Back
to Gay Headline News
Features
Interviews With Gay Men Who Purposely Contracted HIV
(Berlin) A film about so-called "bug chasers" had its premiere Tuesday at the Berlin International Film Festival. The motion picture, completed only days before its screening, features interviews with gay men mainly from San Francisco, who purposely contract HIV.
"The Gift" from filmmaker Louise Hogarth comes
on the heels of last month's controversial Rolling Stone article on the phenomenon.
The
article quoted a San Francisco doctor as saying at least 25 percent of gay men
newly infected with the HIV virus had deliberately sought it out, a quote the
doctor later denied making.
Although Hogarth's film does not claim
the practice is widespread, her interviews feature a number of men who have deliberately
sought out the virus and some who continue to have unsafe sex despite being HIV
positive.
One man identified in the film as 'Ken' recounts the time
he found out he had contracted the virus.
"I was relieved. I didn't
have to worry. Do I need to be careful -- not any more," he says in the film.
The
main focus of the motion picture is a 21 year old San Francisco man named Doug
Hitzel. He also chose to become infected with HIV. He now regrets his decision.
"I've
made a terrible mistake and there's no fixing that. There is no benefit in this
and that's what needs to be said," says Hitzel.
Some interviewees describe
a feeling of guilt many without the virus can feel, a sense of not belonging to
a brotherhood of the infected. Others describe an apparent rise of unsafe sex
among gay men and an increase in parties advertising it.
Site
Map
[Future Ex-Boyfriend] [Butt
of the Week] [Kiss of the Week] [Boyfriend
Art] [Antique Boyfriend] [No
Porn Promise] [Gay Boyfriends
Dating Connection] [gay
gifts and books shopping] [Gay News and Info]
[streaming
gay video] [free
gay fratboys picture gallery] [gay
sex toy superstore] [gay community calendar]
[get a million bucks for your gay boyfriend]
Gallery of FREE gay Video Clips
| Gay Webmasters |