In Australia, HIV/AIDS is still largely seen as a homosexual disease. I'm constantly mortified by the level of complacency I see it the hetero community towards safe sex.
Recently I have been going thru a really hard time, watching someone whom I love dearly deteriorating. It's too painful for me to go into the details of his current ailments. Anyone who has lost someone to AIDS knows what a cruel disease it is. The worst part for me is the fact that I'm unable to do anything.
This will be his last summer with us.
I am shocked at just how hard it is for me, as I have been involved with vollunteer work in the community for about ten years now. I'm at the stage now where I feel that I will be unable to go thru it again. I have spent countless hours at the hospital while he has been given transfusions etc.
I have written a 7minute poetic performance piece, which unfortunatly I am feeling too burnt out to produce. If anyone over there is interested, e-mail me at:
marythehairyfairy@hotmail.com
And I'll send it to you. The work is geared towards the heterosexual community, and aims to dispell the myth that AIDS affects only queers.
Thank-you for starting this page. Although it is very painful, it is also a very important issue. It's been really great to hear about the events over there.
Worls AIDS Day has only just passed. Before I pinned on my ribbon this year, I picked it up, turned it upside down and said to myself, 'when will we be able to turn this flaming thing around and say now it's a V for victory....'