Here's What People are Saying About the Community Manifesto (Part 3):

• I think it is clearly each individual's responsibility to not pass on HIV nor to acquire it. Each participant is 100% responsible. However, I fear that trying to legislate this type of behavior will simply drive it underground. Morality cannot be legislated. Certainly none of you gay men are now straight simply because it was against the law? I fear this will become a "witch Hunt" and will only serve to divide the HIV Positive community from the HIV Negative community within the larger Gay Community. I would be happy to forward a profile I found in the HIV M4M chat room on AOL. It was viscous and predatory towards those of us who live with HIV. His AOL screen name is Poot Squirter. I will be happy to provide you with a copy of his profile and his link, which advocate that the office of Homeland Security consider HIV POZ people the "infectors" the "true terrorist who will bring down the homeland." Sounds like fascism to me. Hope I am wrong. RR 10/24/03

• I am inspired by the community's willingness to take a stand on norms and actions that promote health, not just for men who have sex with men, but for all sexually active persons. Responsible is responsible and we are each equally responsible for our own health as well as the impact our behaviors have on the health of others. This manifesto is welcome but overdue. Even with pharmaceutical advances, I worry about a replay of the 80's and early 90's when so many great people were lost to us. It is my hope that actions like the development of the manifesto help prevent the pain and suffering so many of us felt then. TS 10/24/03

•Thanks for doing something like this. In Aotearoa/NZ, we also have had an increase in +-ive notifications, which is sad. I'll be pushing for a similar manifesto to be created and issued here in Aotearoa! CD 10/27/03

