“It was not my intention to judge anybody or to rankle anybody, or to put myself in some kind of superior position by any means.
I think if people use PrEP as part of a responsible regimen of taking care of themselves and preserving their bodies and their well-being and the well-being of the people they’re having sex with, then more power to them.
There was this thing that I was ‘slut-shaming.’ Anybody who knows me knows that that is the last thing I would ever do.
I just think that we can’t let our guard down.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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— Zachary Quinto to HuffPost, responding to criticism he received over his comments from November of last year
Mark Muise
Allan Cordero
BigG
I get what he is saying. But he is still living in fear. PrEP works very well if taken regularly and I think he doesn’t understand it. a lot of people look down on that medicine, why I have no idea. he did put himself in the superior position because he’s a celebrity. The fact is his life is completely different than ours.
Ladbrook
Well, you know, he’s a celebrity who’s in People and shit… so that means he’s smart. Ask any famous person… they’ll tell you.
Will Moor
@BigG: I think he had a little bit of a point. There are MANY men who use it incorrectly and think that they can bareback with abandon now that they are on it.
Will Moor
By the way, I don’t think that what he did was “slut shamimg”. Being concerned that people might misuse the drug is not “slut shaming”.
SpunkyBunks
Zach is right. I encounter lots of guys who brag that they are on Prep and are HIV -, but they only have BB sex. WTF! They think Prep will save them forever from everything. My dumb buddy had BB sex with one of these arrogant Prep guys and got Chlamydia. We told him he was lucky it was just Chlamydia.
Quinto knows what’s up, stick to condoms.
Daveliam
I really don’t see what’s wrong with Quinto’s comments. PrEP isn’t an excuse to engage in reckless unprotected sex. I agree with him. It’s not slut-shaming. It’s pointing out that this drug protects (partially) against one STD. The manufacturers of the drug specifically state that it’s meant to be used in combination with condoms. Quinton was just pointing that out.
Also, anyone else find it funny that Queerty is calling out Quinton for slut-shaming after clutching their pearls and passive-aggressively berating that country music guy for doing the same thing to them…..?
jimontp
@Will Moor: “Use it incorrectly?” Really? It’s one pill once a day to prevent HIV transmission to a negative person. The only “incorrect” way to use it, is if you skip doses. Get educated about HIV prevention. You imply that using PrEP is somehow “incorrect” if it is used by guys who bareback, whereas that is exactly the correct way to use it. Face facts: 25 years of all the emphasis on using condoms HAS NOT WORKED! All the clinical trials prove PrEP works better than condoms for the single goal of not getting infected with HIV. It does nothing to prevent other STIs, please don’t confuse the two.
jimontp
As much as I like Quinto, his comment about people on PrEP preserving the “well being of people they’re having sex with,” is just totally muddle-headed. PrEP is totally intended only to prevent HIV transmission to the person taking it. An HIV positive man does not take PrEP, he takes a combination of hiv drugs that keep his viral load undetectable, which studies show is almost 100% effective at preventing HIV transmission to a negative partner. THAT is what’s called “preserving the well being of people they’re having sex with.”
Got it? HIV positive men take a drug combo to suppress the virus. HIV negative men can take PrEP to prevent getting HIV. PrEP has nothing to do with not spreading anything, cause the guy taking it is HIV negative, and most importantly, neither of these things prevent other STIs. Condoms can.
Mike Benevenstanciano
Maybe he learned his lesson after the backlash. Maybe instead of not changing, he grew as a person, like we all do, and Zachary is better for it today. He made a mistake, learned from it and moved on, unlike acting like a child who would rather cling to his ego of being right all the time and never change.
Markajv
Pfffft I did not even know this drug existed. Face Palm!
JJ24
He wasn’t slut shaming, too many people want to treat PrEP like it is a cure or 100% effective(I admit I don’t know the effective percent). They also want to act like HIV is the only thing to worry about. Basically his bottom line is we need to continue to educate ourselves and community on these things and continue to fight for a cure.
