Out Pennsylvania rep, Brian Sims posted on Instagram about his use of PrEP, the prescription pill that prevents HIV.
With a picture of a Truvada pill, he made clear he had no interest in discussing why he uses it,
“Starting this day off smart, proactive, and in control! Think this is an invite to talk about my sex life? It’s not. Think it’s an invite to shame me or anyone else? Grow up. ‘Stigma’ is the thing our enemies want us to be stunted by. It literally kills us. It’s stupid and we control our own fate. No shame in this game. Just Pride.”
Sims is the first openly gay man elected to the Pennsylvania legislature. PrEP is a treatment with a 99 percent efficacy rate at preventing transmission of the HIV virus and Sims obviously wants to remove some of the stigma and secrecy around the medication.
The treatment has been around since 2012, many Americans remain unaware of its effectiveness. Some studies have found significant public shaming, with the term “Truvada Whores” thrown at some who use the drug.
According to Sims, allowing such stigma to spread only hurts the LGBTQ community.
#WhatHeSaid
(Photo, YouTube; via The Advocate)
