Bonjour de Paris!
My name is Rickie and I would like to share our extraordinary day with you. Our day started in the lobby of our hotel where we had a brief processing session of yesterday’s visit of the Louvre.
Once the meeting was over we explored the open Market at Bastille. The market is a combination of what we Americans would call a flea market and a farmers market. This market spanned 3 blocks and had 4 rows of venders, one row going up each side and two rows going down the center of the plaza. There appeared to be no organizational placements of the venders, they were dispersed trough out the space sporadically. For example there were a couple venders selling clothing and jewelry followed by a produce stand that was followed by a meat vender. It reminded me of the flea market back home. (Only we called it a sale barn, because it started at the barn located near the local meat processing plant)
There were several Queer themed items for sale at the market, as well as a handful of LGBTQ community members. LGBTQ identified persons seem to have a broader acceptance here in Paris. This is evident by the freedom to walk hand and hand through the city with little or no opposition to their “Queer behavior”. Their ability to display their love and affection for one another is beyond this American’s imagination.
Below are a few pictures of the market with my favorite piece of “Queer” jewelry.
ACT UP-Paris
Meet Tom Craig of ACT UP-Paris, our mentor for the day. Mr. Craig is a former New Yorker that relocated to Paris more than 30 years ago and has been working with ACT UP-Paris for 20 years. It should be noted that he also worked with ACT Up-New York prior to moving to Paris.
ACT UP-Paris is an activist organization that speaks out for the LGBTQ community when it comes to HIV and AIDS education, treatment and prevention.
The Black Years of the Plague!
In the early 1980’s when the HIV and AIDS epidemic broke out ACT UP-Paris was extremely active and had an extensive membership base. Just like any other organization that we have experienced on this trip that has dealt with the HIV and AIDS epidemic, ACT UP-Paris is struggling to keep their doors open. Within the past year they have dwindled to three (3) full time associates and just a handful of volunteers. The downsizing of the organization has not swayed the loyalty and dedication of the full time staff and its volunteers. They are giving 110% to the cause and are working with the French government to put an end to HIV and AIDS.
3 Areas of Focus
The three areas of focus for the group are Progression, Community and Prevention.
Progression: This is the process that tracks the spread of HIV and AIDS throughout the LGBTQ community. In 2013 there was a reported 3,000 new HIV infections in the LGBTQ community. This is significantly less than that of the US, which had an increase of 50,000 infections for the past several years. Unlike most countries, the infection rate increase is larger within the older generation; ages 50 and up. This is due to a cultural disconnect from the modern times and the older generation that have practiced unprotected sex all their lives. The use of a condom is foreign to them and they are hesitant to change to a more safe sexual experience.
Community: ACT UP-Paris supports local Pride events as well as other social LGBTQ events through distributing condoms and educational materials.
Prevention: ACT UP-Paris has an excellent education program. However, according to Mr. Craig these educational materials, as well as condoms, are not received well within the community. They are currently looking for new ways to present the material to reluctant community members.
Mr. Craig added that there has been an increase in HIV infections within the sex industry. Although prostitution is legal in Paris, most are immigrants and or illegal aliens that are unaware of the health care system, which will treat them free of charge. The language barrier seems to play a huge impact on the lack of education of the sex worker.
A Comparison of France HIV and AIDS Educational Material
With the passing of the Jesse Helms Amendment in 1987, any organization that receives federal funds for HIV and AIDS cannot make any reference of homosexual activity. This not excludes an entire community; it prevents any organization receiving federal aid from creating specific educational material for the LGBTQ community.
France has not put this restriction on the use of funds set aside for the education and prevention of HIV and AIDS. While visiting the ACT UP-Paris offices we were able to see some of their ad campaigns and much to our surprise they were very explicit and displayed same-sex partners kissing, as well as a few that showed a penis wearing a condom.
Health Care
There is a hidden HIV epidemic in France. ½ of those exposed are unaware that they are infected. This is a huge concern since Healthcare In France cannot be denied to any one that tests positive! France covers 100% of HIV treatments to include Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PeP). Although PeP is covered PreP is not at this time. France is currently doing clinical studies to see if PreP is effective when taken 3-4 times a week, instead of a daily regime.
