So Marvin for once was right. After reading his article (although it seemed sensationalist and derogatory) I had to do some investigations. There does seems to be a new strain of HIV around called 3-DCR HIV, although there are experts in the field questioning whether the anouncement was premature, I think it is still something to be on the lookout for.
The emergence of this strain of the virus is one that causes alarm to me. Apparently it is a strain which causes the HIV to be resistant to most of the available treatments that ae out now and causes the host or the person to quickly decline into full blown AIDs within the span of a year. This is scary. I refer you back to one of my earlier articles where i had a chat with a person on a chatline who was looking to "seed" other negative people, although the guy apologised and said it was a way of "getting off" by the scare factor he induced in me, I really believe that this type of behavour exists.
Another factor which is contributing to the spread of HIV among gay men is the high use of Crystalamphetamine (crack, crystal, tina). This drug is a dangerous one and needs to be paid more attention to. Alot of people who are on this drug tend to be lacking in self preservation mainly having unsafe sex thus causing the spread of many diseases, not just HIV. I guess Im not ure average gay man who thinks moslty with their dicks rather than with their brains. I guess I could be generalising here but from my observation from going out into the scene, chatting on gay chat lines and hearing stories from friends both negative and positive, the general consensus is that the gay culture at the moment has lost all sense of self. Guys seem to be on a destruction mode. It's really scary. Come on guys, living with this virus is not a walk in the park. The treatments are not the same as taking pills for conditions such as diabetes. They are toxic. They affect everyday living. It isnt just a case of contracting the virus so you dont have to worry about it anymore. The emergence of this new strain is proving this to be the case.
A friend of mine who lived in New York for a while and who just over a year ago contracted HIV seems to be experiencing this new strain. I can't say for sure but his viral levels and rapid destruction of his immune system seem to point to this direction. Im worried for him, and it brings it closer to home, showing just how quickly this virus first spread and now if this new strain is out there, it shows the real need for greater prevention strategies amounst gay men and also the greatre community who seem to have forgotten what it was like in the early years of this virus.
Well Im still in Melbourne. For the past two days all I have done is slept. I have gone out for a couple of hours at a time but feel exhausted after doing so and come back to the appartment and sleep. I guess it has been a little full on over the past few weeks and my body seems ot be relaxed and telling me to get rest. So that's what I have been doing. Sleeping, and cooking and eating. I dont feel unwell, just tired.
Tomorrow my friend who I am staying with has two days off. So we are heading down the coast past Geelong to go to the beach. I hope the weather is better than it has been in Melbourne. I can't believe that in the middle of summer I am wearing a jacket and feeling cold. While back home it is still quite warm. Hopefully Ill be able to catch the Sun tomorrow.
My mate that was bashed seems to be ok. They took the cast off it yesterday and tomorrow he is seeing the surgeon who performed the operation. Hopefully he will have some good news or at least some avenues so that he can start some form of therapy. I feel like I should be there with him, even though he says he is ok I know he really isnt. I guess the rest I am having now is good in a way because when I get back Ill be helping him out alot.
Anyhow thanks to everyone who has been resding my posts again. Even though I said a goodbye to JU I have realised that this place is really necessary for me. I find that the support is helping me get through my days and writing out what is in my head and heart seems to be a good form of therapy for me. A big thanks to Bakerstreet for reading, even though we have had our disputes in the past it shows to me that really when it comes down to it we are all in this together, and we can make it work out.