•Subject: The "MANIFESTO?" I don't think so!
I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that a document produced by a"community" task force, which had very little input from the community it was supposed to represent is nothing more than a regurgitation of the same, albeit common sense, messages woven together with sensationalized statistics, ambiguous terminology and supposed safe sex messages devoid of dynamic thought and meaningful approach. I object to the use of value-loaded buzzwords like "barebacking"
when, in reality, we all don't define that term the same way. I reject the ambivalent acceptance of recreational drug use in the absence of assertions about the continuum of sexual safety and how to navigate and negotiate self-discovery and self-empowered movement toward a stronger point of individual and communal sexual health. I object to the accusation of, and equating to, the transmission of HIV as "an act of violence" when's it's been my personal experience that the overwhelming majority of POZ guys really only want to sexually interact with other POZ guys, out of both comfort and conscience. (Yes, we POZ guys have a conscience.) I reject the whining of self-loathing HIV-positive men playing the role of victim in the absence of challenging denial-driven HIV-negative men who instantly get uncomfortable at the onset of any conversation of HIV, preferring instead to keep their heads firmly in the sand for the sake of playing-out their very real and very profound desires to express themselves as sexual animals. I object to a splashy full-page layout of a supposed call-to-action which then begs my community and me for support, support and input it should have actively solicited and incorporated long before now. I reject being preached to by institutions and their figureheads
That are covertly, yet blatantly, sex-phobic. Mostly I object to this entire conversation and process being Hijacked by a couple of self-righteous and indignant media folks (who didn't have the "kishkas" - it's Yiddish so get a dictionary - to publish my roundly well-received criticism of their myopic and destructive approach) who obviously think of themselves as "better" gays than I. One is presumably HIV-negative and married-with-children and the other is obviously socially-acceptably young and fully indoctrinated and conversant in the "condom code." One masquerades as a pop-psychologist; the other engages in sensationalist journalism. One of both, it would seem, like petulant children, went crying to the King County Executive in order to impose their narrow-minded and puritanical version of what effective outreach should be like and had "killed" a previously successful outreach event, one that King County Health was actively and openly involved with in previous years, that Gay City was about to present again. And, mostly I reject a Health Department as well as the battalion of HIV Prevention workers who, in my very humble opinion, are grossly out-out-touch with the realities of contemporary gay male sexual thought and expression, now 20+ years into the epidemic, but instead seem to be more focused on towing the party line, following something akin to a Reagan era "Just say 'NO'!" paradigm, in order to mitigate the potential for funding and job loss, i.e. falling prey to political pressure. At best this "manifesto" is little more than recycled common sense and we all know how all too often common sense evaporates in the face of innate and species-driven biology. At neutral, this "manifesto" is a set-up for continued failed interventions and doomed outcomes where more of us will continue to sero-convert while some of us will continue to say smugly, "Shame on you!" At worst, this "manifesto" will vanish in the face of rising HIV infection and other STD rate increases and will serve only those who are bent on punishing gay (M-S-M) men by taking away precious and meager funding which could be used so much more creatively... and let's not forget how failing to heed this "manifesto" as it's currently crafted could become armament for goading legislators into criminalizing our behavior. The "manifesto" doesn't speak to my reality and, I know for a fact, the reality of countless others. The Stranger and its writers don't Represent me nor, and I know this for a fact, countless others. There is more than one path and there is more than one truth; in that way, and others, the "manifesto" is self-limiting because it does not include nor embrace our myriad expression. I reject it and its shame-ridden approach. If we really want to mitigate harm and modify behavior, what we'll need to do is get real about sexual safety but *NOT* in the absence of nor before telling the truth about what meaning sex holds in our lives. And when we do get real about sexual safety (yeah - we'll talk about condoms, too), let's be brave enough and candid enough to lay out ALL options on the risk-harm reduction scale: let's tell the truth about oral sex compared to anal sex; let's tell the truth about the difference between UNPROTECTED versus UNSAFE sex, and even talk about the relative degree of safety that exists on the unprotected continuum, including as well the risk-realities of both orgasmic versus non-orgasmic penetration and medication-suppressed viral presence in semen; let's tell the truth about recreational drug use from both a POZ and NEG perspective; let's tell the truth about WHO'S (!!!) really at-risk in a sero-discordant, intimate exchange; let's own up to the notion that being "fluid-bonded," as two HIV-negative acquaintances of mine proudly assert themselves and their relationship to be, is profound and motivating across and between all levels of the sero-status matrix! HELLO OUT THERE!
Stop talking *TO* us and start talking *WITH* us; stop *LECTURING* Us and start *ENGAGING* us. Among the many agencies I could and will look toward in addressing my stated aesthetics, only Gay City is situated, by virtue of its history and bold approaches, to be the leader in these truly FEARLESS CONVERSATIONS we must begin having. Certainly I will continue telling my truth whenever the opportunity seems right. In the meantime, I wholehearted applaud Gay City for having the balls (Remember that word "kishkas?" Forget about that dictionary now 'cuz you don't need it!) and integrity to NOT cave in and NOT sign on to the "manifesto." Gay City obviously believes, as I do, that the "manifesto" heaved before us is nothing more than a litany of shaming statistics and sex guidelines created by people who, by my perception or in reality, just aren't comfortable with the notion that men actually have
sex with other men. HELLO OUT THERE! But since we're speaking of "manifestos," allow me to offer mine, the only one I could have lived with and supported (notice how very different it is than what "officials" want us to buy-into): "Transgendered, bisexual and gay men have a right, like any other human being, to full and satisfying sexual expression and intimacy at whatever level of intensity is personally desired and chosen and mutually agreed upon. In the current climate of continued increases in the rate of HIV infection and rise in other sexually transmitted diseases, it is especially important that all participants to a sexual encounter treat each other, not to mention themselves, with the utmost respect for health and well being. Regardless of HIV sero-status, adopt an "HIV Stops With ME!" mode of thinking and behaving: If you presume or know absolutely that you are HIV-positive, take care of yourself physically, medically and emotionally, know the boundaries of sexual safety in your own life and within the reality of how HIV is manifesting itself in your body, and do whatever is necessary to keep your HIV from becoming someone else's HIV; you know best how to keep it to yourself. Arm yourself with facts, not fiction. If you presume or know absolutely that you are HIV-negative, treat every sex partner, especially those outside of your primary relationship, assuming this is your life situation and that your partner is also presumed or absolutely known to be HIV negative, as if he is a bearer of HIV, take whatever steps are necessary, again knowing the boundaries around the modes of sexual expression you gravitate toward, to keep someone else's HIV from becoming your HIV. Arm yourself with facts, not paranoia nor naive sexual fantasies. Regardless of HIV status: KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS... and behave from a position of authority, not ambiguity.
Any use of recreational drugs is not only most assuredly detrimental to your health and well-being, but its use by you or others places you in a position of either abdicating personal decision making faculties or surrendering all your personal power, thus endangering yourself and others. If you've got personal issues, deal with them, not "medicate" yourself to them. If you're in a position to mentor to someone else and inspire better decision-making, consider yourself obligated to do so. Safety and health will not occur in a vacuum; it's an interactive and communal phenomenon. It is, after all, our lives and future, which are at stake here. Plain and simple, protect yourself from the harm someone else can do to you and protect anyone else from the harm you can do to them. Its inexcusable to consciously or unknowingly put another human being at risk for dis-ease and dis-comfort. We all know that HIV/AIDS kills. At least as important, HIV/AIDS hurts. It's no fun having HIV/AIDS. Get informed - get tested; get informed (again) - get real."
There: I've said my peace. JD 10/27/03

