# HIV HEROES

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that’s a big mistake, because the only
efficient way to counteract this problem
is an open and ongoing discourse
about it. Everyone who doesn’t know
what it is or that they have it will most
likely unwittingly pass it on to someone
else. Simple preaching doesn’t
help though, because the problem is
rooted much more deeply. In some
way, how we deal with HIV/AIDS functions
like a gauge that measures to
what extent a society has managed to
liberate itself from patriarchal rule.
The #HIVHeroes Edition:
that’s why!
At the VANGARDIST we regard ourselves
as a progressive medium committed
to proclaiming a lifestyle far
removed from all kinds of patriarchal
restraints. We regard all forms of sexual
preferences—whether they’re homo
or hetero—as completely natural and
equally valid. A large part of the content
of our men’s magazine is gay and
so are a considerable number of the
people involved in its making. Because
of this, we are used to standing up and
fighting, but at the same time we’re
aware that there’s not much use in playing
the suppressed minority here. For
this reason, our magazine deliberately
treats an open attitude to all things
sexual as a given that is befitting to our
modern times, just as we regard openness
regarding gender stereotypes.
We’ve decided to boldly expect overall
equality because this type of selfconfidence
is much more efficient than
self-victimizing whingeing will ever be.
And that’s why the VANGARDIST is organizing
the #HIVHEROES Campaign:
because we need an open discourse
about HIV/AIDS without all the moral
baggage.