Beware the Pure Spirit, Let the Flesh Instruct the Mind

I am growing ever increasingly concerned regarding the stigma that surrounds monkeypox (MPX) as it relates to the queer community, namely MSM (men-who-have-sex-with-men). I'm getting a real "1980's HIV " vibe from what I am seeing in the news and on social media.  The following is a brief passage discussing stigma (taken lovingly from my dissertation project). This can help frame important discussions that need to be had.  Stigma. The word itself literally means “to mark, brand, or tattoo.”(Merriman-Webster’s Online Dictionary, n.d.). Ancient Greeks invented the word to describe the deliberate marking of slaves, criminals, and traitors to the State with a physical mark (e.g., cuts, burns) to designate them as being “different” and “Other.” These marks set them apart from the general public and social mores of the day required these “Others” to be avoided. (Madru, 2003). It is easy to recall Hawthorne’s literary figure, Hester Prynne and her scarlet letter, or the Star...