The most stunning facet of the MSM pre-conference (“Gay Day”) at AIDS2016, the international conference happening now in Durban, South Africa, was that so many of the gay men in attendance had the courage to show up at all. Held Saturday, the gathering featured hundreds of gay HIV advocates, including those from countries in which they risk dire consequences for being open about their sexuality – or for even providing services to other gay men.
In his first installment of video coverage from AIDS2016, blogger Mark S. King gets personal with these advocates about their lives back home. He also chats with a “chem sex” expert from the United Kingdom about the surprising rates of crystal meth use among gay Londoners, and even engages in a little PrEP drug smuggling with a German who is taking the prevention medication even though PrEP has yet to be approved in his home country.
Chris Beyrer, the openly gay president of the International AIDS Society, the conveners of the massive AIDS2016 conference, also has some strong words about the language around “ending AIDS,” while hailing PrEP as the most powerful and effective new prevention tool since the condom.
Queerty is featuring Mark’s coverage this week, which continues with planned marches, activist protests, and trips to the eye-popping Global Village. “The Global Village represents everything inspiring and creative about AIDS activism from around the globe,” Mark says. “It’s like ‘It’s A Small World’ for AIDS. I can’t wait to show it to you.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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Related: Ten Things Poz Guys Want Negative Guys To Know
Find out more about the work of MSMGF, the sponsors of the MSM pre-conference, or get more information about AIDS2016 or HIV/AIDS at the most comprehensive HIV resource on the net, TheBody.com.
Kangol
I really commend you for covering this conference, and over an extended period. Great job, Queerty!
Brian
Instead of turning one’s body into a chemical factory via PrEP, chem sex and anti-viral drugs, how about you you show some restraint in your sex lives?
Avoid anonymous promiscuity for starters. It’s cheaper than adding stuff to your body all the time.
ErikO
Mark S. King is a total hypocrite since he is or was majorly into using meth, smoking crack, and doing the whole PNP/chemsex thing for decades.
Stache
@ErikO: I think you need to redefine your definition of hypocrite. His meth addiction isn’t exactly a secret since he made a documentary about it. As far as I know he doesn’t do it anymore. Even still what makes him unqualified to talk about it? Seems he would have the best knowledge.
Mark
@ErikO: Your attempt to shame me is a reminder how important it is for us to discuss drugs in our community, whether we are using them, non-users, or former users like myself. I write about it often. I am grateful I don’t have to live that way anymore, and that I can help others who are struggling. Recovery is possible. Help is available.
Kieru
@Brian: While I agree that PrEP should not be seen as a free pass to have anonymous bareback sex… I do see at least one incredibly wonderful use for the drugs:
Sero-Discordant couples
PrEP must be an amazing solution for these people, who before the advent of PrEP have either had to always use condoms during their intimacy, or face the real possibility of becoming HIV+ due to their desire to engage in the same level of intimacy so many HIV- partners enjoy without thought.
It’s certainly a choice that every individual has to make for themselves – and I admit to being apprehensive of the possible side-effects of long-term usage (we know for HIV+ patients, long-term Truvada usage can cause liver damage) – but to discount the drug completely as “turning one’s body into a chemical factory” seems naive.
DCguy
@Brian:
So Brian, I’m curious, do you feel the same way about politicians on their 3rd marriages?
seaguy
@Brian: how about you stop slut shaming and realize not everyone lives the the perfect, virginal , angelic existence you apparently do. So your suggestion is unrealistic in reality, and only harms people because they see posts like yours and then avoid getting tested out of fear they will encounter someone like you who tells them they are a bad person for having sex.
ErikO
@Mark: It’s not “shaming” you it’s writing the facts. You also promote bareback sex among HIV+ men so you support men who are already HIV+ becoming reinfected with the strain of HIV they have, getting infected with a new strain, messing up their and the other person’s medication from working as it should, and getting infected with other STDs, and with all the barebacking going on someone who is HIV neg was infected by someone that’s HIV+ that lied about it or told the other person after they had sex.
lisa_jackson
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