I was in 'First Out' yesterday and just picked up my first copy of Positive
Nation (issue 89
- the Sex issue). I was very impressed.
I have little to do with HIV and Aids these days; 10 years ago I did (I was one
of the people who pushed for providing condoms and lubes at events), and I am
very out of touch with issues around HIV. Positive Nation gave me a really good
view of where Britain, and in a more general way, the world is in regard to HIV
and Aids. From drug treatment regions and their problems, how different communities
deal with HIV, rates of transmission in different communities, developments in
drugs, how different people deal with chatting people up, government policy and
holistic health, to biscuit recipes.
I felt very well-informed and 'spiritually nourished' after reading the magazine.
And you have personal ads too! The presentation is very professional and 'glittering',
but you have included hard-hitting international stories too. Long may you continue.
Johnny Hoggett, Reading
I have just read from cover to cover the latest issue of Positive Nation (April's
sex issue, PN 89). I must congratulate you on an excellent journal that was so
interesting to read. The content was first-class and you dealt with the important
issues from a variety of perspectives in an up-front but sensitive manner.
I was very interested to read the article 'Life or Meth', so much so that I went
to the life or meth website. I now feel more empowered and aware about the use
of crystal meth...
I urge you to access this site: www.lifeormeth.com
Ian Peate, University of Hertfordshire
It is with some regret that I am writing to you. It has been noticed by me
that Gaydar's HIV positive chat room is increasingly being used for the advertisement
of, and the meeting place for, 'barebacking' people.
I - and I know of countless others too - have complained to Gaydar about this.
Yet Gaydar, who call themselves 'an internet chat provider', seem to do nothing
about it. They seem careless in their attitudes to people infected or affected
by HIV.
The most shameful thing of all is that some HIV negative people go onto the HIV
positive room looking to get "pozzed up" as they say. One of them actually said
it's so he could get a car on mobility!
As an HIV positive male I find it disturbing that a company such as Gaydar is
unable to do something as easy as create a safe chat space for HIV positive people.
Dan, by email
My name is James Bloor and I am the 'screwed-up HIV positive guy' who is mentioned
in your recently-reviewed preview of the documentary, The Gift, which appeared
at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (April
issue, PN 89).
Your reviewer Laurence Gibson is entitled to take exception to a film that attempts
to examine the thorny issues of safe sex, so-called 'bug-chasing', and the rising
rates of sero-conversion, especially among gay youth.
I'm the first to admit that the film is disturbing to many of us gay men. Still,
I find it ironic that a writer for your publication would be so blithe and dismissive
- and actually insensitive - in the following regard.
In his review Mr Gibson proclaims me a screwed-up HIV positive guy due to the
following quote from me, in the film: "I don't want anyone to get close to me
anymore. I don't want them to have to bury me. This will just have to do until
it's over." These were comments I made to explain why I have remained single and
unattached for nine years now. And I am not going to apologise for viewing my
infection as a burden - that's how I experience it.
He then goes on to conclude that sincere, heart-felt comments like mine only serve
to 'alienate' the audience this film is attempting to target. Meanwhile, Mr. Gibson
seems intent on alienating potential viewers from seeing a film that (and these
are just my own grandiose hopes, here) save their lives, and/or result in more
relevant safe-sex education.
Is it possible that Mr Gibson does not understand the nature of the documentary?
Documentaries, in their purest form, are meant to be objective, and 'target' no
one. I would not have participated in director Louise Hogarth's project, if I
had detected even a hint of bias or 'point of view'.
Also, and for your reader's edification, I have been writing about Aids for 15
years. In my youth, I was a member of ACT UP, and have been arrested and jailed
for fighting for the rights of persons with HIV and Aids.
Still think I'm screwed-up, Mr Gibson? Thanks in advance for your consideration...
James L Bloor, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA
In response to 'The Failure of our Faith Communities' (March
issue, PN 88), I write to react to and correct the opinion expressed by Ruth
Webb in her column.
Firstly, I must say that Ruth Webb was somehow judgemental, right from the choice
of her article's topic: 'The Failure...'
It is worth her noting the simple fact that religious leaders in general are 'illiterate'
when it comes to reproductive health matters and HIV issues in particular. Ever
since I became a pastor some 10 years now, I have attended many seminars and workshops,
but none on reproductive health, or HIV/Aids or even sexuality. And up until this
present moment, I am still on the look-out for any specifically designed for religious
leaders. But tell me, if church leaders are not trained, how then can they preach
what they know not?
In addition to the above, most funding and other technical supports have always
been channelled into other communities, with little input, or close to nothing,
into the faith-based ones.
For instance, I have designed a project to train hundreds of church leaders in
Nigeria on HIV/Aids education in workshops at various locations. But I find no
support for this.
Finally, the faith community leaders need development capacity support in order
to discharge their responsibility as far as HIV/Aids prevention is concerned.
I am available 'to be developed', and to develop others if anybody can help. Please
contact me through: Hope for AIDS Outreach, P.O.Box 5565, Shomolu, Lagos State,
Nigeria. E-mail: hope4aids@yahoo.com
Pastor Y R Ajenifuja, Executive Director, Hope for AIDS
Outreach, Nigeria
