The National Institutes of Health is developing a virtual reality experience to help young gay men who’ve contracted HIV disclose their status to future sex partners.
“Tough Talks” allows users to practice what can be a difficult and necessary conversation — how to tell someone you may not know very well that you’re HIV-positive prior to having sex.
In the simulation, characters are able to exhibit and roleplay various emotional states like “anger, fear, rejection, blame, ignorance, curiosity, confusion, support, concern, sympathy, empathy, acceptance, [and] love.”
Users are able to practice several scenarios of communication with casual or primary sex partners.
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The Georgia-based Tech training company Virtually Better, Inc., along with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies, are creating the simulation in the hopes of opening up pathways of communication.
According to the grant that led to developing the project, 67% of young gay men not adequately disclose their HIV status to first-time partners.
“Given the potential benefits and challenges associated with disclosure, there is a need for sophisticated interventions that can assist [men who have sex with men] MSM, with the disclosure process,” the grant reads. “Virtual reality provides a unique environment for users to practice HIV disclosure.”
Starting in 2014 under the Obama administration, researchers recruited young men through Craigslist, Grindr and Facebook.
The results of the study were published in July 2018 in a paper titled ‘I Didn’t Tell You Sooner Because I Didn’t Know How to Handle It Myself’ and look promising, with participants reporting the simulation helpful.
The project will continue through May 2020.
bro4gaybros
So, what about straight people who have HIV/AIDS? This isn’t “just a gay disease”. Will this method also target that community?
That said, this is a good idea to get people talking about their status without total fear of rejection.
mountainmaat
This is pointless. We should be discussing treatment as prevention and PReP. Not “how to disclose” that was the least of my worries.. especially after treatment began.
rayk
Prep is so dammed expensive that I could not possibly afford it!!! The only people that I know of that get it and use it are on government sponsored programs like medicaid. Older folks like me who are on Medicare pay an arm and a leg for it. I guess they think we do not have sex anymore
niles
Once the haters find out about this, it will be canceled ASAP, don’t worry.
raynyagizomin
Really agree with you
Mick406
Well, shit! I was hoping we were going to be able to have a realistic visual experience of seeing some big dicks in play!!!
RevJames
Brilliant!
gymmuscleboy
Or better yet, a virtual reality experience that teaches people not to have unprotected anal sex in the first place.