Do You Disclose Your HIV Status?

Hopefully you do. The question is being asked by a controversial new public service campaign launched by the San Francisco Department of Public Health called "Disclosure" which features the psychedelic photography by Duane Cramer and emphasizes HIV status disclosure as a means of prevention. The Bay Area Reporter:

[The] bus stop and billboard effort is a groundbreaking, community-led prevention method that marks the first time a public health agency has recognized the validity of "serosorting"—a longtime gay community practice where men have a variety of sex, some of it unprotected, with men of the same HIV status.

Critics say the campaign endorses unsafe sex, albeit with persons of the same HIV status. Not so, says the brain behind the campaign. Les Pappas, founder and president of Better World Advertising and a former HIV prevention staffer at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, says many men are not getting tested, or, do not disclose their status. "We know there are people getting infected and we know that some of these people getting infected because they are having unprotected sex with somebody who is positive."

The San Francisco initiative is guaranteed to raise some eyebrows and much-needed discussions. It comes weeks after the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center launched its controversial "HIV is a gay disease." More information available at www.disclosehiv.org. (via Queerty)

HIV Campaigns Spark Debate (Bay Area Reporter)

More Duane Cramer:

"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights (Rod 2.0) Duane Cramer in "The Advocate" (Rod 2.0) Duane Cramer: Picture This (Rod 2.0 Duane Cramer WORKS (Rod 2.0)

More Controversial HIV Messsages:

Is HIV A Gay Disease? (Keith Boykin) Primetime Reports the Black HIV Epidemic (After Elton) "Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" (Rod 2.0) New CDC Guidelines (Rod 2.0) "The Down Low Exposed" (Rod 2.0) "Fear Tactics" are Best Way to Reach the DL (Rod 2.0) Philly Anti-HIV Campaign Definitely Not a "Hit" (Rod 2.0) Un-Brotherly Love: Black vs Black and Gay (Rod 2.0) The "Invisible" Man Returns (Rod 2.0) 15th Anniversary of Magic's Announcement (Rod 2.0) Baltimore Could Lose Millions in Funding (Rod 2.0) $$$ Rent for NYC Poz on Welfare (Rod 2.0)

Comments

[tio]

I'm a new reader and just wanted to thank you for staying on top of HIV news. So many of us are hurting, infected and scared ... yet don't talk about it.

[rob]

25 years into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, I'm not sure why men don't know their status, don't get tested or revela their status. Now some men want to play with each other unprotected as long as they have the same status ... i dunno, they could be infected since the last test and not know about it.

[Andy in Seattle]

As a guy who came out as gay the same year HIV was identified, I've watched this epidemic evolve--and remain an epidemic. The reasons HIV has continued to spread are complex, I'm sure, but I've noticed a marked change in recent years over the issue of disclosure. I feel, as a responsible member of the gay community, and as a single and sexually active gay man, it is my responsibility to myself, as well to my partners, to get tested for HIV and STDs, and to disclose my status. I'm still negative, and I test every three months. Interestingly, I find that when I disclose or ask a potential partner's status, I get a variety of responses. Interestingly, I've found that the West Coast queer communities seem to be pro-disclosure, whereas most men I've met from the Eastern US, or at least the Northeast to be specific, bristle or are outright offended if I ask. (Most, but not all.)"You should just assume everyone is positive and proceed that way!" I've been screamed at by poz boys who maintain that the possibility of offending HIV positive men is more important that the possible infection of HIV negative men. I am curious if this is truly a geographic phenomenon or if I've just had bad rude luck. Anyone else encounter this schism?

[scott]

Andy, interesting story. I'm out east in NYC and the mantra is, a syou said, assume everyone is positive. I'm not sure why, but there is less emphasis on disclosure and more on prevention. Not that the two ae mutually exclusive.

ANYWAY ... very good point, thanks!

[j. brotherlove]

I've also held the position of assuming every sexual partner is HIV Positive and proceed accordingly (Chicago-raised, BTW).

I dunno, I get the campaign on one level. But the truth is, men are not telling the truth about their status, for a variety of reasons.

To advocate this method and act as if men will always get an honest answer is unrealistic.

[Samuel I]

Good point, brotherlove. Everyone shoyld get tested, learn their status, reveal their status and act like they know. But everyone doesn'tr. Can't say this is the best approach but at least it responds to what some men are doing.