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[–]CaptainMooseEx-Bathhouse Employee 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

This reminds me so much of the discourse directed at gay men for not wanting to date HIV+ guys.

[–]CleverFoolOfEarth 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I'm not familiar with this discourse and now I'm morbidly curious.

[–]CaptainMooseEx-Bathhouse Employee 17 insightful - 1 fun17 insightful - 0 fun18 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Basically the idea that you cannot reject someone for their HIV status lest you be bigoted; that you are too immature to date if you cannot accept that a partner may have HIV. That the only healthy sexual practice is to take PrEP (and casually not mention condom use). U=U, Undetectable = Untransmittable, nevermind blips, the possibility that your partner may not be taking their medication correctly, or the potential for other drug interactions with the medication.

If someone wants to be in a serodiscordant relationship, that's fine as it doesn't affect me. However, I've met way too many HIV+ guys over the years who, even after being diagnosed, will still push for condom-free sex. I nope out of situations where allegedly negative guys want to bareback for the same reason and have been met with hostility and violence. Your choice to have unprotected sex says a lot to me about your critical thinking skills and whether or not I want to invite you in to affect my life.

In working at the bathhouse, I had to diffuse a situation where an HIV+ guy, undetectable, sat on the dick of one of the bi regulars without a condom. He then revealed his status which freaked the regular out because he lived with Eastern European family who snoop through his things and he couldn't risk having PEP around because it would out him. I had to explain to him what undetectable meant (even though the other guy gave methhead vibes so trusting his disclosure was... iffy) and had to direct him on how to access medical care. Same when an HIV+ new hire tried to pressure another regular into unprotected sex and the regular reported back that he didn't even disclose his HIV status, that he had to find it out via Grindr. I am knowledgeable about these topics because I have to be, but I am also a grown ass gay man having to navigate a complicated social matrix where being "moral" runs the risk of having a negative impact on my health and lifespan.

[–]MBMayfair 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I did not know this was going on. Thanks for explaining it, and I'm sorry you're dealing with that. I will never cease to be amazed at how cavalier some people are about HIV and AIDS, current drugs notwithstanding. But then, I'm middle aged and saw the whole nightmare roll out, so that probably affects my view.

[–]CleverFoolOfEarth 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Jeez