HEAD TO HEAD CONTINUING OUR new feature we ask two men, one HIV positive and one HIV negative, to give their thoughts on sexual healtH. THIS TIME...
“Do you think that during events like Pride, guys are less likely to have safer sex?” THE HIV POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
PATRICK ETENNES
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“I think that people will do what people want to. I do believe the risk is higher as substances are involved and there is a fresh import of other gay men. Four days of partying will add to the heightened risk. Temptation will always follow, remember the risks involved if you do have unprotected sex. Pride, New Year, Bank Holidays, any event where days off bring parties and celebration could involve risk. I believe that if you want to do something you will do it, but you should understand the risks involved. Accidents happen, we all make mistakes, but don’t forget what you did, don’t be scared of the outcome because at the end of the day, if you ignore what you did, it will surface eventually. Deal with it now and while you have a clear mind, and full consciousness. Don’t think to yourself, that HIV will not surface one day. It’s a virus that will affect you when you least expect it. Pride offers more than just a celebration of gay rights, but a celebration of gay sex and the opportunity for lots of it, if that’s what we want to pursue. Remember that you don’t know your partner from the last guy he had sex with or the next. The chain of uncertainty is long and risky, if you don’t protect yourself with him, don’t think he might have protected himself with the last guy. Don’t be ignorant, be smart. Enjoy your Pride with all the joys it brings, but come the next week try not to have any worries of these events come back to haunt you. “
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THE HIV NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVE
CHRIS FISHER
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“People sometimes behave differently when they are in the party mood. Inhibitions can go out of the window and rational thinking goes onto a backburner only to be replaced with sexual liberation, living for the moment and copious amounts of booze. Obviously, I wouldn’t discourage liberation but this can lead to people putting their health at risk by either forgetting to, or simply opting not to use effective protection during new sexual encounters. It’s amazing what a sea of new faces can do for one’s libido! Suddenly people become like a kid in a candy store, wide eyed, full of appetite and having that intimate moment far outweighs the need to have a safe encounter. This may stem from self esteem issues, insecurities or a lack of education on the potential outcomes of an unprotected sexual indulgence. I feel that there aren’t enough campaign messages around and people simply aren’t aware of the dangers. Posters should be everywhere. Safer sex packs should be thrust into people’s hands, whether they want them or not. People aren’t always confident enough to pick up the free packs in the bars so if they are physically handed out to them they needn’t feel embarrassed. People need to be encouraged to take responsibility for their own health. We need to take real ownership of ourselves and recapture that feeling of self-worth that society sometimes tries to beat out of us with negative attitudes, stigma and bad press. We label our celebrations ‘Pride’ but whenever we have risky sex we are displaying a real lack of pride in our wellbeing. The sooner we discover that again, the sooner we’ll see HIV infection levels begin to drop.”