The HIV screening advocate

RIGHT after my three-month trip to the Philippines (with short vacation stops in Vancouver, British Columbia; and Los Angeles, California), when I reached my home in Maryland, I had myself tested for a complete panel test of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

HIV. Gonorrhea. Chlamydia. Syphilis. And all the good stuff.

I had a throat swab.

I had a rectal swab.

I had urine tests. Blood tests. All the good stuff.

*

Thanks be to God, all my tests came back negative.

I have another clean bill of health.

No STIs. No HIV.

Of course, I bragged about it on Facebook.

As an HIV testing advocate, I always post my HIV test results on social media.

Not to taunt the HIV positive people.

But to remove the stigma from HIV screening itself.

*

You ask, Is there still a stigma in HIV testing?

I ask, Is there none?

Regarding my post, a friend messaged me: You need not post your test results.

(I posted screenshots from my Kaiser Permanente online medical records.)

Your medical/sex history is your own personal thing, especially your HIV status.

And I’m thinking, What’s the big deal about my posting of my medical test results?

And trying to walk my friend’s shoes, I also asked, “What’s the big deal, Peter? Why do you need to post your HIV and STI test results?”

*

And I had to answer my own question with a true story that happened while I was on vacation in the Philippines.

A newly diagnosed HIV positive person, let’s call him Friend Z, approached me.

Just to talk.

(I was recommended by his friend John, who read my HIV article series here on Panay News, from Aug. 29 to Sept. 5.

Yes, Panay News and I do that kind of public service.)

I agreed to meet Friend Z.

*

On our “first date”, Friend Z brought along his boyfriend (and let’s call him Friend Lee).

And I learned that Friend Lee hasn’t been tested since Friend Z was diagnosed.

So, for the whole of the lunch date, I just gave them couple counseling, and pushed for Friend Lee to be tested.

I directed them to the HACT, the HIV and AIDS Core Team, at the Western Visayas Regional Medical Center.

All the while, I was thinking, Why wouldn’t Friend Lee get tested?

His partner Friend Z is freaking positive for HIV!

Wouldn’t he want to protect himself?

*

Friend Z suspected that Friend Lee gave him HIV.

Friend Lee sort of agreed with the idea, even before he was tested himself.

So, I gave a stronger pressure on Friend Lee to get tested.

Wouldn’t you like to know for sure?

What if you turned out negative for HIV?

Isn’t that a relationship changer?

Friend Lee promised me he will get tested.

*

Our lunch meeting was in September.

Friend Lee just got tested in December.

He tested positive to HIV.

I wasn’t surprised.

Not because I am evil.

But because of the time lapsed from our meeting to his actual testing.

I mean, while having that lunch, I was praying that Friend Lee would test negative.

But you see how unreasonable that wish sounds when he has three months of sex with an HIV positive partner?

*

The only good thing that came out of this couple’s story, so far, is that both are now under treatment.

And they are having great support from the HIV positive community (I wonder if they call themselves “Poz” or “Pozzies” in Iloilo) monitored by the HACT in Mandurriao.

I still talk to them via Facebook Messenger from time to time.

I also get some insider’s news of the HIV scene in Iloilo City.

*

Like, Do you know that there are more females with HIV at the HACT clinics on any given day?

I’m not saying that we have more females than gay men (and so-called hetero men) with HIV.

I’m just saying that the women number is rising at an alarming rate.

And you thought that HIV and AIDS are a gay men’s disease, as have been stigmatized in our culture.

So, how do you think this happened?

Did the gay men suddenly start f*cking the women in Iloilo?

F*cked over, most likely.

*

Most likely, the scenario is this:

The gay men (and they have the money) f*ck the professional callboys, and occasional callboys, in Metro Iloilo.

Due to ignorance, or because of the big bucks, or for both reasons, they have unprotected sex with HIV positive gay men.

And get a dose of their own HIV.

(Seriously, how many of you are still thinking of shared needles at this time and age?)

Then, the now HIV positive macho callboys (I’m sorry, I just like calling all male prostitutes “callboys”, even if they only accepted favors, or financial incentives, once), just to assert their masculinity, and to prove to themselves that they are still hetero-oriented, f*ck their unknowing girlfriends, or clueless wives, who get punished for their stupidity.

*

Of course, this is also a possible scenario:

That a closeted gay husband has flings with HIV positive bisexuals, gay men, and curious straight jerks; and, by karma, gets HIV.

He then performs his marital duties without condoms.

I mean, Why would a married man admit his infidelity to his wife via a condom?

And so, you see how this is making me angry?

I mean, seriously, Women, be wise. Think. Suspect. Get tested.

And demand for an HIV test for your husband! (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)