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Having lived with AIDS for 23 years (more than half of my life), I have seen and experienced many serious changes. Florent was one constant throughout all of these different periods. Knowing it was going to close and actually seeing it gone now makes me realize what a significant role it (and the people) played in my life. What a tremendous loss.
What a great story. I'm sorry to hear Florent is closed. I went there once only in 1997 when I was visiting NYC with my friend Terence, who insisted it was the place to go. I think I might still have one of their great brown cardboard business cards. I would love to see a larger image of that 10th Anniversary cover. Maybe somone could post a link to a larger version of it, if there's one out there. Thanks.
June 29 was the Pride March. Last year I walked with Veterans for Peace, this year I was going to walk with the Men of All Colors Together, but I went instead with some LG teachers I knew. I've been poz myself since 1986. After the march, I went to dinner with a teacher named Tip, and a school librarian named Marie, at the Hightower Steak House. Then I looked on Gansevoort for this place, but I didn't remember its name. I'm sorry that I never even went to Florent, naked or not.
POZ was conceived to advocate for all people diagnosed as hiv+, but it seems these days that it has moved away from this and now dictates to hiv positive people in terms of treatment using moral arguments that are unsustainable. while it protests the criminalisation of non disclosure in sexual relations, it comes down heavy and hard on the most vulnerable - mothers who choose not to administer ARVs to their healthy hiv + enfants and children.Maggiore is demonised but bad boys are canonised...
I am HIV+ for ten years now. Have physical appearance problems. Also diabetes and hypertension - difficult to control on some of the new HIV medicines. I saved, but then lost, the POZ cover. I've often wished I had a poster of the photo to frame and remind me of others of the HIV tribe. Just looking at the photo makes me feel part of a very important group.
What a beautiful story! A place and time in history that can never be duplicated thats for sure! Naked HIV positive bodies...I love it. Brilliant covershoot for Poz magazine.
i am heart broken at florent's closure. it's affecting me very deeply. so many nights with so many friends who are gone. the food, company, and energy of the place can't be rivaled. i worked at the roxy in the late 80's/early 90's, and florent was always our after work eatery of choice. everyone was there, and if they weren't we talked about them. emery was a doll and richard moved us. were we ever so young? florent, you will be missed.
Danny
I recently began dating a sweetheart of a guy who worked at Florent for years. he speaks of it often and even gets teary-eyed when discussing its closing. I had only eaten there once and thought to myself, "What's the big deal? It's just a restaurant." Boy was I wrong!!! Thank you, Florent for all you've done for the poz community.
July 8, 2008 • New York