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My Fabulous Disease

Five Things About HIV They're Not Telling You


A Video Blog

By Mark S. King

January 12, 2011

In the early 1990s, I was invited to participate on a roundtable with national HIV/AIDS public health officials. They wanted to gauge what those on the front lines were thinking about HIV prevention campaigns. I gave them an earful.

"Why won't you tell gay men that being a top is less risky?" I lamented. They always publicly resisted "promoting" anything that might conceivably transmit HIV, no matter how remote the odds, and that attitude drove me nuts. "When you don't acknowledge what gay men already suspect," I told them, "you lose credibility! Give us something to feel better about engaging in… won't you even say that oral sex is a lot safer? Why can't you throw gay men a bone?"

Gay men are still forced to piece together the latest facts about HIV, largely due to the reticence of public health messages -- or just plain homophobia.


Episode 28: Five Things About HIV They're Not Telling You

Thank goodness for people like Sean Strub, lifelong AIDS activist and founder of POZ Magazine. In his blog posting on Poz.com last month, Sean joined a chorus of advocates who are furious over a fearful New York City public health commercial. The spot says "it's never just HIV," and shows horrific HIV outcomes that include broken bones, insanity and even a gruesome shot of anal cancer.

Sean sees the campaign as another example of how public health gets it wrong, investing in failed "fear-based" messages while keeping a lid on information that could make a real difference.

In this video episode of My Fabulous Disease, Sean and I discuss five things we believe either represent what is wrong with prevention campaigns, or what strategies are being ignored by public health officials. Pay attention to my links in this post, because I document the research and campaigns we discuss.

Grim Reaper

Photo credit: National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS)

We refer to Swiss experts who suggest people with HIV with undetectable viral loads may be non-infectious. We discuss an infamous 1987 Australian commercial called "The Grim Reaper," and refer to research that concludes that fear-based messages do not change long-term behavior.

You might enjoy comparing the difference between the NYC "It's Never Just HIV" spot (in all its frightful foreboding) to the life-affirming Japanese campaign "Little Taiko Boy," which presents sexuality in a straightforward manner (complete with music and sexy-time lyrics!).

Does anything in our talk surprise (or offend) you? Did you know HIV negative people could take a drug regimen immediately after exposure (sexual and otherwise) and greatly reduce the risk of becoming infected? Do you agree that stigma against those living with HIV may be greater now than ever before?

This is an important community discussion, and I hope you will consider sharing this with friends and colleagues. I'm always up for constructive debate or dissent.

Meanwhile, my friends, please be well.

Mark

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Visit Mark's live blog at www.MyFabulousDisease.com.




See Also
Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS and Young Men Who Have Sex With Men
Quiz: Are You at Risk for HIV?
Ten Common Fears About HIV Transmission
More Personal Views on HIV Prevention for Gay Men
 

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VIDEO BLOG:
My Fabulous Disease

Mark S. King has been an active AIDS activist, writer and community organization leader since the early 1980s in Los Angeles. He has been an outspoken advocate for prevention education and for issues important to those living with HIV.

Diagnosed in 1985, Mark has held positions with the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation, AID Atlanta and AIDS Survival Project, and is an award-winning writer. He continues his volunteer work as an AIDS educator and speaker for conferences and events.

Speaking engagements: Mark King is available to speak to groups. Contact Mark about speaking at your organization or event!


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Recent Posts:

April 3, 2013 - Revisiting My Sad and Trivial Night With Rock Hudson

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A Place Like This by Mark King

View an excerpt of Mark's book

To read PDF, click here


Interviews With Mark:

Mark King Looks Back at the AIDS Epidemic's Darkest Hour in the U.S. (May 14, 2008)

This Month in HIV: Crystal Methamphetamine and HIV (August 2007)


Articles by Mark:

Meth Burial (May 2008)

Once, When We Were Heroes (June 2006)

Outliving My Father (May 22, 2001)
Mark recounts how years of caring for friends dying of AIDS prepared him for taking care of his dying father
From The Advocate

AIDS Always Benefits from What We Don't Talk About (April 2001)


For the rest of Mark's articles, click here.


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