BURUNDI: Yves Niyonkuru: "I knew about HIV, but sex was better without a condom"
Photo: Keishamaza Rukikaire/IRIN
"People still approach me - as you can see, I'm a good looking man"
Bujumbura, 22 October 2008 (PlusNews) - Yves Niyonkuru is a lanky 30-year-old Burundian who speaks easily about his life as a gay man in a society that has little tolerance for homosexuality. He told IRIN/PlusNews about his experiences since coming out of the closet.
"When I was 18 I told my mother that I was gay. She was very supportive, probably because she has a brother who is a cross-dressing gay man herself - he lives in Brussels now, because he couldn't be himself here. To be honest I doubt she was surprised; I used to wear eye-liner when I was a teenager.
"She has been the greatest support to me; judgement starts outside the home. I was kicked out of high school because of my sexuality, and never went back to school, which has made finding a job very hard. Occasionally I have been abused in the streets and even once I was beaten for nothing. People always point and talk about me in the street.
"I have had a few sexual partners; I lived with one man for many years but then he left Burundi and went to his home country. I knew about HIV, but sex was better without a condom so I rarely used one. Besides, our knowledge was limited; until recently, I had never even heard of water-based lubricants.
"In 2003, I started to fall ill; doctors sent me for an HIV test. When I went back for the results, the nurse told me I was HIV-negative, but then they called me back the next day and the doctor told me I was actually positive - I think the nurse didn't know how to tell me I had HIV.
"I started taking ARVs in 2004, and I've been lucky because I have had no side-effects. They have given me a good appetite; when I was first diagnosed I weighed 50 kilos, which is so little for someone like me [Niyonkuru is 1.98 m]. Now I weigh 67 kilos.
"Since I found out my HIV status I have never had sex. I am not secretive about it; everyone who knows me knows it. People still approach me - as you can see, I'm a good looking man. Many people want to have sex using a condom and lubricant, but I can't take the risk - I would feel like I'm killing them.
"Of course sometimes I'm tempted, but the voice in my head won't let me do it. Perhaps one day I'll meet an HIV-positive guy whom I can have a relationship with, but until then I'll remain on my own."
kr/kn
Theme (s): HIV/AIDS (PlusNews),
[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]