Religious ignorance and HIV

Again the total ignorance and arrogance of the Catholic church never fails to astound me. . .

Today Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Africa for his first visit as pontiff. He has said that handing out condoms is not the answer in the fight against HIV/Aids. He was Speaking en route to Cameroon, and he has said the Catholic churhes view is that the distribution of condoms "increases the problem" as The Vatican urges abstinence.

I find the Vaticans stance on the HIV epidemic in Africa (and the world) startling, especially in the face of overwhelming evidence that condoms are a vital aid in stemming the upward trend in infections. Being HIV+ myself I know that the use of condoms as well as a wider education program are the two key tools in bringing the HIV epidemic under control all over the World, not just in Africa.

How can the church show such ignorance? I guess in 50 years time, just as we have had with regards to the Holocaust the church will admit it got it wrong but by then millions more will have perished due to this disease. Remember the TV campaign from the mid-eighties? "Don't die of ignorance" Well I think the catholic churches ignorance is causing millions more to die!

A good day!

Well what a fantastic day today has been! In fact the whole weekend has been great! It has certainly felt that Spring has finally sprung here in South Wales!

Saturday was wonderful as we managed to get some work done in the garden. Clear the lawn and get the pots and bushes pruned all ready for the rapidly approaching Summer! His Knibbs really enjoys spending the day in the garden - food for his soul! Mind you there was one moment of excitement! I got back from the supermarket to be greet by His Knibbs with blood all over his t-shirt! The numpty had flipped the garden strimmer to lengthen the cord and like a total idiot forgot to turn it off! The strimmer promptly took part of his knuckle off! Honestly it was like a scene from Saw when I walked through the front door! Fortunately it was not fatal! He just felt a bit of a tit due to his blatant disregard for the most basic Health & Safety issues! Anyways after I had called him all the idiots under the sun and a good spray of Elastoplast all was good in the garden again!

Today was even better! Lovely warm spring sunshine so we took a stroll down on the beach as His Knibbs wanted to get a few photos to upload to Flickr. We walked the beach for a good couple of hours and were quite surprised just how many people had the same idea. Don't get me wrong our beach is well used by the locals, even more so since it was awarded the much coveted Blue Flag award last summer! Well we made our way towards the dunes first of all where we had some fun trying to get some decent photos with our somewhat modest little digital camera!

Got to admit we got a few great photos. Especially of some small rocks poking out the sand that looked like a mountain range in the photo! Got to admit I am quite proud of that one! (",) Anyway after we had walked the dunes and enjoyed the warm sun and sea breeze we thought it be best to head back but we really wanted to take a closer look at the new beach art installed over the Winter. Our particular favourite is a 40 foot tall steel structure halfway down the promenade. The installation is called Kite Tail by a local artist by the name of Andy Rowe.

I think you will agree it is quite impressive and a thing of beauty!

All in all it has made for a lovey weekend and has put me in a great mind for the start of the working week! Roll on the Summer is what I say!

Stigma - Fact or Fiction??

OK - been thinking (and talking) about the whole HIV thing and the stigma that goes with it.

I have to say, from my part at least - Stigma just is not there! Not from my friends, co-workers or family! Maybe I am lucky and the people I am surrounded with have good heads on their shoulders.

As far as the "scene" goes I am not too sure! Not being a "Scene Queen" anymore, I tend not to mix with the scantily clad disco bunnies so my status is not something I would usually bring up in conversation on, one of the few occasions I go out!

HOWEVER!

Being a member on Gaydar I do spend some time in the chat rooms and I have come across quite a disturbing trend! I can only refer to it as "status chasing". Supposed guys with a negative status that are actively searching out the virus! WHY!!! HELLOOOO - do you not actually understand what HIV does to you? OK, so it is no longer the death sentence it was back in the 80's but it still screws up the rest of your life! I just don't get it!! Seemingly "bright" guy chasing the virus by seeking out bareback sex with people they know that are HIV+.

Two things here: Firstly - If I was to knowingly have unprotected sex with someone and they then become infected, I can go to prison! Secondly, these guys are chasing the virus with no real comprehension of what it is like to live the HIV. Whats happened to education in schools, the wider community and the Scene?

I am just baffled and concerned! Maybe the local bars should start trips to the local wards in the hospital where folks in the final days of their lives due the HIV/AIDS are being treated and see the devastation it causes. Maybe when they see the destruction of the disease they will realise the importance of the safe sex message. Realise the posters & leaflets actually have a message that needs to be understood!

So they get infected, the become part of the "HIV Club" , what are they expecting next? The mind boggles!

Let me finish up by saying this - the safe sex message is something they should listen to, understand and "Rubbering-up" should be the new Black for 2009! Well we can hope!