BY Lux Alptraum
August 28, 2007
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Props to Jezebel for yesterday’s “Herpes Is So Whatevs” post: we’re totally on board with the “It’s herpes, get over it” message (and we’d be really happy if the rest of the world caught on to that one.). Sure, having herpes sucks: but so does having a bad rash, and we don’t ostracize people for that.

Oh, and for all those “It’s not herpes, it’s a cold sore” folks, here’s a quick lesson. Cold sores are herpes. Specifically, they’re a type of sore caused by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The kind of sores traditionally known as genital herpes are caused by HSV-2.

Here’s the thing, though: HSV-1 is perfectly happy to make its home on someone’s genitals, and HSV-2 will happily settle down on someone’s mouth. And since oral sex is a common practice these days (just ask Dan Savage) — well, you get the idea.

Hey, if we start calling genital herpes “cold sores of the south,” will that help reduce stigma?

[Photo by randi805]