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Mr. Quinto is not only within his rights to voice his opinion, it is one all of us need to consider. Not just because he's the hottest Spock ever.... Is having anonymous recreational sex the most important thing about our specific sub-culture? Is that what truly defines us? I find it very difficult to see how many of us still get infected and react as if it couldn't/shouldn't have happened to them. At the same time: it's truly wonderful that the medicines continue to improve, do less harm than they did before and offer additional arsenals against infection. However nobody should forget that all these medicines are not jelly beans...in fact they are chemotherapeutic in nature. We must remind our younger brothers that being on chemo for the rest of their lives is not something they should regard as "OK"...
"There is also sex addiction, substance abuse, degradation of the self and a host of other mental problems that recreational sex causes." *And this doesn't affect the straight community too? Why do gay people so often think of themselves differently? Once more, here we go again with another self-hating gay that can't come to terms with their sexuality. "gay sex is mostly toxic when done recreationally" *I guess this just about says it all. Gay sex is dirty just like I am for being poz. It has been drilled into people's heads that they are animals and not as good as everyone else. This is the overriding problem with gay people.
I agree about PrEP laziness; gay sex is mostly toxic when done recreationally. It enables the mindset that PrEP prevents all STD's when it is just one. There is also sex addiction, substance abuse, degradation of the self and a host of other mental problems that recreational sex causes.
Good grief, we can sure be viscous toward each other! As long as we spend our time fighting each other instead of fighting this infection, we will never see progress. Just saying - it is okay to have differences of opinion, but perhaps our passions would be better spent working together.
Once again we are treated to a self-hating gay man giving in to the same old judgment that straight society imposes on gays. Frankly Mr. Quinto, STAY OUT OF MY BEDROOM and do not worry about what I do. Worry about yourself! Thank God that the younger generation does not have to worry like everyone did in the past- dying a horrible death. Yes, let's not let our guard down but you can say this about just about all infectious diseases i.e Ebola. And really, "to ourselves and one another"- gays are not a monolithic group, even though you may think so, especially in your circles. Most gays are not in show business and don't live in SOCAL. Were did this "Gay Brotherhood" thing come from anyway? Many gay guys I know are the most conceited, snarky, egotistical people I know. Recreational sex, please give me a break, most people have recreational sex whether they end up pregnant or not. The pill let women have recreational sex whenever they liked, with the same prejudiced comments we are seeing now. I'm a bit dismayed and actually quite angry with some of the comments made right here: "methed-out boys running to Grindr"- rampaging bareback sex- again, STAY OUT OF MY BEDROOM and protect yourself. As if all poz guys are running to Grindr and having "rampaging bareback sex", the stereotyping and stigma are alive and well in the "gay community". Don't worry about what other people may be doing- the "straight community" has been judging gays just like that forever and now gays are doing the same thing. Remember, EVERYBODY has to worry about all the other STI's too, this is not a new thing.
I think it is one of the most damage that we fight every day to keep under control. My question is this : If we have trouble getting the people who are infected and on treatment to do as they should? what makes any one think that people not infected to take a pill daily that cost more than most people make is a few months. Here it is from a new person starting to try Prep and after shelling out $200 or more a month for some thing that has cause side effects that does go away. Truth is I think this is Big Phama keeping there profits and making more with people who doesn't need it. The more demand tell me Big Pharm will only see increased profit to share with there selves
A gay man uses PrEP to avoid a specific consequence of having sex (HIV) the same way a woman uses birth control pills to avoid pregnancy. Do we condemn a woman for having condom-less sex while on the pill? PrEP is more effective at preventing the transmission of HIV than condoms, and it is SAFE. The combined use of PrEP and antiretrovirals by HIV+ men essentially eliminates any possibility of HIV transmission (WAY better than condoms). We live in a gay world where you are safer having sex with an HIV+ man on ARVs than you are with a man who says he's negative (because he may not know his current status or isn't being honest). More than two-thirds of new HIV cases occur in so-called monogamous relationships. The comments coming out of our community regarding the use of PrEP are horrifying. Demonizing men who make informed and intelligent choices about their health is "irresponsible". Not getting informed about PrEP is "lazy". Quinto should sit down and shut ... after he apologizes. Better yet, Zach, go on and be the poster boy for HIV ignorance and intolerance that still bubbles up from within the gay community.
Anon
"Once more, here we go again with another self-hating gay that can't come to terms with their sexuality." Once again, a mentality that a stance of abstinence is a problem with somebody's comfort level. It's actually the opposite. Statistically, people who are more promiscuous cause a transfer of STD's. The use of non-protection such as PrEP makes it seem that condoms now become unnecessary and this is the advantage. Then, the person becomes a host for other diseases and health problems. Realisitically let's not beat around the bush - I doubt a lot of straight people are taking PrEP, so let's not even go there. We can't compare the activity in both communities.
November 30, 2014