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Behind the Pandemic in Aboriginal Communities - Interagency ...

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Individual LevelIndividual LevelIndividual LevelAaron’s StoryAaron recently moved to a new city to start university. He realized a few years ago that he feels <strong>the</strong>same way about o<strong>the</strong>r guys as his friends feel about girls. Aaron is afraid of how his family and friendswill react if <strong>the</strong>y f<strong>in</strong>d out. He spent his high school years try<strong>in</strong>g to keep his attraction to o<strong>the</strong>r guyshidden.Mov<strong>in</strong>g away has been a fresh start for Aaron. He has discovered <strong>the</strong> gay village downtown and hasbeen to a few big parties with some older guys he has met. He really likes how open <strong>the</strong> men <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>village are about lik<strong>in</strong>g o<strong>the</strong>r men, but he hasn’t met any o<strong>the</strong>r Aborig<strong>in</strong>al gay men. He feels a bit likehe’s liv<strong>in</strong>g two lives: he can be Aborig<strong>in</strong>al but not gay at home, or gay but not Aborig<strong>in</strong>al <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> village.He likes how free of <strong>the</strong>se worries he feels when party<strong>in</strong>g.Carla’s StoryCarla heard that you can only get HIV if you have anal sex with a gay guy. Ano<strong>the</strong>r girl told her that shehad heard this <strong>in</strong> health class. S<strong>in</strong>ce Carla doesn’t go to health class because it’s not a pre-requisite,she is tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> girl’s word for it. She is glad <strong>the</strong> girl shared this <strong>in</strong>formation with her, because shewould never ask her mom questions about anyth<strong>in</strong>g related to sex or HIV. When her new boyfriendpressured her <strong>in</strong>to hav<strong>in</strong>g sex beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> arena last night, she figured that it would be safe not to use acondom as long as she had been tak<strong>in</strong>g her birth control pills regularly.Frankie’s StoryFrankie has been confused his entire life: People see him as a male based on his body but <strong>in</strong> his hear<strong>the</strong> knows he is a girl. Frankie has become more confused and distraught s<strong>in</strong>ce he hit puberty and hisbody started chang<strong>in</strong>g.Frankie’s family is unable to understand his behaviour nor why he is so upset. They have tried to ge<strong>the</strong>lp for Frankie. They’ve talked with <strong>the</strong> school counselor, <strong>the</strong>ir doctor, and a social workers but noone seems to have any helpful <strong>in</strong>formation.29

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