However, Rotello also predicted that as HIV continued to spread among gay men, it might mutate into increasingly virulent or drug-resistant strains. Studies indicate that this is occurring but has not so far reached levels that would alter the trajectory of the epidemic. And he predicted that as gay men continued to transmit HIV despite knowledge of how not to, mainstream society might withdraw some support for gay rights. In fact, polls show that public belief that AIDS is the nation's “most urgent health problem” has declined from 38% to 7% since "Sexual Ecology" was published, and support for gay rights is at an all time high.