Rob Laughlin
Or, just don’t give a crap what some minor celeb says. He’s not an MD.
jimontp
PrEP is about 99% effective IF IT IS TAKEN daily. Studies show that positive guys who have an undetectable viral load have almost zero percent chance of transmitting HIV. You’re right, neither of these findings mean anything about other STIs, condoms are still the only effective way to maybe prevent transmitting them. And you’re also right that younger, active gay men need to educate themselves on what scientific studies show, not just easy platitudes. Fighting for a cure is a great aspiration.
onthemark
I suspect Quinto was genuinely ignorant about how PrEP works (but doesn’t quite want to admit it, now).
And I wish there wasn’t such an extreme focus on only the “slut” aspect of this.
PrEP is ideal for sero-discordant couples in a steady relationship. It gives them a lot of freedom. In fact, in the long run PrEP will encourage sero-discordant relationships, which will give gay men in general more freedom and options in serious dating.
But of course, you’d never guess this from the usual hysterical Queerty commenters who are too scared to touch an “out” poz guy with a ten foot pole (not that they have one, or even a 4 inch pole, lol). No, they stick with the guys who claim to be “clean” but haven’t been tested recently, and they end up getting HIV anyway.
cabe
@jimontp:@jimontp: While the efficacy rate is good – around 98-99% – its still not 100% and if you dont take it religiously (and I imagine many young guys who like to get F’d up every night will skip plenty of doses) it doesn’t work. I think a combo of condoms and Truvada is the best route not only for better protection against HIV but protection against STDs which are coming on strong again. Before AIDS, when guys were having sex 24/7, STD were insanely rampant. I see that coming back due to…yes, slutty behavior.
Kiltedbear
@BigG: There is a big difference between using PReP as a sole guard against HIV and still being promiscuous and simply demanding a a recent negative STD test. If you are just using PReP and being promiscuous, then you are still being stupid, just not *as* stupid.
Desert Boy
Quinto is an overrated actor who seems to think frowning at the camera makes him look like a “serious actor”.
Clark35
@Will Moor: Exactly. I know tons of fools who think that because they are on PrEP they can bareback like it’s the mid 70s and they’ll stay HIV neg and free from STDs.
Clark35
@jimontp: It’s only effective in the 99% range if you take it daily and if condoms are used; but the majority of “Truvada whores” do not use condoms and think they can take it when they want to and still stay HIV neg and without any other STDs.
Clark35
@jimontp: Just because a person is on meds and is supposedly “undetectable” they can still infect other people with HIV+ or get infected with the strain they have or a new strain of HIV.
BigG
I know plenty of people on prep who bareback every other day and there still negative. honestly it’s like most gay guys don’t want prep to work like they can’t accept the fact that it does work.
sportyguy1983
He shouldn’t have apologized. People need to learn not to be so easily offended.
Matt H
So, wanted to share this link and my perspective about statistics.
Link: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/prevention/research/prep/
Perspective: Take PrEP everyday! I’m unclear what the 92% means exactly. I would imagine based on my knowledge of how these types of studies work, it means 8% of high-risk individuals (definition of high-risk for them might involve all male homosexuals or just drug-users) got HIV in some period of time. I think there are real questions about how well it works with habitual unprotected sex. It, without a doubt, reduces the risk. But, if you are having sex frequently 99% means you have sex 100 times and odds are you’re in an unfortunate situation. I would recommend using PrEP and condoms.
Apologies if this offended anyone.
Disclaimer: I <3 Zachary Quinto.
