I am bitter about the way HIV positive men are treating women. I have advertised
in the small ads section and have been cheated so many times. Some do not want
to use condoms, thereby increasing the rate of re-infection. That is why Aids
keeps spreading in black communities. Women should refuse to be used as sex
tools. I also urge men to stop sleeping around without protection. Effective
medication does not give anyone the right to be promiscuous. Let us support
each other by enjoying good moral, emotional and physical health and let us
take these adverts seriously. Men think that by advertising we are so desperate
for sex, yet it is not the case. Many of us are looking for lasting, genuine
relationships. Now, we do not know where else to look because African positive
men are letting us down.
Grace, Worried activist, Surrey
Think of all the money that could be saved on blood tests, counselling, nursing
and medicine if there were a few more ‘doctors’ like Alan Morris.
People are still alive because they can depend on DLA, meals-on-wheels and
assisted housing. I wonder how many recently diagnosed people read his piece
and concluded there was no help available out there. I presume by “pozitoids
who are perfectly healthy”, he means people infected with HIV. Sadly,
being HIV positive is not a perfectly healthy state. I think PN is an excellent
publication, but it does not serve people well to allow people like Allan Morris
to pursue their own agenda. I rather think he has shot himself in the foot.
Mark, by email
Allan Morris (PN 100), as an individual, is of no consequence and is entitled
to his opinions however prejudicial, discriminatory or distasteful. What is
of concern is PN’s role in publishing them. I urge you, as an exercise,
to read the article again and replace people who receive benefits with black/asian/jew/disabled
and reflect on that. The enormous legal advances in the last 30 years toward
anti-discrimination, in particular the recent Disability Discrimination Act,
are not mere window dressing; they are there because they are needed, and by
giving a platform to Morris you leave PN open to prosecution. For example,
where Morris refers to “pozitoids”, would he also speak of “negroids
or spaztoids”? Probably, but would PN publish this? probably not.
a Lecturer in law, by email
To those who took my tirade personally: it was not directed at you. I too
almost died of liver failure caused by nevirapine and suffered severe side-effects
caused by antiretrovirals. I had severe diarrhoea and vomiting, delusions,
manic depression, lipodystrophy and, to cap it all, two inoperable slipped
discs that make walking more than a hundred yards pure agony.
My remarks were not aimed at people who face problems like these, but at the
few who take advantage of social services and scrounge off the state when they
are perfectly capable of working. These people do exist. I know them.
The article was heavily edited, which can mislead. PN kept it on file until
they found someone with opposing views to offer readers a ‘debate’.
It was anything but. The result was a personal attack by someone who doesn’t
know me and who failed in almost every respect to address the real issue I
raised. This was low and dirty and put my reputation in a poor light.
I do not work for PN although I once volunteered as a proof-reader and had
the privilege of contributing a few articles. I do not work at the UKC, although
I have helped run StraightForward, group for HIV+ heterosexuals, so do not
enjoy any privileges, other than the odd free ad in the Man for Woman section.
My profound apologies to anyone offended by my article - it was not aimed at
you - but at the nasty few apples that make the whole crateful look rotten.
Yours with my own outrage, Allan Morris
I have become increasingly disappointed at a ‘creeping in’ of
criticism towards those living with HIV/Aids on disability benefits.
I was diagnosed ten years ago and am fortunate to have been able to continue
working and have suffered few medication side effects. My relationship with
my HIV has been uncomplicated. Well, lucky old me.
It is not the same story with some of my friends. The day they gave up their
careers to move onto DLA was a day of sadness and their relationship with their
positive
status remains anything but uncomplicated.
Advances in HIV treatment and the falling death rate are wonderful. But the
medication does not work for everyone or necessarily improve quality of life.
I lost my partner only two years ago, aged 32, and the medication did nothing
for him.
People able move back into the workplace should be applauded; they have every
right to feel proud. Not everyone, however, is able to pick themselves up and
find a career overnight. People need time to rebuild their self-confidence
and faith in their future. I have many friends on DLA who give back what they
can through invaluable volunteer work.
This publication used to carry the slogan ‘every day you live with the
virus you are a success’. It is beyond me why Positive Nation feels it
no longer relevant to carry it.
Positive people more than ever need understanding, support, compassion and
encouragement not the disgraceful use of terms like ‘pozitoid friends’ and ‘benefit
bunnies’. Can this really be the best memorial we can find with for the
many friends, partners and lovers we have lost over past years? If it is, shame
on us all.
D Smith, London
I am a transvestite and have recently been diagnosed HIV positive. I am looking
for a support group in the London area. I have been to the Globe centre and
will be joining a newly diagnosed group. But I would also like to meet other
people with transgender issues and interests who are HIV positive. Do you know
of any?
Davina, East London
