Jul 05 2009
DIRTY STIGMA - IS THIS AMERICA?
Calling every Gay person in the United States Of America. Calling every person in the United States Of America who knows and loves someone with HIV. Calling every parent of a Gay man or woman. Calling all siblings of Gay human beings. Calling everyone who loves someone that is Gay. Calling everyone who has shed tears over HIV.
The United States Of America, Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Moldova, Russia, Armenia, and South Korea BAN almost all HIV+ foreigners from entering their country for ANY REASON. Should the United States Of America be keeping such bedfellows?
No major AIDS conferrence has been held in the United States since 1993. So much for being the leaders of the “Free World!”
Excuse me……Ummm…. when did we fashion our policies and beliefs to even remotely mirror
such “regressive” governments? Stupid question actually. If you answered George Bush you are correct. If you are wondering what the problem is then “you are the weakest link” but maybe by the end of this post I can pound some sense into your head.
What? Where? Huh? How did this happen? Initially it made sense. The AIDS pandemic made us panic. Our beautiful young men were dropping like flies. Our Gay neighborhoods looked like “Night of the Living Dead”. The year was 1987, I was 27 years old and had already spent a few years in terror of getting infected. Strange, we forced the government to recognize a “pandemic” (although they still don’t recognize it as such) and the reaction was “lock all the doors and hide.” I understand the “lock the doors” part, initially, but hide? Good Lord….. leave it to freest society on earth to stick their heads the sand and their butts in the air. Which is a really good way to get HIV in the first place ……. if you get my drift.
Last year (July 30, 2008) former President Bush signed a bill lifting the ban. Don’t give the jerk to much credit. Congress has finally embodied our American Values and passed the apporopriate ammendment to the law. Although Bush officially lifted it he did not instruct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to remove HIV from the “no entry list“. My ……. how convenient….. makes you want to puke doesn’t it? Yep, a nice “pea and shell game.” Once a con-artist always a con artist eh?
Now we have intelligence in the White House. HHS has been instructed by President Obama to make the change and have HIV removed from the “Fuck You Stay Out!” list. Much like the global warming ruling that recently swept through the EPA. This mandate from our President requires that HHS wright a new “Rule.” Once written the “Rule” must be presented to the public for comment. Now is the time to put this discriminatory, phobic, cruel, ridiculous, hypocritical law to rest in a nice deep grave. The American Public (you and I) have 45 days to comment on the new rule.
Still not sure? Ten years ago my lover (I’ve had two in my 49 years) and I traveled to Hong Kong (don’t confuse Hong Kong with China). We took our medication with us. Yes, both of us are HIV+. It was very difficult/scary for us to do that. We knew that the medications would be heavily scrutinized. We knew that we would have to stand there in front of many, many other people and say “Yes, I have HIV.” When you travel with medications it is important to use the actual prescription bottles and not little “make shift” travel bottles. The end result is an “extra” bag full of drugs. We were fortunate, Hong Kong customs officials were great. Ironically, they had never encountered guys like us being so open. Bottom line…… they were shocked when they saw how much medication we needed and asked “do you guys have to take all of this? Wow?” We had a wonderful time in Hong Kong! (Not that it is anyone’s business, but it’s relevant…… no, we only fucked eathother while we were there……. feel better?) My point? HIV+ travelers don’t bring their meds with them to the United States because they will be denied entry. Result, they go off of their medication for the duration of their trip. Makes us look like real leaders in prevention doesn’t it? Discouraging/preventing responsible behavior in the land of the free and the brave?
The threat of HIV infection is not from tourism or immigration. The threat of HIV is with our uneducated youth and with our Injection Drug Users (IDU’s). The threat is here at home not at our borders.
Still don’t buy it? If you are HIV+ you may visit any country in the Western World EXCEPT the United States Of America.
All the experts agree. This law/policy no longer makes any sense and is, in fact, counter productive. The only people that want to keep it are those that are telling you that Gays have an agenda to take over the world and rape our children. If you buy that line there is nothing I can do but pray for you. Regardless of who you are, I want to ensure that your health status and that of your children and loved ones will not exlude you from seing the wonders that our planet has to offer. From the architecture of Rome to the peaks of Machu Picchu you should be able to see it all if you want to.
In the United State of America we believe in the right to mobility. We can travel within our own vast country without having to have “special papers.” We have prided ourselves for generations that a U.S. Passport allows us to go anywhere in the world. We must live up to our beliefs, we must treat others with the same respect we demand for ourselves.
Those of us living with HIV span the spectrum of life from the very poor to the very rich. We are more concerned about the spread of HIV than any of you can ever imagine.
What needs to be done? What do you need to do? Click on this link and send your comment to HHS. No Stigma! Opinion, values, beliefs do nothing for any of us (including you) if all you do is sit around and drink coffee and mouth off. The President of the United States is giving you the opportunity to end this horrible form of discrimination. Are you going to use your fingers for a few seconds and do something or are you going to continue talking about it over coffee? It takes you almost no time at all to end this embarrassment. Do it do it now. You do make a difference……. really you do…… to me, my friends, my family, your family, your friends. It is right here, just a “click” and a couple of key strokes.
This is the first time I’ve mentioned my HIV status on the World Wide Web. A new chapter in my life now opens. It will be a painful and dangerous chapter. Changing our discriminatory policies regarding HIV is worth any pain or danger I will now encounter. I’m willing to do this. Are you willing to step up to the plate and click the above link and help?
Whether you do or not, may peace be with you and may you be able to return kindness 10 fold more than you receive.
HybridKid
