Zachary Quinto Argues That The LGBT Community Has Become Complacent...

[W!nston]

Zachary Quinto Argues That The LGBT Community Has Become Complacent, Advises Caution Around PrEP Use
The Huffington Post | By Curtis M. Wong | Posted: 11/13/2014 2:21 pm EST

Zachary Quinto is making headlines after arguing that "there's a tremendous sense of complacency" in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

“AIDS has lost the edge of horror it possessed when it swept through the world in the ’80s," the "Star Trek" actor, who came out as gay in 2011, told Out magazine in its annual OUT 100 issue, where he is named Artist of the Year. "Today’s generation sees it more as something to live with and something to be much less fearful of. And that comes with a sense of, dare I say, laziness.”

The 37-year-old star, who nabbed an Emmy Award nomination for his turn in "American Horror Story: Asylum" and won raves for his role in "The Glass Menagerie" on Broadway, also urged caution when it came to use of the HIV/AIDS prevention drug Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP.

“We need to be really vigilant and open about the fact that these drugs are not to be taken to increase our ability to have recreational sex,” he said. “There’s an incredible underlying irresponsibility to that way of thinking…and we don’t yet know enough about this vein of medication to see where it’ll take us down the line.”

You can read the full Out magazine interview here.

PrEP has been the source of controversy since being introduced in 2012, with some medical sources arguing that the medication's side effects are unclear, and that patients' adherence to taking the pill regularly could be erratic.

SOURCE

 

[dargelos]

What he says is true, this treatment could backfire and make things worse instead of better. There is a vast amount of money to be made in sale of drugs to the healthy. That money will be diverted from other areas where it could have done more good.
Doctors have said this before, scientists have said this before. But we won't believe it until we hear it from the lips of an actor. Don't listen to the experts, what do they know, listen to the celebs, they're the ones you can trust.

 

[james1981]

Thanks for sharing this article. I think it raises a much larger issue about disease prevalence and the need to become safer and more mindful of some really nasty bugs that are out there. There is still no cure for things like HIV, AIDS, syphilis, herpes and so no. No cure! You are stuck with these for the rest of your life. Sure, there's medications to take to reduce severity, but you still have this and many medications have side effects. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but please remember these very real dangers that if you catch them will affect you for the rest of your life.

Personally, I'm really appalled at the amount of unprotected random hookups that take place out there. I get the appeal of that fleeting moment of bliss, but this is the rest of your life we're talking about.

 

[W!nston]

I agree James. I am appalled by the anonymous sex scene and always have been. Sure I took risks in my youth. However unprotected anal sex with anonymous partners or someone I didn't plan to have a relationship with was not among them.

Even before HIV/AIDS was identified I and my circle of friends were wary of the bath house scene. It was much safer to jerk off with someone and if you knew them maybe oral but not anal. I had friends who were out of control and kinda slutty but my close friends were like minded with me.

Promiscuity seems more rampant now than back then. It seems our society has become so disposable it is no longer in vogue to build lasting relationships. Grindr and the other apps have replaced the face-to-face selection process. Just find someone in your area who wants sex, take all the risks you want without knowing their name or history then throw them away like a McDonald's sandwich wrapper.

Promiscuity isn't a Gay phenomenon. Heteros are the vast majority. Most promiscuity is among that hetero majority. Chlamydia, Hepatitis, Herpes, HPV and a lot of other nasty stuff is swapped between our hetero brothers and sisters. Yet Gays are stereotyped as the ones who are spreading diseases but the fact is it's the heteros.

It is unbecoming of our community to be promiscuous. We should lead the charge against that societal trend. We had a good thing going for a few years. The throw-away mentality that drives consumerism has infiltrated our sex lives. Hopefully the pendulum will hurry up and swing back to a reality we can all live with.

 

[gb2000ie]

No long-term illness should ever be taken lightly. The fact that AIDS have become manageable in the first world is not reason what so ever to let your guard down.

