By SAM KNEW, MSW
Most of us spend our lives avoiding contracting even the slightest germ, much less an infective virus. We live in a world of hand sanitizer stations at shopping centers and medicine cabinets filled with multi-vitamins and some sort of natural tea product. So it may be unimaginable that there are individuals intentionally seeking out diseases, hoping they will be lucky enough to get bitten by “the bug.” They are called “bug chasers.” This term usually refers to a sub-culture of gay men that intentionally seek to get infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
It is still not understood what motivates these individuals, but many theorize it may be the desire for a sense of belonging. Bug chasers may long to be part of a nurturing and compassionate part of a community, as found within the HIV+ population. Others conclude some people feel so overwhelmed by the possibility of contracting HIV, they prefer to “get it over with.” The short film “The Gift” explores this rare phenomenon, documenting a young man’s sense of relief after being diagnosed HIV+. “The Gift’s” director, Louise Hogarth, adds the increasing false sense of the lack severity in contracting the virus may also be a contributing factor.
Some believe the disease has become more of a manageable illness, controllable with just a pill. This school thought has encouraged individuals to put down their guard, being less disciplined in their safe sex practices.
This fringe population of bug chasers are accommodated by “gift givers.” These are individuals that are willing to infect bug chasers. This pairing of bug chasers and gift givers usually come together online. Though the compilation of these two groups is a very small subset of the population they have developed a culture of their own, including “conversation parties.” This is one means in which HIV+ men and those looking to be infected can meet.
Usually only one individual is HIV+ (known only to the individual himself and the host). The other members of the party participate in unprotected sex in hopes of being infected, commonly referred to as getting “pozzed up.”
The question of these individual’s mental health and legal responsibility are just beginning to be examined. There is still little research or actual statistics on how many people are purposefully seeking conversion, and less on people who have converted intentionally. Additionally, nearly half the states have laws against infecting individuals, but even some of those laws are not prepared to address the consensual transmission of this “gift of death.”
Sam Knew, MSW contributes the weekly column “Who Knew” addressing various topics. For questions or comments: troym@jumponmarkslist.com.