Dick Keiser Jr., Ph.D.
It was the 1960s. Both straight and gay people embraced the sexual revolution. The result? An explosion of STDs, and then, 30 years after it began, over 500,000 were dead. The HIV virus had appeared on the scene. In this era of confusion and horror, gay men embraced whatever solutions were available, including experimental drugs to stop the deaths from AIDS, and for the first time, condom use became a part of gay life. Today, the AIDS epidemic is over in the US. It has morphed into the HIV epidemic, with a steady 50,000 new infections a year. Individuals are still dying, but in the bigger picture, this is a largely silent epidemic.
Individuals who survived the AIDS epidemic, having lost partners, brothers, sisters and even parents, are still shell-shocked by the carnage it wreaked on their lives. The younger generation, and those older individuals who came out late, like me, were insulated from the plague. Individuals who could be mentoring us are either dead or in relationships away from the scene. What is left is a gay health infrastructure set up to fight one epidemic that has failed to transition to a new reality. This is largely due to grant requirements dictated by the federal government.
In the midst of this situation comes a blog post by Mark S. King. Mr. King is a former director of the AIDS alliance in Atlanta and also a contributing columnist for TheBody.com, which provides valuable information about gay health issues to the community.
The blog post’s title: “Your Mother Liked It Bareback.”
Some of the post is factual: One has a low risk of dying from HIV. Still, there are 18,000 deaths a year. Cigarettes do kill more people than unprotected sex does. HIV-positive men who are medication-compliant and have bareback sex only with those of a similar HIV status are at low risk; there is increasing evidence that men who are HIV-medication-compliant (a pathetic 28 percent in the U.S.) and have an undetectable viral load are basically unable to transmit the virus. And even if HIV-negative men have unprotected sex with HIV-positive men who are medication-compliant, they are likely to remain HIV-negative.
PReP has recently come onto the scene as another option. But is it feasible? Let’s look at PReP. For one, the actual effectiveness of PReP is unknown; all the literature says, “Use with a condom.” With barely 28-percent medication adherence among HIV-positive individuals, what is the assurance that anyone on PReP will be totally adherent? For HIV-positive guys to be drug-compliant requires 90-percent adherence, whereas PReP requires 100-percent adherence. And for anyone who thinks PReP is a panacea for dispensing with condoms, think about at least a few weeks of your body adapting to some really strong meds. Sure, some guys have no side effects. Others do! Mark mentioned that “some” insurance companies are paying PReP’s cost (presently $14,000 a year). What value do you put on your money and your health?
Mark quotes a “survey done on Grindr” that found that the majority of men on that site bareback. This is not the only site where this is occurring. In fact, one prominent site is 100-percent bareback and hosts bareback parties in 19 cities in the U.S.
READ THE REST HERE @ THE HUFFPOST!
i love it
too much emotion here, crying as I type. in this, old means I lived, and they died.
The strongest most poignant statement.. HIV is NOT a treatable disease, it is a manageable disease… And it stays for a lifetime at least for the foreseeable future. I feel sometimes we consider it like the common cold… It still scares ‘The Bee.Jeezus”‘out of me…
Unfortunately most younger men have not seen friends or family members go through the protracted and painful death that HIV/AIDS inflicts. I cared for and buried my best friend and his lover 25 years ago, and my partner 8 years ago.
The medications are not a cure. Their availability at no cost is something that we have not guarantee of for the future. Governments are constantly looking for cost-savings, and at some point, HIV medications may go on the chopping block.
Many of the meds have side effects that are not well tolerated, and compromise how an infected person lives their life.
AIDS-related cancer and dementia is something that gets little coverage or mention in the news, but it is increasing in its prevalence.
A thin layer of lates is an effective barrier to the virus, and unfortunately, many have made up excuses to avoid using condoms.
We are so desparate to have our basic needs met, that we overlook caring for ourselves, and ensuring that we treat ourselves and each other in a caring way.
I remember the outrage of groups like ACT UP! equating AIDS with Death. The multi-billion dollar medical industry has prolonged lives, but at a substantial cost, but somehow only manage to prolong the disease, and not cure it, ensuring that we continue to fill their pockets.
