Was Donald Trump Jr. triggered by an HIV-themed opinion piece on the gay website Queerty? The article in question, published November 17, was penned by David Hudson, and titled “What You Stand to Lose by Not Having Sex With People With HIV.”
Well I can think of one thing. https://t.co/A34xY74OYc
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 23, 2019
In his thoughtful essay, Hudson praises the joys and values of long-term relationships and makes the case that it’s ridiculous to give those up simply because a potential partner is HIV positive. This is especially true, he notes, because we now know that an undetectable viral load is untransmittable (referred to as U=U) and because we also have pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a way to prevent HIV transmission.
That’s the argument that Hudson makes. What did Trump Jr. think of it? One doubts the author of Triggered even bothered to read the Queerty essay. Instead, as we approach World AIDS Day, December 1, he took to social media to troll the HIV community and stoke stigma. In a retweet of the Queerty article, Trump Jr. simply tweeted: “Well I can think of one thing.”
Needless to say, the Twitterverse responded as expected: Those who took Trump Jr.’s side and those who took the (mostly) higher road. We especially like the readers who pointed out that Trump Jr.’s stigmatizing tweet counteracts the stated goals of his father’s plan to end HIV in the United States. (To learn more about that initiative, read “What Do We Know About Trump’s HIV Plan for America” and “Plans to End the HIV Epidemic at Home and Abroad.)
Below are a few of the more enlightened responses to Trump Jr.’s tweet.
Your comment is 100% part of the problem by strengthening Stigma which the entire world, the entire world, is rallying to destroy because it is literally possible, within our lifetime, to end HIV/AIDS. This ignorant drivel is all you have to offer? You’re on the wrong side.
— Javier Muñoz (@JMunozActor) November 23, 2019
Here’s Speaker Pelosi on the right side of history while your father was cheating on your mom. pic.twitter.com/aOrz6xSdDH
— ???? Chi 12/18 - 12/23 LA 12/27-1/1 (@henrydurantxxx) November 24, 2019
As a conservative Republican, even I’m aware that the CDC has advised you can’t transmit HIV if you’re undetectable. Your tweet spreads stigma & fear.
— Kate Starr (@katebstarr) November 24, 2019
Mean and ignorant. I’m HIV+ and on effective HIV treatment and have zero chance of passing it on. #UequalsaU. https://t.co/plTBvRJIVq
— Bruce Richman (@BR999) November 24, 2019
I work to educate against the stigma of those living with HIV! It would appear to me that your ideals expressed here contrast the pledge your father @realDonaldTrump has made to eliminate HIV in the US over the next 10 years! I would love to chat about that pledge. #WorkTogether
— Christopher Brewer (@ChrisBrewski) November 24, 2019
Please God ???????? keep him straight please... please. AMEN.
— Josh Robbins (@imstilljosh) November 24, 2019
It’s cute how hard you try. ???? pic.twitter.com/aYmTOu5iIb
— ✨ ???????????????????? ✨ [IM????] (@FibroChickNikki) November 24, 2019
For a related blog post by POZ contributing writer Shawn Decker, click here.
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