I have a simply respiratory condition, and that's already a giant pain in the ass to live with long-term. Monthly medication bills of over €140 (and it would be a lot more if we didn't have socialised medicine here in Ireland). I can't travel anywhere without my medication, and I have to carry a medical device with me when ever I stay overnight anywhere. It's not that big, it's not that heavy, but I have to notify airlines one week in advance of travelling, and I can never check in online, I always have to queue and check in the old way.

My condition is MUCH more manageable than AIDS. My medications have very few side effects. On the grand scheme of things my daily life goes on much as it did before. BUT, this relatively simply manageable condition has really opened my eyes to what it means to live with a 'manageable disease' - it's not something you should take lightly!

 

[Shelter]

James, Sniff and GB - allo three you have written great and moving comments to the article above. That should be comments to be posted in every gay-bar or in all doctor's offices - and that I mean very honestly!

I too have friends which are not living in a relationship and they don't think of it because it is more "fun" to go to dark-rooms or to find sex-partners on parking places or find them in the internet! They are young an flippy! Am I old? No I don't think so - but I feel I don't need that! I'm really happy that I have found my "jack of hearts" 10 years ago and since than I don't need anything others. I don't miss anything! He is the stronghold in my life, even if we have in the moment a little crisis - but both of us are working to overcome it again.

Sorry that was not directly the theme here - but is was a declaration of love to my BF who has given to me all I need - and that never ever I was in danger to do things which could be lifethreatening!

 

[tonka]

I think that prep is a major advance. It should be embraced, not demonized.

Young gay guys will fuck around. Of course we want them to use good judgment. And for many of them, prep is just that.

AIDS was not theoretical for me. I was thirty years old when it began. I lost a few friends, and more than a few casual friends.

Pretending you are bulletproof is irresponsible. Using prep is just the opposite. Thirty five years after the outbreak of hiv, we are finally at a place where there are multiple paths to safe and responsible sex.

Yay for science; yay for sex!

 

[W!nston]

Sex is one of the best things in life but being stupid about it can ruin your whole day... and life.

It sounds like you are about my age, Tonka. It sounds like you are a survivor of the "good ol' days". I survived them but more than a few of my friends and acquaintances did not. I appreciate your input on the HIV/AIDS prevention drug Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP

Reckless promiscuity is like playing with a loaded gun. It may not be politically correct to point that out and it makes you sound like a prude or killjoy if you do. I like fun as much as the next guy and I've had my share and probably then some. If you play your cards right you can have fun and be safe too.

Yea Sex! Yea Smart Sex!

I thought I'd add this short piece about HIV infection in the U.S.:

HIV in the United States: At A Glance
Fast Facts
More than 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and almost 1 in 6 (15.8%) are unaware of their infection.
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSMa), particularly young black/African American MSM, are most seriously affected by HIV.
By race, blacks/African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV.
CDC estimates that 1,144,500 persons aged 13 years and older are living with HIV infection, including 180,900 (15.8%) who are unaware of their infection1. Over the past decade, the number of people living with HIV has increased, while the annual number of new HIV infections has remained relatively stable. Still, the pace of new infections continues at far too high a level— particularly among certain groups.
HIV Incidence (new infections): The estimated incidence of HIV has remained stable overall in recent years, at about 50,000 new HIV infections per year2. Within the overall estimates, however, some groups are affected more than others. MSM continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV infection, and among races/ethnicities, African Americans continue to be disproportionately affected.
HIV Diagnoses (new diagnoses, regardless of when infection occurred): In 2011, an estimated 49,273 people were diagnosed with HIV infection in the United States. In that same year, an estimated 32,052 people were diagnosed with AIDS. Overall, an estimated 1,155,792 people in the United States have been diagnosed with AIDS3.
Deaths: An estimated 15,529 people with an AIDS diagnosis died in 2010, and approximately 636,000 people in the United States with an AIDS diagnosis have overall3. The deaths of persons with an AIDS diagnosis can be due to any cause—that is, the death may or may not be related to AIDS.

