The syphilis rate rose by 12 percent between 2006 and 2007. Sixty percent of the cases were found in gay men. According to the CDC, the increase is due to not enough gays getting tested. Dr Walt Larimore says that’s the wrong reason.

“When it gets to sex we tend to deviate in public health from primary prevention, which is avoid sex outside of marriage.”

The CDC also puts some blame on inconsistent condom use. Dr. Gary Rose of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health says that’s not entirely accurate.

“One thing that most people are not aware of is that, in terms of risk reduction, condoms only offer about 50 percent risk reduction if used every single time.”

The one thing the CDC will likely never say is the real reason for the rise: gay sex is unhealthy. Jeff Johnston of Focus on the Family says the gay community also has blinders on.

“Instead of taking responsibility for the actions of these men, the gay community tends to blame homophobia or Americans’ lack of acceptance of homosexuality for these diseases. Some of them even blame the promiscuity on homophobia. They say that because of the shame and anxiety because America doesn’t accept them.”

Johnson says the syphilis rate, and the rates of other sexually transmitted diseases will continue to rise until the real reasons are acknowledged.