What is your opinion on casual sex and prevention?

My opinion on casual sex and prevention is that people are going to do what they want to do and, hopefully, they will be respectful to take care of themselves and the person they're with and protect each other in the process.

How has your sex life changed since you became positive?

My sex life has changed due to the many medications I take, and all of them are not antiretroviral. I remain cautious for the sake of my partner. I know my sex drive has gone on vacation and forgot to return.

Does your ethnicity or culture affect the way you view HIV prevention?

Yes it does, I find it shocking that many older Black women still have an pre-conceived attitude that when there is a unprotected sexual act performed, and penetration occurs, it is alright for the man to pull out before ejaculation occurs and they call this act “safer sex”.

What I'd tell someone who is newly diagnosed is as follows:

Get the support you need and give yourself time to adjust to the news. It is so important to meet with an HIV specialist right away so that you can get expert advice and have your levels checked to determine what you're medication options are and whether you should start anti-viral medications right away or not.

Besides using protection, what other advice would you give to serodivergent couples?

In addition to using protection, I would encourage "magnetic" couples to be very patient and communicate with each other as each partner will face unique challenges that the other may not understand at first. I'd also like to encourage magnetic couples to view themselves as role models and leaders as they set an example that love brings people together despite significant differences such as HIV status. All of my relationships have been with HIV- men and my experience has taught me that it's who you're with that's important, not what you do; that safe sex is hot sex when you're with the one you love and that making love to someone who's loving you back is the hottest sex of all.

How do new forms of communicating technology affect HIV prevention?

I think that new forms of communication technology, like text messaging, instant messaging, and email, are an amazing opportunity for HIV prevention. The younger generation, myself included, are practically addicted to the Internet and to cell phones.

How does new forms of communicating technology affect HIV prevention?

Having access to the internet, e-mail and word processing software allows me to reach as many people as I can and fly across the globe, the oceans to distance countries that I can visit with the click of my mouse and say Hi! Here is what you do not know about HIV/AIDs and me.

How does new forms of communicating technology affect HIV prevention?

In this age of the internet, the latest information concerning HIV, HIV prevention and related health issues can be distributed to countless people very quickly. As use of the internet increases each day, more and more people are using it to date and hook up for casual sex and this process of meeting people is becoming increasingly impersonal.

How does new forms of communicating technology affect HIV prevention?



Communication technology can certainly bring opportunities to delivering messages of HIV prevention. In the positive side we can see that the internet is playing an imperative role in the delivering messages and establishing networks that can provide support for many people, to those infected and that know their status and for those that need to learn that getting tested for HIV is something that should be considered seriously as part of regular check-out with their physicians.

Does your ethnicity or culture affect the way you view HIV prevention?

It does completely and for the simple reason of racism. For people of color, and in my case as a Latino gay male, it is different because we face different challenges under other circumstances. The prevention and education provided to all living with HIV has the basics, but to educate and guide people of other races and or cultures, we need considering several factors, such language, level of acculturation, social-economical status and even Immigration status, especially in this country.