•I want to make it really clear that while the Manifesto does have some need for adjustments as to populations it's written toward, or should I say, ignored. The People of Color, Asian/Pacific Islander, Str8, Bi, and others should also be included and addressed the same as any other population. With that aside, I whole heartedly support and applaud this Manifesto and have been living in frustration wondering when HIV Prevention was finally going to get bold enough to confront the very most major cause of passing the infection to the next person and for people to be told YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS. I personally believe until we have people truly living responsibly no Prevention Program, Prevention Message, or any other intervention will not curtail the rise of HIV and STD infection. I further think that Prevention needs to come to terms with the fact that there is only so much Prevention Programs can do and the rest is up to the individual. Prevention Programs are not going to save anyone from themselves and the individual self-destruct behavior(s). So I say RIGHT ON with the Manifesto! SS 10/27/03

• I think it shows we can be our own worst enemy. Turning on each other and those who do not share the same views. Years ago we worried about the heterosexual community herding all of us into concentration camps to stem the spread of AIDS and rid themselves of the gay plague. Now it looks like we are laying the ground work ourselves to open those camps. W 10/27/03

• RIGHT ON! I've been living with full blown AIDS since 1995 and have and continue working in the HIV/AIDS arena for number of years here in Seattle/King County and in the State of Washington in both HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention of HIV disease. Today I'm writing as an HIV infected gay man to say that I believe that until each and every person accepts their responsibility in living with HIV disease no amount of Prevention Programs no matter how well worded or how creative messages might be we will not see HIV/AIDS and STD rates drop until people accept their personal responsibility to 1) not infect another person 2) realize that the life they save is their brother or sister regardless of racial, ethnic, economic background, and stop committing this act of violence against their community and humanity. Tough words, perhaps, but it's actual and truly reality. Having and getting HIV disease is not an appropriate way to live your life. We are committing genocide every time we knowingly infect someone with HIV disease. We don't accept the injustices of the government when it comes to genocide then why are we practicing genocide within our own community? It's tome to wake up and believe that this disease can end with you and no new infections would occur if you simply choose to be responsible. SS 10/27/03

• Bare-backing is unacceptable high-risk behavior except in committed monogamous relationships between partners of the same HIV status. This Statement should also state that it should not be done unless they have the same form of the virus, you can get more than one, if one has resistant HIV then it can be past on to the partner, before making statements like this look a little deeper FM 11/03/03

• Any attempt to regulate sexual behavior will fail. It does not matter if you are a gay "community leader" or the Pope of the Catholic Church. The Manifesto is a stupid attempt to do exactly what the Religious Right has been unsuccessful at - using shame and derision to scapegoat HIV-positive individuals. Every man and woman, without exception, is responsible for his or her sexual practices. Those who engage in risky behavior are taking a RISK of contracting HIV, and blaming the other person for non-disclosure of status is an attempt to shift the blame. As a gay man I have survived bigotry, fag bashing, mockery, sexual harassment and all kinds of ill-will coming from straight people due to my sexual preference. I never imagined that "my" community would turn on me the same way. So be it. The Manifesto will amount to nothing more than the latest failed attempts to control sexual behavior by people whom should not be intruding into it. Want to promote a message? How about this: If you get HIV, it's your fault and no one else’s. EM 11/07/03

• This is definitely headed in a POZITIVE direction. For me recently getting involved with a similar group in Snohomish County, I consider a thought process of those who have been sexual partners with me and what some of us POZ guys go through. When I first started reading the Manifesto, I saw names of people I did not know. This, at first site, had a deterrent for me as it gave me the impression of a group of HIV preachers. Then as I came to the end where there was a list of supporters, I saw those familiar names, proceeded to the top of the Manifesto and read it in detail. Personal statements of those in the community seem to hold more weight in getting a message to me than preacher style. (Please, take not disrespect to those words.) One of the first things I told the group in Snohomish County was, one needs to get inside the head of those who are transmitting, want to get infected, or simply the careless group before one can be effective. Once you understand what they are thinking, then the message can be delivered in multiple ways. Your message was reinforced one more time today. Keep up the great work. HUGZ!!!! PB 11/10/03

•Name_of_Person = Blame Me-I'm Poz: Any attempt to regulate sexual behavior will fail. It does not matter if you are a gay "community leader" or the Pope of the Catholic Church. The Manifesto is a stupid attempt to do exactly what the Religious Right has been unsuccessful at - using shame and derision to scapegoat HIV-positive individuals. Every man and woman, without exception, is responsible for his or her sexual practices. Those who engage in risky behavior are taking a RISK of contracting HIV, and blaming the other person for non-disclosure of status is an attempt to shift the blame. As a gay man I have survived bigotry, fag bashing, mockery, sexual harassment and all kinds of ill-will coming from straight people due to my sexual preference. I never imagined that "my" community would turn on me the same way. So be it. The Manifesto will amount to nothing more than the latest failed attempt to control sexual behavior by people who should not be intruding into it. Want to promote a message? How about this: If you get HIV, it's your fault and no one else’s. Yeah, like that will fly in "Blame-your-mistakes-on-others" Seattle.

