world aids day 2003

today is world aids day.  according to the joint united nations programme on hiv/aids, over forty million people are living with the virus, five million of them having been infected in the last year alone.  three million others have died from aids-related complications in 2003, and the number continues to grow.

before this year, i had only met two or three people who were hiv-positive, and now i know twice as many — not through new infections, but simply through meeting friends of friends.  for these people, dealing with hiv on a daily basis is a reality. 

as a sexually active gay man, i live with the risk of sero-converting.  knowing that nothing short of abstinence is 100% safe, it's a risk i live with.  i don't relish the thought of getting infected, nor do i enjoy the prospect of a completely celibate life. 

what to do?   to quote from the gmhc website, "each time you [get into an automobile], you have a small but real risk of being killed in an accident.  most adults know this and still continue to drive."  in other words, proceed with caution.  be smart, play safe, know the risks.  may not be the best solution, but it's what i got.

peace and love to everybody!

Posted by jason at December 1, 2003 11:53 AM