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Joshua: A Student Challenging HIV Infection |
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Audience:
Gay and Bisexual Men
Year:
1988
Speech Rate:
171 words/min
Large Words
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This video is part of a series that includes Joshua And His Doctor: Before And After The HIV Test and Susan: Joshua’s Mother Responds. Some parts of the videos overlap. It describes the life of Joshua, a White young adult gay man living with HIV disease. Joshua discusses his experiences coming out, his views about being gay, and his thoughts about fighting oppression and discrimination against gays and persons with HIV. He describes his workout sessions at a gym and his membership on a gay soccer team, explaining that they serve both social and physical functions. He emphasizes the importance of his positive gay self-image.
Joshua describes his HIV antibody test experience and his reaction to his subsequent positive result. He talks about the psychological consequences of disclosing his HIV status to friends and parents. He shares his attitudes toward having to take AZT, but the viewers should keep in mind that the discussion and concerns about the treatment are out of date. Joshua feels a strong need to live positively and to be fully functioning as long as he can. He discusses safer sex in a sex-positive manner, emphasizing the need for intimacy, pleasure, and sharing in sexual relationships. Joshua encourages HIV-positive viewers to take control of their lives and fight to stay alive. Susan, Joshua’s mother, briefly discusses the potential pain of losing Joshua. At the video's conclusion, Joshua expresses a positive feeling about his life and a higher power who will take him “when she’s ready.” The technical quality of the video is good and the depiction of Joshua’s life, even though he is infected with HIV, is compelling and positive, showing him as a gay man who still has goals and opportunities and who takes responsibility for making the best out of his life. |
Go to video listings for:
African Americans
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