We all tend to have the understanding that HIV is NOT something anyone would want to have… at least that was my understanding of the virus. In my years of research in the field, hosting Safer Sex Socials, promoting being tested every year… never did I imagine that someone would be out there not only wanting to have HIV (Bug Chaser) but those with HIV willing to give it to someone (Gifter). When on earth did HIV become a GIFT??
As I opened my view of HIV research to understand not only my lab work and how it affects the central nervous system, I started taking a course on Coursera. For those who do not know, Coursera is a online classroom (free!) for individuals to acquire knowledge and information from a large selection of fields (math, science, finance, public health, you name it). What is even more exciting is that classes are taught by actual professors at university, and even some elite schools such as Johns Hopkins, Emory, Michigan etc. So you are getting great information for FREE. I usually take at least 3 to 4 classes each year on new areas I am interested in or can supplement what I am already learning in my PhD. Definitely check it out!
Back to the class I am taking. This class is called “AIDS: Fear and Hope,” and it is taught by a professor from Michigan (https://www.coursera.org/course/aidsfearandhope). This week, the professor interviewed an individual with HIV and mentioned the topic of Bug Chasers and Gifters. I was taken back by the fact that this even existed? So I had to look into it myself.
While I may never understand why anyone would want to contract a deadly disease or give it willingly… here are some reasons that individuals have become bug chasers.
- Some feel guilt for those who have passed away from the disease, and feel they should experience it as well
- Some feel it is a right of passage in the gay community (Leave the FALSE stigma that AIDS is a gay disease)
- Some feel that if they get it they can stop worrying about contracting the disease (because they feel they will get it anyways)
- Some are seeking the rush of contracting the disease. So every time they get tested they get a rush of adrenaline waiting for their results (like skydiving or bungee jumping)
- Some want to engage in promiscuous activity without worrying anymore, because they like to have sex and hate worrying.
- Some simply find it sexy and arousing to engage in sex with an infected person.
Crazy enough, this occurs more often than I imagined.. to the point where a documentary was made. I have included a short CNN news report and interview with the woman who made the documentary… check it out. Here you can see the responses to being tested HIV+ from 2 different views… one person extremely happy he finally contracted the disease…and another sad and misinformed of what being HIV+ really means.
None the less, this is happening in our world today… and it saddens me that as millions of people continue to live with the disease (with 70% of all cases in Sub Saharan African alone) individuals are out chasing something many wish they never had.
Personally, I’m pissed and disgusted… and can not come to understand why! I cannot speak for everyone, but as a strong advocate for finding the cure (dedicating my own research to HIV), being smart about therapy, and transmission… I teared up in the car listening to them speak about Bug Chasers. I really hope this “trend” “fetish” “desire” is coming to a halt… but sadly… the fact that it even exists breaks my heart… with that being said…
What are your views on the subject?
Can you understand why these individuals are Bug Chasers or Gifters?
