Eurobarometer indicates high misconceptions about HIV/AIDS

Dear EPHA

I’m a straight man who was diagnosed with HIV in London in 2002. Almost three years after becoming symptomatic with a ’mystery illness’. I was deemed ’Low Risk’ so was even discouraged from being tested until it became obvious.

Since then I’ve had to move home, lost several jobs and can’t find a poz partner. This despite superhuman efforts and still being employable, attractive and healthy. I am however in debt and extemely isolated and depressed. As you might expect.

I started attending the one and only support group for London’s Heterosexual PLWHAs, in Dec 2004. It is called Str8Talk. It was set up in 2004 under the guidance of The Terence Higgins Trust or THT. We are totally self help, totally Straight Poz run and completely UNFUNDED. THT just got the ball rolling and we are grateful for that.

The only tangible help we get now is the use of a room in three different London locations three times a month. It is a totally amateur set up and offputting to many newcomers.

Some of us would like to go it alone. We have a bank account but no Constitution.

Would the EU be interested in funding us? If a ’Pilot Scheme’ was proven effective and successful it could be copied across the entire EU. The nature of the Pandemic has changed surely the nature of services should react to this growing number of Straight PLWHAs.

We have made great strides in two years. We have finally started publicising more in the Poz press(Positive Nation) but had to pay for, print and distribute our own posters for GUM clinics. We also use word of mouth and the few well run websites. As a result our numbers have swelled from around 10 typically in 2004, to over 40 at recent meetings.

The UK Health Protection Agency ’Estimates’ that there could be AT LEAST 2000 Poz Straights wishing to access our unique ’Life-line’ of a service. In London alone. But that was in 2005. How they can measure this is anyone’s guess. I never gave blood or had other STI’s so never needed screening like MOST sexually active straight people. I even used condoms the majority of times.

Str8Talk has a 50/50 male to female split. Although envisaged to fill the gap left by Gay and African oriented non-clinical services, we have about 50% non-whites. It also includes a good mix of the increasing EU states. I estimate only about 25% are UK born. It’s like the UN some nights. We turn no one away and even have a lesbian who feels at home and contributes to our healthy discussions.

We talk candidly about our experiences. Such hot topics as disclosure, sero-discordant relationships, criminalisation, alternative therapies and denial, frequently get examined from all angles. We have organised a few outtings for drinks and meals. We get a good turnout despite around half the attendees being unwaged. It really means that much to some, that they travel long distances. One person lives in Bristol, near Wales!.

Unfortunately we are in danger of folding due to a number of reasons. Sad really as recently the BBC have asked permission to interview members on camera if possible. So another hot potato for us to debate. Perhaps a rapid response from yourselves to show support could galvinise us in time. They want to film using TV personality and writer Stephen Fry in February.

We desperately need help in the form of trained facilitators, management and funding of course.

We have over 150 registered members, many of whom cannot afford to attend very often. We need to retain more people and reach out to the vast majority still out there. Perhaps still in denial or just unaware we exist. The Cash strapped NHS seems indifferent to our plight. Even though the prevention we could promote would be cheaper and infinitely better than a cure.

A more worthy cause for fighting the spread of HIV on the EU home front and giving back self respect to those coping with this isolating ’Blood Disorder’, could not be imagined.

Yours Faithfully

Gary Cooper

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