OhHellNo
Don’t worry, Zach. With Truvada side effects, they won’t be sluts for long.
jimontp
@Clark35: I’m sorry, but that is not accurate. The last two major clinical studies of sero-discordant couples, showed that when the positive partners had undetectable viral loads there were no cases of hiv transmission to the negative partner. NONE. And that hogwash about being infrected with different “strains” of hiv is also inaccurate. The 2 or 3 cases of people being infected with “different” strains of hiv occured years ago ONLY when the hiv positive person was newly infected and NOT on drug therapy. It has nothing to do with a positive person with an undetectable viral load.
moldisdelicious
has anybody that keeps bringing up slut shaming as a response to people attacking those who choose to be promiscuous who take the time to look at what slut shaming means? first off, which self respecting person refers to themselves as a slut? so when someone claims that they’re being slut shamed, they’re basically calling themselves a slut.
if someone wants to be promiscuous, it’s cool but responsibility for one’s self is important as sex involves other people besides self. unlike the straight community that seems to promote safe sex where people are reminded about why it’s important to strap up such as unwanted pregnancies, various forms of stds and etc, the gay community on the other hand does the exact opposite. the whole entire idea of safe sex in the gay male community being “only hiv prevention” where it’s seen as a milestone where a couple of pills can allow folks to have unprotected sex as long as they’re not hiv positive as if hiv is the ONLY std to worry about shows that we need to work on how we see ourselves. we deserve better but that’s only if folks allow themselves that chance. all this talk about gay people deserve respect from society and etc but yet gay men don’t respect themselves to the point where they’re dehumanizing themselves. we’re human beings with sexual urges. not sex objects or sex toys that are only good for sexual objectification. at least, let’s acknowledge that we’re human beings and treat ourselves like that instead of getting too comfortable with the notion that we aren’t human like our straight peers are.
jwtraveler
Advocating responsible safe sex, condom use and AIDS prevention is not “slut shaming”. Everyone should take responsibility for their own sexual health because it’s the smart, sensible, healthy, life-affirming thing to do. But if they act responsibly because they’re ashamed of acting stupidly, that works too.
Daniel Bujes
Telling people to behave responsibly when having sex is not slut shaming. What is shameful is how you create a rift within the community for clicks. Over and over again.
Kieru
Criticizing people for using Truvada as an alternative to condoms is not slut-shaming; even the manufacturer of Truvada alerts people taking PrEP not to rely on Truvada alone. This is taken directly from their website and is duplicated on paperwork sent with any Truvada prescription:
Just taking TRUVADA may not keep you from getting HIV-1. You must continue using safer sex practices while you are taking TRUVADA to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1. To further reduce your risk of getting HIV-1:
– Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you.
– Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior.
– Have fewer sex partners.
– Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.
tdh1980
There’s a big difference between sex-shaming and holding to task those who refuse to engage in safer sex practices. What I don’t understand is why so many PrEP converts now seem so staunchly against using condoms knowing full well that the pill only protects against HIV/AIDs. It’s like saying that wearing a seatbelt is superfluous because one’s car comes equipped with an airbag.
billjones
What’s wrong with “slut-shaming”?
Will Moor
@jimontp: Is HIV our only concern these days when it comes to STDs? Glad to hear it, was unaware!
Will Moor
@BigG: “I know plenty of people on prep who bareback every other day and there still negative. honestly it’s like most gay guys don’t want prep to work like they can’t accept the fact that it does work.”
And I suppose PrEP keeps them universally safe from Herpies, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis too!
notevenwrong
@Will Moor, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis are for the most part very easily curable with an injection or short course of antibiotics. They are no worse than having, say, a case of strep throat, so let’s not stigmatize them just because they come from sex. Hepatitis A, B and HPV have vaccines. That pretty much leaves Herpes, which can be uncomfortable, sure, but hardly life-changing.
For many guys on PrEP, the slight risk of an easily curable illness is worth it to be able to have sex that they can actually *feel*. To me that is a valid choice.
notevenwrong
@Matt H, “I’m unclear what the 92% means exactly. I would imagine based on my knowledge of how these types of studies work, it means 8% of high-risk individuals (definition of high-risk for them might involve all male homosexuals or just drug-users) got HIV in some period of time.”
