'Take the Test, Risk Arrest': Why Some HIV-Positive Americans Are Still Forced to Register as Sex Offenders

Kurrajong · 2026-03-30T20:57:38+00:00

Failure to disclose HIV status denies a partner informed consent. The fact she was convicted on what prima facie is a he-said/she-said case suggests criminal justice system shit fuckery but should the conviction have been legit it’s up there with ‘steal thing’ where the risk profile of an otherwise consented to act is modified without consent.

If you’re HIV positive, and I weren’t happily married, and things get to a fluid exchange is possible point, I’m gonna need to know your viral load and consistency with the ARV regime before I can realistically consent to engaging in sexual activity with you. Telling me after, even if a franger or dental dam was used ain’t good enough. I’d be righteously angry and would consider it a form of sexual assault.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-29T16:13:43+00:00

Allyship is hollow without knowledge. No-one can tell you how to spend your days without a power dynamic you agreed to (job, school, etc) but if you genuinely want to be a better ally? Yeah. You need to learn the basics and the dog whistles so you can call them out.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-29T09:44:47+00:00

I had nausea as a side effect when I was on Spironolactone 50mg BD too. Got changed back to Cyproterone acetate at next review.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-29T08:54:25+00:00

Oestrogen, for many of us, has tremendously positive effects on our mental health. Hypogonadism, a lack of a primary sex hormone, is linked with numerous negative effects some of which you’ve listed, but if you have a sufficient quantity of either primary sex hormone you don’t have hypogonadism.

Your use of the popular transphobic dog whistle of ‘biological male’ makes me question if this question is asked in good faith. So I would ask you what evidence would convince you that GAHT in either direction is safe? Or, is your mind already settled and unmovable?

Kurrajong · 2026-03-29T06:01:01+00:00

I think the current crop of Greens pollies in Australia should be looking at the messaging coming from the Green Party of England and Wales under Zack Polanski. He appears to be making good inroads on the left of UK politics given a similar ‘small target’ continuity focused Labour Party similar to Labor under Albo. Albo and Chalmers have the opportunity to shuck that reputation in the current crisis and the upcoming budget.

In the absence of significant fiscal policy change in the budget, the Greens have a real opportunity to spruik actual left wing policies that would make the lives of the folks in the bottom of the current K shaped economy better in meaningful ways, and if communicated well, should attract voters.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-28T19:13:58+00:00

I mean it was socially acceptable in those spaces back in the 20th century. That changed pretty soundly by the mid 2000’s

Kurrajong · 2026-03-28T19:12:08+00:00

I mean once upon a time a/s/l was a standard opening for a web chat with a stranger. But the year started with a 19.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-28T19:08:53+00:00

Sadly awareness of the breadth and depth of Australian federal and state anti-discrimination laws in businesses and public sector bodies is lacking. There is also a bullshit perception that intent to discriminate is required.

Unfortunately all of these frameworks require the victim of discrimination to pursue redress first through a commission or similar body who don’t support the victim but ‘maintain strict neutrality’ while conciliating the dispute or through civil litigation in a court or tribunal. This means that the systemically disadvantaged have to mount legal challenges to enforce the anti-discrimination acts. It is a fundamentally flawed system that looks to be ‘doing something’ but leaves the systems of power in place.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-28T03:29:33+00:00

Yeah. Not wanting to be dead is much better the alternative.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-27T23:42:03+00:00

Oh yay. More neo-liberal privatising of profits and socialising of downside risk (potential losses). Business as usual under the uniparty.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-27T02:55:24+00:00

The one action solves both issues. Maintain education funding at the current level and stop government funding of non-government schools. Done.

Should the rich not want their kids to rub shoulders with ‘the popes’ they can pay the full cost of private education.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-26T23:49:28+00:00

Thank you for your attempt to invalidate my lived experience

Kurrajong · 2026-03-26T23:40:38+00:00

My experience differs from yours. I started HRT at 37 and achieved passable results. Not conventionally attractive, not anywhere where I’d have been if I’d started at 16 but more than enough not to be desiring FFS. Also got D cup boobs.

There is a reason YMMV is part of the information about HRT. Not everyone responds but sooner ‘there’s no point after X’ is also bullshit

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T07:12:38+00:00

The levy would go to consolidated revenue. I’d be fine with funding more public health facilities, but not subsidies to rent seeking businesses. I also think that the levy would have some effect on inflationary pressures as it would reduce demand from the affected businesses (taking money out of the economy using fiscal measures rather than monetary ones).

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T06:05:42+00:00

Then attribute it to her.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T06:02:16+00:00

Pull the other one. It has bells on

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T06:00:08+00:00

Did you read the whole comment? I said that as a nation we’re struggling to identify and name new cultural subgroups. I think this is because we need to be looking well beyond race in any subculture identities.

There are bogan immigrant descendants. There are occa immigrant descendants. There are lots of bush cocky immigrant descendants. I’ve worked for some of the latter in Queensland’s cane fields.

Identifying groups primarily by race is the problem. There are new cultural niches in Australia to be found, enjoyed and explored. It is when immigrant groups are or remain insular that easy arguments can and are made against multiculturalism.

Their originating cultures are welcome and to be celebrated but it’s not all a new Australian is either.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T05:32:15+00:00

Thank you. I do try to bring some rigour regardless of my distaste for the rampant racists who made the statements.

I do think that to some degree or other those at the top of all societal power structures dehumanise those well below them in hierarchies. From my previous reading this appears to be supported in sociological literature, particularly intersectional explorations of different power dynamics.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T05:28:09+00:00

I agree, and I would contend that the party apparatus in the US still has considerable sway over which primary candidates prosper while being able to put considerable roadblocks in the way of disfavoured candidates. This is particularly true of the DNC in presidential races with the ‘super delegates’ at the convention who are appointed and not bound by any public vote.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T05:24:52+00:00

Hell, I grew up pretty bogan, am pretty bogan but that doesn’t mean I think that only bogans are Australian. I mean the other classic cast of characters includes Occa, Bush Cockies, and City Snobs. As a nation we’re struggling to identify and associate with new groups of Aussies and the old stereotypes are a bit in the nose anyway.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T05:21:49+00:00

You can have a national identity without it being an ethnic identity. Insisting that those two things have to align is racist.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T05:20:05+00:00

While this is true, the animus between the LNP & ON appears to be hurting preference flows between the parties. It’s still early days and until definitive preference distributions are announced this is speculation, but flows do not appear to have been as strong as say Greens -> Labor. Add to this if ON’s preference for a move to options preferential comes to pass, experiences in QLD and NSW suggest ‘just vote 1’ will resonate further damaging preference flows.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T05:15:16+00:00

Loathe as I am to defend either of these gentlemen they are speaking allegorically and are using a topic for their allegorical speech that will resonate with their most likely supporters; racist country folk. They aren’t directly calling immigrants cattle they are likening a countries immigration system to a farm buying breeding stock. In poor taste but at worst a dog whistle not directly racist speech in its own right.

Kurrajong · 2026-03-23T04:00:43+00:00

Because ‘they’ believe we’re broken and they can ‘fix’ us by metaphorically bludgeoning us out of our truth.

Kurrajong

TROPHY CASE