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25 years of living with AIDS here - plus 30 years of advocacy, preparation & distribution of HIV info materials and years of ACT UP confrontation - and I'll stand with Richard Ferri and Larry Kramer on this 'hit them over the head' approach to prevention. I'm frankly fucking sick of hearing the newly diagnosed tell me: I don't know what I was thinking or why I let him fuck me without a condom and, you know, come to think of it, I can't remember a single AIDS/HIV prevention ad, because they didn't sink in.
Sorry John..I will take more than a cyber bully to keep from talking and writing.
The ad is a video gay bashing. It should be investigated as the hate crime it is. Those responsible should be appropriately punished, not only with the end of their careers and revocation of their professional credentials, but with jail time. For a man with so many fancy letters after his name, you display apalling insensitivity, lack of insight and wisdom, even stupidity. You have lost friends and credibility? You feel shame and remorse? That is better than you deserve. It is time for you to retire. Go tattoo shop or something.
Richard, I live in the midwest, so I've not seen the PSA, but from what I gather it's rather graphic. Good. As a 23 year survivor of HIV/AIDS and having been to more doctors than I would like, I'd say the PSA is correct. My first partner died of encephalopathy in the early 90's, my second was diagnosed with Hep C and died in 2008 of an oxycontin overdose. I've had bouts of anal warts and was found to have an anal cancer lesion two years ago that was removed. My point, is that no matter how scary the PSA is, it isn't scary enough. I now have a bad disc in my back, numbness in my legs and a hernia. Five years ago I was diagnosed as diabetic, and my doc tells me that's very common in long-term AIDS patients. I take 27 pills/day plus pain medication when needed, and give myself insulin. I walk with a cane out in public because I never know when my legs will decide to buckle on me. I hope the PSA scares as many people as possible. Maybe then people will begin to see that AIDS is a scary thing. It is.
And your comment means?
Did you have a lobotomy?
Beautifully stated. Let's see if people's actions and beliefs for ALL life overshadow their politics.
Al Cataldo
Thanks Dr. Ferri for all your wisdom. I always look forward to your opinions. I need a kick in the rear sometimes to get it after being positive for 21 and so years! STILL !!!
January 22, 2011