Negative Nation
While I somewhat agree that recent prosecutions for ‘reckless transmission’
of HIV may well discourage people disclosing their status, I still feel that
being open about my status will spare me any such risk. My main reason for
writing, however, is PN’s horribly negative article about disclosing
HIV status in sexual situations (PN130). I understand the reasoning behind
making dramatic statements to grab the reader’s interest, but I felt
the bias was particularly skewed towards every possible negative outcome that
someone might experience upon talking about their HIV status.
This was backed by largely negative personal comments and fears about disclosure,
most horribly typified by the near demented rant of Terry (45 and old enough
to know better) who felt non-disclosure, even in the context of safe sex,
was a “direct personal assault”.
This extreme opinion would scare anyone into keeping their mouth shut, and
reflected the article’s general trend of reinforcing the perceived stigma
of living with HIV, rather than trying to find ways to diminish it and encourage
people to be more open.
While I have had a small number of sexual rejections in the last 17 years
of living with HIV (mainly in the pre-HAART era), my overall experience of
disclosure has been extremely positive. Yet PN’s article presented only
one unreservedly positive experience - congratulations Natasha.
Frankly, I’m tired of continuously hearing all the reasons for not disclosing,
without hearing the flip side, which relates to positive people living positive
and open lives. It may seem overly simplistic to say the more we are able
to be open, the less stigma there will be, but hasn’t that proved to
be the case for every type of stigma and discrimination? Did women, people
of colour or gay men and women achieve equality and acceptance by not talking
about their rights and needs in a society which often condemned them or treated
them as second-class citizens? I think not! So come on PN, let’s have
positive positive stories, please.
Garry Brough, London
No such luck
I was really pleased to read your ‘Blood probe launched’ story
(PN131), but I just wanted to give you a small point of clarification. The
piece says: “After years of campaigning the government has finally agreed
to an independent inquiry.” Technically speaking this isn’t the
case I’m afraid. The government has not agreed to anything at all at
the moment and the Archer Inquiry has been set up in part in response to the
refusal of successive governments to hold an inquiry. The Q&A section
of the inquiry website puts all this better than I can so it might be worth
having a look at www.archercbbp.com/faq.php
Thank you for covering this story. The contaminated blood and blood products
issue goes well beyond the haemophilia community and it is vital that as many
affected people as possible get to hear about it.
Dan Farthing, The Haemophilia Society UK
Remembering Kevin
I want to thank you for the article Out of the Comfort Zone (PN131). Not only
was your article of great interest to me and my partner but it also answered
a question we have wondered about for the last decade: what had happened to
the UK Aids Memorial Quilt? The Mickey Mouse panel was of a very dear friend,
Kevin Dodd, we lost due to HIV on 17 February 1992, aged 30. The panel was
made by his mother Joyce Dodd and signed by his partner Alan, three sisters
and his many, many friends.
Kevin dealt with his illness in a dignified and positive manner but was very
unlucky not to have had his illness in the present day of antiretroviral drugs.
When I was diagnosed with HIV in May 1999 it was the memory of Kevin and his
positive struggle for life without the drugs that kept me going. Kevin was
known by his many friends as the great social entertainer who gave the most
fantastic dinner parties. One of my greatest memories was of his last Christmas
with us when he single handedly made us a three course lunch he was far too
tired to enjoy himself. He would not give in until it was perfect and then
retired to his bed and left us to enjoy the meal.
When the quilt went to America his mother travelled over to see it, and my
partner, friends and myself went to the quilt when it was on view around World
Aids Day in Brighton. Kevin is always remembered by all of us and we are so
pleased to know the whereabouts of the Quilt and are hoping to get to see
it again in May. We are also so very pleased to hear that Brighton will soon
have its very own HIV Memorial, a quiet place where Kevin’s life can
be remembered by all who new and loved him.
name and address supplied.
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