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Tapestry,
1995.Tapestry
June 26, 1995
Tapestry's apartment, Lower Haight, San Francisco
James is one of his roommates
Before you do something to your body, find out about it. Find out what the possibilities are for your future. What are the dangers involved? Then you're making an educated choice. Sex education hasn't made an impact. They've been telling young people for years, "You can't." Young people have been rebelling. They might do better with, "these are your choices if you want to stay alive." It's a little bit longer, but you listen to it. You have a choice if you want to live. It's the rest of your life.
MW: You said you're having sex with multiple partners?
Tapestry: Yeah, most of them are positive too but we could be infected with different strands of HIV. I've had unsafe sex with HIV positive people. It's a personal choice. When I'm sexually involved with someone who is positive, depending on where they're at emotionally, we negotiate what we want between us. Most people I know who are positive don't want to practice safe sex with other people who are positive. With people that are negative, I give them an option on oral sex. Some people feel it's safe without a condom; some people would rather use a condom. I hate the taste of latex. I'd rather not but I give them that choice. If you don't feel comfortable, you shouldn't do it
The funny thing is I know how I contracted it. I was tricking because I needed money to get home to DC, and it was with a woman. It's ironic considering the many men that I've taken home, and done really naughty things to, some of them not safely. This was for money. I really don't even know how to completely describe the situation. For whatever reason, that's what she wanted. And like an idiot I didn't think. So here I am.
MW: Why did you agree to do this particular interview?
Tapestry: In reality, the biggest reason I'm doing this is because I don't want my little brothers to be where I'm at. I mean, the blatant, honest truth; I don't want my little brothers to be where I'm at, not just the ones that I'm biologically related to, and it's the only way I really know how to make sure the information gets out there, and that they learn it. I can give that to them.
MW: Do you feel very differently about yourself today than before you tested positive?
Tapestry: Yeah, I'm so much more alive. My priorities have put themselves in direct order. I feel a lot more at peace with myself, and spiritual. I have these small rocks that I've collected to represent different aspects of my life. I sat on this huge rock in front of the ocean. I prayed, and I walked away so fulfilled. I feel at peace with myself. I know what I want. I know what I need to get it. And that's what I'm looking for.
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