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The Sound of Stigma

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169 Comments

Kim E

When I was younger and knew so much more than I know now, I remember what it was like to unconsciously, obliviously stigmatize people. I told a partner who had disclosed that they smoked marijuana that I could never seriously date someone who used drugs. It's so easy to hurt people. It's so important to know how to love them better. Thank you, Mark, for bringing some light to shine upon the darkness and providing a moving and powerful message that gave me chills as I finished reading it.

March 14, 2019 WA

Penny Finished

Heart breaking article. Sadly, stigma is still rampid and this read is as relevant now as it was back when you wrote it. Thank you for writing this tear jerker.

June 14, 2018

Heinz Voss

Two words - love & intimacy - I know how to look the definition up on the internet and educate myself. But in the 52 years I have walked this planet as a gay man, I have yet to experience them. Anonymous sex I have a lot of practice in, and now I understand better why. So I keep moving forward as my community is displaced from SF by rich folks - its a dream all right, my American Dream.

April 14, 2015 San Francisco

jens

I'm very proud I do not have HIV. I used to be made fun of when I asked about status, when I insisted on condoms regardless of status. I was called square because I thought getting drunk with the chance of sex a dangerous place to be. I was called over concerned or neurotic. Now, some of my friends are HIV +. Some of them tell no one and continue to have sex putting other people at risk. Some of them are not doing very well. I'm proud and Negative.

October 21, 2014

Timmm55

I absolutely loved your article. Do you ever thing we will be jubilant? It could be over in 5 years, mostly due to Undetectables....and testing everyone. 250,000 people are undetectable with a chance of spreading the virus reduced from (probably) ZERO-4%. That in itself should be cause for jubilation. I've been labeled a psychopath for suggestion two adults can decide for themselves to have unprotected sex, POZ/undetectable and NEG. We will develop new victims for a new stigma. It never ends.

September 24, 2014 PALM SPRINGS

VJ Crotty

Being a long term survivor (87) in excellent health I completely resonate with this story and remember the earlier 80's in NYC like presented in "A Normal Heart" on HBO. So much has happened and so many wonderful lives snuffed out. Yet today's gay male has no idea or compassion for what we went through all so they could live as well & out as they are today. They have no idea what it was like to have no recourse in discriminating of housing, employment, insurance,authority figures for starters.

June 15, 2014 Palm Springs

Patrick Mulcahey

A powerful, provocative, perceptive piece of writing. Thank you.

June 1, 2014 San Francisco.

tony g

nice article. Could not have said it better---Va. has persecuted me for 26 years now. Even the gay community. I'll survive, though. That's what I do. Live and Survive. I wish there was a survivors reality show-or-some thing like that

March 7, 2014

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