According to the article, and I paraphrase, this combination of chemicals is designed to allow you to party 'til 4am, fuck the rest of the night and day away with complete abandon without the consequences of contracting HIV. The article also speaks about the rise of the MRSA or the super staph bug that has been running rampant through our community for several years now.
While all of this is disturbing to me on several levels, especially the fact that some of my brethren will actual grasp at this latest straw to be free of the specter of HIV, this isn't the most disturbing thing about this article.
The author of this article, an executive in one of our most prominent clinics in Dallas, talks about how all of these latest practices could lead to increased HIV infections (Duh!). He talks about how all of this disturbs him and that this could potentialy unravel years of risk reduction and safer sex practices( Hate to tell him but the horse has been out of the barn on this one for years). He also drones on about possible drug resistance and the long term costs of all of this and gives lip service to the community returning to a spirit of activism like in the 80's and early 90's, includng a veiled reference to the East and West coast bathhouse closings of the 80's as a possible solution.
So what disturbs me most about this article are two things:
- The "C" Average unimaginative, recycled risk reduction mantras of the past coming from our supposedly best sources of information and leadership on such matters. Doesn't anyone have fresh ideas about how to slow this epidemic among the younger generation? If this is the best they can come up with I am calling for their resignations. Put someone in these positions with balls who will tell it like it is and will not allow government agencies, scared mediocore low level community politicos, or anyone else to water down the message that needs to get out. It is still as simple as Silence Equals Death, HIV and excessive drug use kills, and low self esteem is still one of the biggest killers of our communities.
- How out of touch our so called leaders are - Heads up leaders - MRSA has been around for at least 5 years (Before I wised up and figured out what was going on I contracted it twice. One in early 2004 and once in 2005) and yes it is spreading faster in our community and it is from unprotected sex and sharing needles. Please just say it and don't apologize or hedge just to safe face. Now is not the time to safe face. Now is the time to save lives. Also, barebacking ( stupid term that looks even stupider written out on a Craig's List entry) has been a common practice for at least a decade (yes I partisipate in it, don't lie about it and it feels good) so risk reduction and safe sex messages aren't working. Let's have town hall meetings and figure out this complicated health problem. Let's start with the ugly truth and get on with it.
You see, I am a 15 year long term non progressive survivor of HIV, drugs played an integral and formative part in my life, and craigs list and crystal meth have messed things up for me in the dating arena. I want to share my experiences, good,bad, and ugly with others not to mess up any fun (experiment, make mistakes, it is all part of the deal, or destiny) but get smart about it because their will be a time if you survive when most of you will want to go down a different path. You can't do that if you are dead or chronically ill from something that was preventable.
So I say to our leaders to put your money where your mouth is and do more than write articles. I stand ready to help you and work within the existing system but if you guys are all talk then I will get my message another way. Contact me , I dare you...
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