occurred among men who had sex with men (82% of new HIV diagnoses among males aged 13 and older and 70% of total new diagnoses). In the US, gay and bisexual men aged 13 to 24 accounted for an estimated 92% of new HIV diagnoses among all men in their age group and 27% of new diagnoses among all gay and bisexual men. With regard to unprotected heterosexual contacts, estimates of

7600-412: The name of the publication changed to The Washington Blade and the corporation re-incorporated as a for-profit, employee-owned business . In July 1981, the Blade ran a front-page story entitled "Rare, Fatal Pneumonia Hits Gay Men," making the paper one of the first gay newspapers in the country to write about the disease that has come to be known as AIDS . In November 1981, Don Michaels got promoted to

7700-471: The name we can certainly save all that was the essence and spirit of our LGBTQ Community's newspaper of record. The staff of the paper remains united and our mission to enlighten and inform remains steadfast. We will launch a new publication that will bring you what we have always worked to deliver - gay news and information that is critical to our Metro DC LGBTQ Community. Issues were handed out at Washington, D.C. , Metro train stations, and an online copy

7800-563: The national capital area since 1969" and the online masthead proclaims "All the news for your life. And your style." Distribution of the Blade includes locations throughout the Washington, D.C. area . Additional distribution points are located in Maryland , Virginia , and as far away as Rehoboth Beach, Delaware . The newspaper is primarily distributed through free-standing newspaper boxes on street corners, newspaper racks at Metro stations, and in shops and restaurants. The main competition to

7900-453: The newsgathering behemoth either ignores questions of sexual orientation or employs endless winks and nods to convey what would be better spelled out." When asked why identifying and outing of individuals by publications like the Blade , staff writer Greg Marzullo wrote "Why do [we] insist on mentioning someone's sexual orientation at all? Because we're a queer paper." As reported in the Washington Post , former editor Chris Crain summarized

8000-486: The paper continued its growth. Don Michaels, an important voice on the pages of the publication, was named the editor of the paper in January 1978. Michaels began strict enforcement of a policy that prohibited pen names from being used in bylines . By November 1978, the Blade was regularly featuring color printing on its pages and beginning in 1979, the Blade changed into a bi-weekly publication. Starting in October 1980,

8100-399: The paper has not been without controversy over the years. The news coverage from the early years to the mid-1980s was perceived by some as being "white-washed" for its lack of coverage of the gay African-American population located in Washington, D.C., a city where more than 70 percent of its residents were African-American. This led to the creation of the short-lived publication Blacklight ,

8200-546: The paper published its largest edition to date consisting of 216 pages. The paper expanded into new markets and mediums with the 1995 launch of the online version of the Blade, followed two years later with the launching of a sister publication in New York, called the New York Blade . In the later part of the century, coverage was expanded to include local and national news, as well as international news of interest to

8300-410: The position of publisher, a position he would hold for over two decades. The Blade started publishing weekly in January 1983 and coverage shifted to the AIDS crisis and news about this newly emerging disease. The ever-breaking news caused the paper to remain in a heightened state of coverage and nearly exhausted the papers resources with members of the community having to step in to support the work of

8400-453: The presence of many sexually transmitted infections and genital ulcers . Genital ulcers increase the risk approximately fivefold. Other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea , chlamydia , trichomoniasis , and bacterial vaginosis , are associated with somewhat smaller increases in risk of transmission. The viral load of an infected person is an important risk factor in both sexual and mother-to-child transmission. During

8500-471: The publication's finances, the same day the Blade shut down, Naff told the Washington City Paper he and the remaining staffers "We're all together. Our first meeting for our new venture is tomorrow morning." Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said the Blade had been a "weekly must-read", and pledged support for a new publication to serve Washington's LGBT community. On November 20, 2009,

8600-425: The readers holding postgraduate degrees . A series of articles from March 1985 and continuing for five months entitled "When Pretending Stops," written by Lisa Keen, won local acclaim and awards for the coverage of the slow death of local lawyer Ray Engebretsen. This series of articles chronicled the impact of AIDS in the gay community and was ground-breaking coverage in Washington. In 1995, the Washington Blade won

8700-434: The replication cycle anew. HIV is now known to spread between CD4 T cells by two parallel routes: cell-free spread and cell-to-cell spread, i.e. it employs hybrid spreading mechanisms. In the cell-free spread, virus particles bud from an infected T cell, enter the blood/extracellular fluid and then infect another T cell following a chance encounter. HIV can also disseminate by direct transmission from one cell to another by