No, it’s like this: If you bottom once for a poz top without protection, your chance is roughly 1 in 70 to get HIV (per the CDC). If you are on Truvada, your risk to get HIV is reduced to 8% of this, which is roughly 1 in 700.
If you top once with a poz bottom without protection, your risk to get HIV is roughly 1 in 1,000. If you are on Truvada, that risk becomes 8% of this, which is roughly 1 in 10,000.
The above is assuming that protection factor of 92%. There are other estimates that place the protection at 99% or higher.
notevenwrong
@Matt H, of course those risks are assuming the partner is definitely HIV+ but doesn’t take into account whether they are undetectable. If the person is undetectable, the risks are substantially lower than the numbers I stated.
Will Moor
@notevenwrong: And I guess if we close our eyes tight enough, genital herpes will cease to exist.
Will Moor
@notevenwrong: BTW I don’t “stigmatize them because they come from sex”, I stigmatize them because they are infections, diseases that an asshole who is dishonest about his health state can easily pass them onto an unsuspecting person who trusts him.
Random
@jimontp: ”’neither of these findings mean anything about other STIs, condoms are still the only effective way to maybe prevent transmitting them”
Actually, this is largely misleading. Syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, HPV and shigella can still be passed on even when a condom is used, as their transmission isn’t dependent on anal sex. Condoms will help to prevent clamydia, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it can also be passed on via oral sex – an activity where condoms tend to be used much less frequently.
notevenwrong
@Will Moor: “I don’t “stigmatize them because they come from sex”, I stigmatize them because they are infections, diseases that an asshole who is dishonest about his health state can easily pass them onto an unsuspecting person who trusts him.”
People generally don’t knowingly pass on gonorrhea. As long as you don’t similarly stigmatize, say, family members or coworkers who pass on the flu or strep (often knowingly, by coming to work sick), which are generally far more deadly than gonorrhea, your position would be hypocritical.
Bauhaus
@notevenwrong:
Hep C?
notevenwrong
@Bauhaus, Hep C is not specifically endemic in the gay male population. And it is curable.
Bauhaus
@notevenwrong:
Huh? Adding any or all of the STI’s you blithely dismiss as innocuous, on top of HIV, no matter how healthy a person, isn’t smart. Try “curing” Hep C while also living with HIV, for example. The expense, organ damage, the toxic side effects of multiple medications…
tdh1980
@notevenwrong: So, the risk of contracting an STI other than AIDS is worth not wearing a condom because at least it won’t kill you…Some of us like to have a better quality of life than that affords us. The common cold and the flu generally don’t kill otherwise healthy people, but I don’t intentionally expose myself to those risks because I don’t like the nuisance of congestion, coughing, sneezing, aching, sniffling, sore throat, blowing my nose, breaking out in sweats, etc.
notevenwrong
@Bauhaus, though curable, Hep C is a serious disease, no question, but Hep C is relatively uncommon among gay men and gay sex isn’t considered a particularly high risk activity for Hep C transmission. See the CDC regarding who is at high risk for Hep C: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm
Gay men or gay sex are not on the list.
notevenwrong
@tdh1980, personally, being able to feel sex is pretty high up on my quality of life index. If condoms gave people the same quality of experience, everyone would be using them.
My point was that something like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are no worse than the flu – in fact with proper diagnostic checkups they are significantly easier and quicker to treat than the flu. But my point was if you insist on treating them as the Mark of Cain, please apply the same judgment to the coworker or family member who passes the flu on to you.
Bauhaus
@tdh1980:
I practice good hygiene, get a yearly flu shot, get vaccines, and take care of myself for the exact reasons you give in your post. Quality of life is important to me. To each his own, it’s just not a risk I’m willing to take. I’m fortunate in that I don’t have the *feeling* problem while using a condom. If anything, a condom is a turn-on, as I know where things are headed, and it also helps to slow me down. For me, it’s win/win.
Bauhaus
@notevenwrong:
Sounds like you’ve given it a lot of thought, researched the subject, and are confident and happy with your choices. Good for you.