• I work at the Maine health department. During 2003, our State is experiencing unprecedented increases in HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea among MSM. The Manifesto and the task force process that created it are helpful models for our MSM community as we plan our response to the alarming rise in infection in Maine. Thank you for the groundbreaking work! BW 11/19/03

• I think the Manifesto is a step in the right direction. However, there are a few changes or additions I would like to see. 1) The third bullet under the section that starts with "Every Gay, Bisexual, or other man who has sex with men..." should be changed. The term barebacking should be replaced with "unprotected anal sex." There are people who have unprotected anal sex who don't identify their behavior as barebacking. Also, not everyone may be familiar with the term. 2) In the fourth bullet under the section that starts with "Every Gay, Bisexual, or other man who has sex with men..." if you're going to suggest that knowingly transmitting HIV is an act of violence you should also suggest that knowingly engaging in unprotected sex is an act of self-hatred. 3) The section that starts with "HIV/AIDS prevention workers, health care providers, public health staff, and AIDS service organizations..." should be in BOLD. Not doing so makes it seem as though this part of our community doesn't have as much responsibility. I would also add the following bullet under this section: Provide programs and services where success can be measured and reproduced. 4) You can't expect people to disclose their status if they are afraid to do so. Therefore, you should add the following to the section that starts with "We who are HIV negative or don't know our HIV status..." We should show compassion for and support those who are HIV-positive. 5) The last sentence under the section that starts with "To all Gay, Bisexual, and other men who have sex with men..." is confusing. You mention that being high is not an excuse for unsafe sex and in the same sentence mention mind-altering substances. People on mind-altering substances rarely have regard for their health or the health of others. Also, why isn’t alcohol mentioned? This sentence should be change to something like this: Realize that the use of alcohol and illegal substances, like crystal, can reduce your inhibitions and lead to unprotected sex and HIV/STD infection. 6) All occurrences of the term "unsafe sex" should be changed to "unprotected sex." I don't know of any form of sex that is truly 100% safe. Thanks for your time and consideration! CM 11/14/03:)

• The Governors Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (GACHA) commends the MSM HIV/STD Prevention Task Force for the Community Manifesto, and also urges the Task Force to consider social factors and public policy issues that impact the HIV epidemic. 11/18/03 Judith Billings, Chair and Jeffrey Schouten, Vice-Chair, On behalf of the Governors Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS

• It is absolutely time someone brought this to the forefront. While it is true that we who are HIV+ are responsible for our own health, and also for doing our level headed best to NOT spread this disease, there comes a time when the rejection from supposedly negative people becomes so overwhelming that common sense and responsibility may jump right through the window. Those who are supposedly HIV- need to start to understand that these other supposedly HIV- individuals may not be as pure as the driven snow yet they will still lead you on. BT 11/26/03

• We would like to point out a few concerns and observations about said document. One main concern is the language used in the document. While we all agree that it is important to urge every sexually active person to take responsibility for their own health as well as the health of others, much of the language of this Manifesto sounds negative and nearly accusatory, instead of supportive of behavior change. If such language is allowed to exist in the Manifesto, our concern is that this will lead to prevention efforts that include finger pointing and shame, which are not effective tools for behavior change. This is especially true for the MSM population, who may have suffered feelings of shame or guilt surrounding their sexuality in the past and are therefore likely to reject such prevention efforts. We support the use of terms such as “preventable” in place of “avoidable,” “should” in place of “must,” “extremely high risk for HIV” in place of “unacceptable,” and “support positive behavior change” in place of “challenge.” Words such as “must” and “challenge” are confrontational and demanding, which may turn some people off to prevention efforts. As we all know (because we have all encountered resistant clients), no one likes to be told what they can and cannot do. Instead, we can help people to understand what they should do for their health, and for the health of their partners. Another main concern is to compose a working definition for our "loud and clear message on health." We would like to define this as providing accurate and timely information, advocating for the best available interventions, and promoting the safest sexual behaviors. We are open to adapting this definition to fit prevention efforts, and are happy to add or replace those phrases with others, but we feel it is very important to not include issuing moral condemnations in the list. We do not want to give the impression that to fulfill the Manifesto is to issue moral condemnations. AS &DN 12/02/03