While we're at it we could all take a moment to remember all of those of us who have died of aids. I realize

that some of you have always lived in a world with aids. But back in the early 1980's this horrible disease devastated the gay community.I remember writing peoples birthdays on my calendar in green and the day they died in black...not to be morbid ..but because I always wanted to remember them....when I got to about 50 names of people who had died I said to my partner "I just can't do this any more...I can't keep counting"...A few of you will remember what a terrifying time is was...my good friend was refused admission to a hospital..he had pneumonia..because he had aids..they kept him in the ambulance...a friend committed suicide on learning that he was positive.....a lot of people died..and unfortunately a lot more are living and dying with the disease...SO to you younger people out there who wanna play around...let me tell you...there is no cure...the remedies are horrible on your body...you have no idea the horrible deaths of some of my friends.so pls remember/and be CAREFUL!

I didn't mean don't have fun..I meant just be careful...take care of yourselves...you don't catch aids a little bit at a time...only once and that's it.

THANKS for the much needed and gentle reminder of how many wonderful, talented, dear friends and relatives we've all lost.

I agree, too many of the younger generations don't know how absolutely terrifying it was when HIV/AIDS was discovered...even before it had a name.
So many people struck down the in prime of their lives, so many lives touched and loves shattered.
These kids nowadays just don't know or simply can't comprehend on the permanency of AIDS and what the "treatments" are like.

I used to work for an AIDS hospice group out my way. We would deliver meals and meds to housebound victims. We would sit with them, talk to them, read to them, let them know someone/a community cares about them as human beings. Not just nameless, faceless statistics. I'll never forget how those experiences really touched my life.

I simply don't understand the mentality of this new and scary trend of "bug-chasers." They have no idea of what it really means to have AIDS.
There's still a stigma on victims, granted not as socially horrifically "in your face" as it was in the 1980's, but just as profound.
I still remember the way newspapers would announce AIDS related deaths: "A long term illness" or "sudden cancer" which we all knew were lies.
There just isn't enough coverage of how real this disease still is and how badly education is needed.

well spoken...............mirrors my life in the day..........But I keep all those who have gone alive in my memories.

Amen to that.

I remember.
I've got an old shirt from the early days that says it best "All I want is a Cure and my friends back."

AIDS has left a sad scar on every gay man of that generation.
remember, condoms for anal and oral!!! EVERY TIME, FOR BOTH PARTNERS. and strong bleach on every thing that you use for foreplay...it's all about hygiene and good sense, don't have sex until you are ready to ACT LIKE AN ADULT.
by the way Rod C....hundreds of millions of heterosexuals have AIDS and it is now recognized by every major disease organization in the world that HETEROSEXUALS are the main spreaders of this disease. let's end the stigma, the spin, and the lies now. maybe someday we'll beat it.

to Button21...

I hope God grant you the blessing to know what the people you condemn are going through and have went through, so, you can get the wisdom so think before you speak.

I hope he judges you fairly maybe better than how you judge people whose lives you have no idea of.

so there.

Well said, Sir knight!

I was cleaning out my bookcase this week and I came across the church ceremony for one of my best friends....I just sat down and cried like a baby. He was 6'2" and only 90 lbs when he died. His parents didn't come to the memorial service, but they showed up at his and his lover's house and took everything of his, including hotwiring the car and driving it away. Unbelievable.

I wish eternal peace to all those that have passed. I'm sure they all will be missed by those with a loving soul.

All who passed will always will be missed

This is for Purple Girl: isn't it amazing at how heartless and cruel people can be. Your friend certainly deserved better than that, and his parents should be totally ashamed of themselves (and that goes for anybody else who would do such an unthinkable act toward another human being.)

At least your friend was lucky to have you in his life, and I am sure he loved you for being a kind and true person.

This is for Button21: you should be ashamed of your self-righteous attitude. Crawl back under your rock and stay there until you realize the value of other people.

I hear you man... AIDS is a disease that everyone should be paying attention to. You said it all my friend - bless your warm soul for you are a beautiful person. Thanks for looking out for those who you don't even know...

I stand by your side in memory. Let's also hope to not see any more comments quoting someone's interpretation of the bible

the bible said........ haha nah im Kidding Im bi I dont have aids cuz I do this before a start a new relationship I ask my partnet to do a AIDS test and then if he/she is negative then we start the relationship,just to make sure Im with someone healthy and safe
yeh and it works oh and lots and lots of condoms everytime and Be very Hygenic works allot. OMG I think im the best answer

Alot of us weren't alive then to remember it.
Just something we learned about in school---so thank you very much for reminding us.

Those of us who forget our mistakes are doomed to repeat them!

The bible says the wages of sin is death. It is the result of self satisfaction.

I know this sounds cruel but Aids is preventable and could be done away with but your LUSTS just won't let it happen and society is to afraid to quarrentine patients.Meanwhile you keep polluting the blood supply causing innocent kids and such to contract HIV,keep porking each other keep sharing needles and crying "Oh.that damn Bush won't give us a cure!It's the CIA etc.." What if I kept hitting myself in the head with a hammer,saying "why won't Bush do something " when it's in my power to stop it.
Look i wish no one harm but get a dad-gum friggin' clue would all you guys.Most of you are so talented and funny and you're throwing it away.

So why dont you just use a condom, or insist on its use when you are biting the pillow, and you can bang away to your little hearts content?