Talk about fatalists! A “first of its kind” event – HIV – UB2 – realizes there’s no cure for HIV, so they’re just tossing positives out on their asses. A listing in New York City’s Pride City guide reads:
In response to the recent upward trend of new HIV infections in our city, the time has come to support HIV- people who wish to meet other HIV- people. To offer support, empowerment, awareness and understanding so HIV- people can create the same support network that HIV+ people have. For us to win the war against HIV, we must understand that HIV- people are the future. If you are HIV- and wish to meet other HIV- people, join us. It’s time to move forward and to reach our goal – the END OF HIV.
Yeah! Fuck those people with HIV! They’ve got nothing to contribute to society! They’re not even worth knowing. In fact, rather than just letting AIDS kill them, we should just do it ourselves!
cjc
Paging Goebbels… paging Himmler… paging Hitler…
degan22
Wow, this is so anti- our community.
Gotta say- kinda sick to my stomach right now.
ggreen
No news here, this kind of BS has been going on since day one of the HIV epidemic. Most recently the “HIV ends with me campaignâ€. I got HIV because I’m a dirty person only dirty people get HIV ya know, except for those “innocent victims†(no they’re dirty too).
thatguyfromboston
One of the things that baffles me is the implied jealousy, resentment? of the support networks that poz people have.
Sonoranliberal
I’m not in the least surprised. I’ve been pos since 1987 and had AIDS diagnosis in 1991. I’ve felt abandoned by the gay community for many years and even marginalized by local ASO’s as the demographic skewed hetero and my contemporaries died off. I’m just not surprised–no one wants damaged goods in this shiny new century.
Dawster
yes… but where is the meeting for all the WHITE hiv- people?
adamblast
So a bunch of HIV- people only want to date other HIV- people. They’ve got a perfect right, whether you like it or not, no? Sometimes I think we’ve gone so far in removing the stigma from infection (which is a good thing, of course: people deserve respect, on the whole) that we’ve lost track of the basics: diseases are *bad*, not “value-neutral.”
EdWoody
Exactly, AdamBlast. All they’re doing is trying to discourage people from becoming HIV+ and provide reasons why they should stay negative. That is a GOOD thing.
Sonoranliberal, stop being so alarmist. No-one is abandoning you for being HIV+. They’re just refusing to abandon the HIV- people aswell. You know, equality and all that? Their point is that YOU already have all the support, to tell you that it’s okay to be HIV+. They just want to say it’s okay to be HIV- too.
In fact, I find it amazing that we’re in the kind of situation where such encouragement is even necessary. One would think it was just common sense. But when people like Paul Morris can claim that “HIV-negativity is the new virginity,” as if one is not a valid sexual being until you’ve got a deadly disease, then clearly common sense has abandoned us all.
Mr. B
Wow. Can’t wait for the Dan-Savage-esque debate to begin. Whoever wants to jump on me can hop to it, because this argument has been done to death.
Personally, this event grosses me out a lot, but what do I know–I’m silly enough to prefer condoms and communication to separatism.
Dawster
i’m going to jump on Mr. B… and then agree with him.
it’s not that this is an “HIV-” only party groups of people have the freedom to meet wherever the hell they want. it’s the fact that… well… PROVE that you’re HIV-.
in a room filled with supposed HIV- people, one person could still have not been tested for well over a year, or had sex since the last time they were tested. you have those people who (dare i say) may not be completely honest (same people who measure their penis and think centimeters = inches).
even in this room filled with supposed HIV- people, one person could still be infected and not even be aware of it.
sooo, even with your choice of any man in a room filled with HIV- people… you would STILL use a condom, STILL play safe, and STILL err on the side of caution.
so… really… what was the point in having the room filled with HIV- people??
EdWoody
Valid points from Dawster.
Mr. B
Thank you, Dawster. That’s the other ridiculous side to the whole thing. Are they doing Orasure tests at the door? No, but how many bozos want to go to a party like this mainly because they think it gives them a pass on the rubber? It’s not only messed up, it’s also moronic.
Not to mention the fact that “I’m negative,” in addition to having the potential to be a lie or mistaken information, also gives tons of such short-sighted partners the delusion that they’re not also exposing themselves to herpes, HPV, the gazillion strains of gonorrhea, or all the other junk out there? Seriously, way too many guys are into the “neg only” scene mainly because they want it raw.
As for jumping on me…you are welcome to do that anytime, sugar.
spunkbox
Sounds like what they really want to do is have a big ole bareback party.
tbnyc01
Why not have separate beer taps too, one for the poz’s one for the neg’s? This club makes no sense. The reason theres HIV+ support groups is because poz people are dealing with a “chronic” disease and want the support of others in the same situation. I mean, for real this club makes as much sense as having a non-alcoholics anonymous club, so people who aren’t alcoholics can meet other non-alcoholics. Dawster is right too, you will have the liars, one’s who don’t know their poz yet, and the raw sex seekers.
Stop dividing the community. Promote testing, drug-free and responsible sex and self worth. Then you’ll reduce HIV infections. HIV is here (to stay for a long while) so deal with it.
Ryan
To create groups that are only for people that are HIV- is beyond stupid. It sort of reminds me of the stupidity of men that always get mad at women’s rights groups or “Take Back the Night” type events – and try to create their own “Take Back the Night” marches, etc. It’s beyond sophmoric.
That said, I don’t think anyone would be wrong for avoiding an intimate relationship with someone that has HIV, if they don’t. Yes, condoms are effective, but not 100% of the time. There is a possibility that they could break or be faulty, etc. Furthermore, not everyone wants condoms to be mandatory for the rest of their lives – and certainly one of the perks of having an exclusive relationship with someone without STDs is the ability to do so without condoms.
Sex is important in a relationship and something like HIV can certainly make an impact on anyone’s sex life. Obviously, it’s a personal choice – and an unfortunate one – but it’s not exactly an unreasonable one.