I could go on for hours here. I admit, I prefer watching bareback films to jerk off to. The condom videos are so plastic and silly. But then I get the risks of all STDs. Then again, look at breeder porn: basically rubber free. Talk about a double standard. But I get the reasons there, too. I also enjoy the pics such as the ones above. The younger men look healthy-look. But you watch BB of men over 30, you can tell, probably not so much. They fake tan, buzz their heads, heavily inked, their appearance shows they probably have HIV.
I promise all of you reading this, the cure exists. How do I know? Who’s the last major star to have died in Hollywood from HIV/AIDS? Name one. Rock Hudson? Robert Reed? Rap star Easy E? The first two happened early on. Easy E…that one writes itself. Joe/Jo Public isn’t going to lose sleep because some lowly rap star died. Anyone ever wonder how Magic Johnson’s status suddenly vanished? Yet we never heard his wife end up POZ…? The cure exists for those that can afford it. As soon as Big Pharm stops making big-ass money on the meds and can make more on the cure…AND if you’re still not convinced, just take a hard look at the Christian Republican Right and the Tea Party. They no more want gays, bi, lesbians, etc on this planet! They cry its against God. So, don’t anyone hand me the cure’s not there. And we all know Hollywood operates in their own secret world. They take care of their own. How do I know? How else have so many gays and lesbians existed there and only come out on their terms or when forced? Tom Cruise and John Travolta have stayed hidden for years…and being members of their fake-ass religion hasn’t hurt them either.
talk about conspiracy theorist..
how about magic johnson? his HIV+ status has been known for years..
grow up sicilianmikey and stop smoking so much pot
He mentions Magic Johnson.
I got friends who’ve been HIV for 20 yrs, and they’re still kickin’ about and keeping themselves healthy, and they’re not mega-rich film stars.
The meds are better these days.
End of.
Foro, never smoked anything a day in my life. If you believe Johnson is POZ, that’s your opinion. It’s not a conspiracy theory. It’s fact. Trust me, both of you…they can afford the cure. The Government, especially the Republicans don’t give two shits about any of us. Don’t believe me? Take time and research their opinions of our community. Enjoy your lives thinking inside the box.
Yeah we all want young. virile and bare but the reality is AIDS etc is no fun. Years ago I saved the job of an associate who had AiDs to ensure he had medical coverage. He was grateful. No we never had sex. But he once told me how much he hated taking his prescription cocktail every day. He is still living strong but he would tell you, use a condom. If you have a partner and you are monogamous that is different. But I hate to say how many times I have been the other guy for partners in relationships. Was the I only one? I doubt it. The best fucker I was ever with wore condoms- see my cocktale the perfect fuck. A condom loaded with cum can be very hot and reminder of the intense pleasure that just passed between you. Go for it but safe! Yes I have barebacked but so far lucky.
Absolutely vile to claim the other side wants you to die just because you don’t agree poltically. And you wonder why people don’t give your kind any respect.
Absolutely stupid to believe thousands of scientists around the world working on cures decide to keep a cure (for anything) hidden because their bosses want to make more money.
And if you believe for one moment that results aren’t tampered with, they are paid off, you’re not lied to, you have a LOT to learn. Big pharm creates new drugs, not new cures. The only time they do, when they stop turning a profit! Name me one major disease they’ve eradicated in recent memory! You can’t because, unless it goes rampant, they create new drugs! Do some research before jumping the gun! Notice how quickly swine flu went away? The whole planet flipped out. They sure managed to get a handle on it quick. They can’t afford to lose billions!
Pundit has it right. Once a drug goes generic the margins decline. If pharma could find a cure it would be worth a lot more than an off patent drug which most AIDS drugs are now or before long. Also like cancer progress is incremental not slam bang thank you for the cure.
Drugs, yes. They can make millions upon millions more than a one time vaccine.
AIDS is a virus whihc unlike bacterial diseases are much harder to cure. AZT, an early AIDS drug was the result of research unrelated initially down by the Wellcome Company in the UK. Wellcome becausee it was controlled by a foundation did a lot of orphan drug research with a focus on African viruses. As I said it is not as easy as just develop a vaccine. The progress made to date against AIDS has been amazing given that 15 years years ago or more you died and now can live a long life.