SOURCE

 

[dargelos]

The doomsday scenario is that a whole generation learns to rely on pills, believing that makes everything safe when it cant. Some men will forget to take the right dose at the right time, some will mess up by combining with recreational drugs. Fake medication is not common in rich countries but in poorer parts of the world snide pills undercut genuine ones. Then there is the build-up of drug resistance. It's happened before, it'll happen again.
I hope I am wrong, can anyone guarantee that I'm wrong?
Traditional safe sex works. I'm still alive, having seen the nightmare years too. If you can't make do with sucking, condoms do work. You can't be sure if he's taken his prep medication, you can see if he's got his rubber on.

 

[james1981]

I'm glad to see a number of different responses to this thread. I was feeling like a huge prude and stick in the mud even replying to it, but I really do think these are terrible diseases that transcend all communities - hetero, homo, bisexual, and so on - the point being that I really do think we have to stop deluding ourselves that medicine will come to the rescue and cure everything that ails us. Unfortunately, many will pass with that wish in their heart.

Not sure what the solution is. Less promiscuity? Better medicine? Little of column A; little of column B?

 

[tonka]

The solution will be incremental.
First it was condoms. Now there's prep. There will be other advances.

Of course, there will be new diseases as well.
Something's gonna get you eventually. That's how it's always been.

 

[bigsal]

If all we use the common sense there would be no conflicts, accidents, wars ... but unfortunately we have see the reality and remember that not everyone uses the head. (in Italy there is a saying: the man thinks more with the bird than with the brain).

It is important to remain vigilant and continue to make the information on this delicate subject.

 

[ChriPhenix]

I'm glad someone is talking like this. I just wish it was a wider spread discussion. I'm all for new advancement in medication and disease prevention, but the mentality that comes from it disturbs me the most. Even if there was a full-blown cure for AIDS, I have no intention of catching it or putting myself at risk. He's right when he says people are just accepting it as something to live with. What would that say about us if we all just assumed AIDS was something we all get at some point?

 

[tonka]

A recent CDC study found that 70% of hiv positive patients do not have their viral load under control in America. The majority of these people have been diagnosed.
This was quite a surprise to me. Effective treatments are available, and most of those in need don't use them?
The study suggests that lack of access to healthcare is a major hurdle. The cost of the antiviral drugs is another.

So it looks like Obama care has a long way to go in providing essential care to those most in need.
I think the situation is much better in my state. Here the access is very good. But many states blocked Medicaid expansion...and this is the result.

What this means for us boys looking for a little fun? Don't assume that guys with a high viral load are a rare thing. We're a long way from that.

 

[dargelos]

"Many people living with HIV/AIDS have called this move to make PrEP, its most popular incarnation as Gilead Science's Truvada pill, a ruse by a big pharmaceutical company to ultimately market and make profits off of individuals who aren't carrying the disease.

Indeed, the average cost of Truvada? $1,200 a month, or $14,400 per year. And that's a high out-of-pocket cost for a medication whose long-term effects are still unknown, though immediate side-effects have included severely reduced bone density and toxic infections of the liver and kidney." from the body .com.

If from what Tonka has said there isn't the money to pay for enough drugs for those who really need them then it seems irresponsible to spend $14,400 a year per head to give drugs to healthy people who don't need them.

 

[tonka]

It seems to me that we can afford both.
The cost of untreated hiv is WAY more!!!

 

[newage]

I'm a big proponent of PrEP and PEP. Yes there aren't conclusive evidence of last longing effects but I think both serve their purpose very well. Short term studies have shown dramatic decreases in transmission rates when having unprotected sex with PrEP vs. without it. But any sensible doctor who prescribes this to you warns you that this is supposed to supplement other forms of protection such as use of condoms and the such. It should cater to those who have HIV plus partners and those that have several sexual partners but often use protection. It shouldn't be used as the sole source of protection against HIV. That said, the knuckle head out there that insist on having unprotected sex should be on it to reduce their chance of contracting the infection. AT the very least people shouldn't just get the medication and feel as though they are now fine to partake in bare sexual endeavors they wouldn't otherwise.


On a side note tomorrow is Worlds Aids Day! Wear red in show of support and spread the word.