8800-645: The return of editorials to the publication after being missing for several decades. Shortly after the sale of the paper, staff at the Blade sought a vote to unionize with the help of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild . The Guild and the staff of the Blade brought a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board and deliberated for a few weeks over this issue resulting in a ten to eight vote against unionization on July 20, 2001. Beginning in 2005,

8900-487: The risk of HIV transmission per sexual act appear to be four to ten times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries. In low-income countries, the risk of female-to-male transmission is estimated as 0.38% per act, and of male-to-female transmission as 0.30% per act; the equivalent estimates for high-income countries are 0.04% per act for female-to-male transmission, and 0.08% per act for male-to-female transmission. The risk of transmission from anal intercourse

9000-528: The title of the publication after it was discovered that a newspaper in New York City held the rights to the name Gay Blade. The new name of the publication was now The Blade. It continued to be published on newsprint paper and had no additional format changes until near the end of the decade. Incorporating as a non-profit corporation under the title of "Blade Communications, Inc." in November 1975,

9100-480: The trunk and is maculopapular , classically. Some people also develop opportunistic infections at this stage. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea may occur. Neurological symptoms of peripheral neuropathy or Guillain–Barré syndrome also occur. The duration of the symptoms varies, but is usually one or two weeks. These symptoms are not often recognized as signs of HIV infection. Family doctors or hospitals can misdiagnose cases as one of

9200-552: The two systems allow a comparison for statistical purposes. The World Health Organization first proposed a definition for AIDS in 1986. Since then, the WHO classification has been updated and expanded several times, with the most recent version being published in 2007. The WHO system uses the following categories: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also created a classification system for HIV, and updated it in 2008 and 2014. This system classifies HIV infections based on CD4 count and clinical symptoms, and describes

9300-502: The virus. Ultimately, HIV causes AIDS by depleting CD4 T cells. This weakens the immune system and allows opportunistic infections . T cells are essential to the immune response and without them, the body cannot fight infections or kill cancerous cells. The mechanism of CD4 T cell depletion differs in the acute and chronic phases. During the acute phase, HIV-induced cell lysis and killing of infected cells by CD8 T cells accounts for CD4 T cell depletion, although apoptosis may also be

9400-463: The virus. Oral sex has little risk of transmitting the virus. Ways to avoid catching HIV and preventing the spread include safe sex , treatment to prevent infection (" PrEP "), treatment to stop infection in someone who has been recently exposed (" PEP "), treating those who are infected , and needle exchange programs . Disease in a baby can often be prevented by giving both the mother and child antiretroviral medication . Recognized worldwide in

9500-559: The world lacks access to reliable PCR testing, and people in many places simply wait until either symptoms develop or the child is old enough for accurate antibody testing. In sub-Saharan Africa between 2007 and 2009, between 30% and 70% of the population were aware of their HIV status. In 2009, between 3.6% and 42% of men and women in sub-Saharan countries were tested; this represented a significant increase compared to previous years. Two main clinical staging systems are used to classify HIV and HIV-related disease for surveillance purposes:

9600-482: The world. People giving or receiving tattoos , piercings , and scarification are theoretically at risk of infection but no confirmed cases have been documented. It is not possible for mosquitoes or other insects to transmit HIV. HIV can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, during delivery, or through breast milk, resulting in the baby also contracting HIV. As of 2008, vertical transmission accounted for about 90% of cases of HIV in children. In

9700-406: Was "very important for gays to become acquainted with one another." Published monthly from 1969 to 1973, the newspaper evolved from its original size and shape of a single letter sized paper sheet. In June 1972, the Gay Blade published its first multi-page edition which consisted of four pages and in April 1973, the paper expanded to eight pages and was printed on legal sized paper sheets, stapled in

9800-437: Was a gay press publishing holding company that acquired and operated gay and lesbian newspapers and magazines in the 2000s. In 2009 it ceased operations following bankruptcy. On November 16, 2009, all publications under the holding company were closed. David Atlanta and Washington Blade have since returned under new ownership. This article about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer related media

9900-551: Was available at www.washingtonblade.com. On February 25, 2010, DC Agenda acquired the assets of the Washington Blade from the US Bankruptcy Court. Included were the archives, name, trademarks, website, and fixtures from the Washington Blade offices. About a month later on April 26, 2010, the DC Agenda publisher announced that the Washington Blade name would return to the masthead of the paper with

10000-634: Was identified in the 1980s. HIV made the jump from other primates to humans in west-central Africa in the early-to-mid-20th century. AIDS was first recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1981 and its cause—HIV infection—was identified in the early part of the decade. Between the first time AIDS was readily identified through 2024, the disease is estimated to have caused at least 42.3 million deaths worldwide. In 2023, 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes, an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV and about 39.9 million people worldwide living with HIV, 65% of whom are in

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