"Sex is a normal activity and part of our human experience"

[brooklynite]

Politico

Dr. Leandro Mena has plenty of reasons to lie awake at night.

Over the two years he led the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, he’s seen sexually transmitted infections hit record levels, including the highest number of syphilis cases since the Truman administration. Then there’s the deeply troubling evolution of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea and the spate of outbreaks of the new virus mpox in LGBTQ communities. And don’t forget that Congress is eager to slash funding to combat all these crises.

Meanwhile, stigma around sex and STDs remains pervasive — even in the medical community — which only makes it harder for people to get the help they need.

“We, as a society, have a tremendous difficulty talking about sex and recognizing that sex is a normal activity and part of our human experience,” he said in an interview.