Dear Editor:

On the subject of bareback sex and HIV status disclosure there seems to be a lot of discussion and many differing opinions....mostly by people who most likely would never engage in such activities in the first place. As an HIV positive gay man for the past 24 years I have to say that this issue has governed my thoughts and actions in many different ways through many different stages of process over the years. without getting into all of those stages I will jump straight to my conclusions and what I live by today.

As far as disclosure goes I have to say that I disclose to everyone I intend to have sex with...is this nesessary? Yes...in order for me to live my life guilt free....knowing that I am not infecting other individuals....of course,and....the fact is that that is not everyones practice.

For someone who is negative to assume that people always know their status....and will be honest about it is ludicrous and naieve.As to the question of “who is ultimately responsible?”

Each and every one of us...PERIOD!

If we are infected we are responsible for talking about it and educating others....

If we are not infected we are responsible for getting educated and taking precautions as needed.

If we dont know,then find out...and disclose as nessesary....

And if we dont care either way....wether poz or neg....then accept the consequences without blame....

To attempt to place responsibility on any one group is rediculous and impractical....

As with every other aspect of our lives....we have to stop looking for someone to blame....and begin to take personal responsibility for our actions and our futures.

I really appreciate your publication taking the time to address this issue as it is one that has concerned me in many ways through the years.

Tom Jones

Dear Editor:

In last week’s Gay and Lesbian Times, in the “National News” section, the Times reported an AP news story featuring a direct quote from OraSure Technology’s CEO Douglas Michels at a recent Orasure investor conference in New York. The quote: “The OraQuick test has been 99.8 percent accurate in identifying people who DO NOT have HIV....”. A quick and unthoughtful glance at this statement, would leave one quite reassured that the OraSure HIV tests are highly accurate. Although the quote as stated by CEO Michels is probably 100 percent accurate, it certainly leaves out the MOST important question for OUR community. The question WE need answered is “What is the accuracy of the Orasure test in identifying people who actually DO have HIV?” Is the test also 99.8 percent accurate at finding actual HIV infection or is it closer to 0 percent accurate in determing actual HIV infection?

The qualified statement of accuracy by the manufacturer, who currently makes millions from this test, being based solely on NOT having HIV infection, and the questions this brings up, go far beyond the implications of just the Oraquick test. It is of utmost importance as regards ALL forms of HIV testing. Are ALL of the government and corporate quotes of 99 plus percent HIV testing accuracy of ALL HIV tests, based solely on the tests NOT finding HIV? Are they failing to tell us what the accuracy or inaccuracy of the tests are, in determing actual HIV infection? Do they even know?

Our community has been told for 20 plus years that all of the HIV tests are very accurate, but now we can safely ask, accurate for what? Are we being told the truth of actual accuracy only as far as not detecting HIV, and being left in the dark and fed BS like a bunch of mushrooms, over the accuracy of the tests in determining who DOES have HIV, then scared into taking often highly toxic HIV drugs in hopes of drugging away our fears of a possible long slow and painful death? Quite a bonanza for big Pharma, at the expense of our health, isn’t it?

In light of the problems recently exposed in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, with a large percentage of the OraQuick tests proven to be highly innacurate at determing actual HIV infection, we need to be asking these questions of all HIV tests. After all, we are all quite aware of the intense devastation suffered after a positive HIV test result, aren’t we? And there is no question as to what emotional devastation alone does to ones health, is there?

Our gay leaders need to be courageously asking these pressing questions, and all are accountable to our community for informing us of the truth of the accuracy statements regarding all HIV testing. In particular, those at our San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center and San Diego County Health Department of HIV/AIDS, whom are continuing to recommend the use of the OraSure OraQuick test on our gay community. Even those of you at the Gay and Lesbian Times should be standing up and finding us the answers from the government and the manufacturers of these tests. You all owe it to the community that you are supported by, to bring us the truth.

Michael Geiger

Dear Editor:

Mexico’s leftist candidate for President vows to help the poor and elderly, to clean up corruption and to not be a puppet of George W. Bush. Newly elected Presidents of Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Spain and Norway elect likewise. All these countries have participated in free and open democratic elections. The Palestinian Territories have within the last few days elected an avowed terrorist organization to lead their people, all through the democratic process.Meanwhile, the world’s largest Communist State, China, finds it’s standard of living rising faster than an Atlas Rocket due in large measure to cheap Chinese Exports touted by The Bush Administration as benefiting the American Consumer. Despite their loss, liberals still hold a fighting position in Canada’s Parliament as well as in Germany. Why this tilt toward the state and away from the individual. It has to do with the pit bull on the block or what is perceived as America’s King Tut Syndrome. Teddy Roosevelt may have been right by living up to the moniker of “the twentieth century belonging to America.” President Roosevelt was consumed by an expansionist view of world affairs.But a century later, the rhetoric inside the beltway with respect to world opinion is akin to a “ Tail bites dog.” philosophy. The George W. Bush Doctrine of personal empowerment, preemptive strike and free market excess overlooks the moral and ethical implications upon both the state and world itself. Additionally, while America touts the evil doers of September 11 as enemies of freedom, the rest of the planet asks a very wise question. That is, why would anyone commit such an horrendous crime? Expressions of nationalism are to be expected when a nations security is under siege.. Wise men understand however, the need to cultivate one’s own garden. Our Federal Government’s response to the horrors and ravages of Hurricane Katrina was a call to arms by leftist candidates throughout the world. We are in essence, the poster child for everything the world seeks to abolish including corporate and government corruption, lack of affordable healthcare, raping of the environment, cultural insensitivity and decreasing civil liberties. The recent election of so-called socialist leaders throughout the world is ironically a backlash to a foreign policy meant to protect and preserve our Republic. Furthermore, countries such as Spain, Poland and Italy are now gradually withdrawing their troops from Iraq. These countries were prostituted by America’s Foreign Policy blunders and now see our government for it’s true colors and it is not pretty folks. If charity begins at home then let us protect America from within by reason, lessons from the past, a collaboration of ideas presented by the world body politic together with America’s wise men. It was not long ago that our great beloved nation aspired and attained greatness throughout the world. The horrifying events of 9-11 have propelled these great United States into a moral, ethical and legal free fall that can only be reconciled at the ballot box. See you in November.

Daniel J. Smiechowski