The Informer

Western Australia’s Attorney General John Quigley has said that he is unable to say if the McGowan government will support proposed changes to the state’s Equal Opportunity Act, because the results of the federal government’s review into religious freedom in Australia has not yet been released.

This came after Greens MP Alison Xamon put forward a bill yesterday to amend the Equal Opportunity Act to remove loopholes which allow religious based organisations to terminate the employment of staff because of their sexuality.

With bills being released in WA expunging historic homosexual convictions and an apology by the premier earlier this year, it’s got us wondering, why the hold up on the last piece of legislation in Western Australia Statutes that still allows for discrimination against members of the LGBTIQ community.

This segment of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on 3rd July and was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

On this episode of The Informer we have an exclusive interview, as Dean Arcuri speaks with the Melbourne man, who, last year contracted HIV while on the HIV prevention drug, pre-exposure Prophylaxis.

He had his voice, and his story taken away from him when the news broke in the media that he had contracted HIV, and one year on we sit down and discuss what that was like here on The Informer on JOY 94.9.

A full podcast of this interview will be available to download Tuesday morning via www.joy.org.au or on your preferred podcast platform.

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on 2nd July 2018 and was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

Two days after it was reported that a Melbourne Man had contracted HIV while on the PrEPX study Chris Williams wrote the following in emen8.com.au in an article titled Facing our fears: What does news of a possible PrEP failure mean?

‘Remember that somewhere in Victoria one person is the subject of our social commentary. If you feel compelled to join in, consider your words with compassion.’

In a media release from the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC), two possible causes for the Victorian case were mentioned:

If a person is not adherent to their PrEP regimen or;

If a person comes into sexual contact with a person living with HIV who has a detectable viral load together with a strain of the virus that is resistant to PrEP medication,

At the time they didn’t yet know why this has occurred, just that it had been reported that it had.

These were the facts being reported with the information people had, and with these facts, people speculated online and in the media which lead to gossip and rumors that fueled greater stigma for this person and all people living with HIV.

Now on The Informer, the Melbourne man who contracted HIV while on the antiretroviral medication is sharing his experience of what it was like having his voice taken away from him and what that meant for his journey.

A full podcast of this interview will be available to download Tuesday morning via www.joy.org.au or on your preferred podcast platform.

This segment aired on The Informer on JOY 94.9 on 2nd July & was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

On the 22nd of May in 2017 Fairfax media broke the news that a Melbourne man had tested positive for HIV while he was on the PrEPX trial. Stating that this news had ‘sparked fears in the gay community about possible resistance to the medication’ siting fears about a non-resistant strain or HIV that could affect use of the HIV prevention drug.

The minute that news hit the headlines, a member of our community had their voice taken away from them. With assumptions being drawn in the media and on social media about their sexual practices and character, and what this meant for PrEP users around the country.

At the time he was the fourth man worldwide to have contracted HIV while on PrEP and In the lead up to 1 year since the news broke, he approached us here at JOY, wanting to share his story and to talk about what it was like for him. What it was like being the subject of conversation but not able to tell his side of the story as he saw assumptions and misinformation spread about his PrEP use, his character and his lived experience.

Now on The Informer, he shares his experience with Dean Arcuri.

A full podcast of this interview will be available to download Tuesday morning via www.joy.org.au or on your preferred podcast platform.

This segment aired on The Informer on JOY 94.9 on 2nd July & was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

On this episode of The Informer we have an exclusive interview, as Dean Arcuri speaks with the Melbourne man, who, last year contracted HIV while on the HIV prevention drug, pre-exposure Prophylaxis.

He had his voice, and his story taken away from him when the news broke in the media that he had contracted HIV, and one year on we sit down and discuss what that was like here on The Informer on JOY 94.9.

A full podcast of this interview will be available to download Tuesday morning via www.joy.org.au or on your preferred podcast platform.

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on 2nd July 2018 and was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

Two days after it was reported that a Melbourne Man had contracted HIV while on the PrEPX study Chris Williams wrote the following in emen8.com.au in an article titled Facing our fears: What does news of a possible PrEP failure mean?

‘Remember that somewhere in Victoria one person is the subject of our social commentary. If you feel compelled to join in, consider your words with compassion.’

In a media release from the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC), two possible causes for the Victorian case were mentioned:

If a person is not adherent to their PrEP regimen or;

If a person comes into sexual contact with a person living with HIV who has a detectable viral load together with a strain of the virus that is resistant to PrEP medication,

At the time they didn’t yet know why this has occurred, just that it had been reported that it had.

These were the facts being reported with the information people had, and with these facts, people speculated online and in the media which lead to gossip and rumors that fueled greater stigma for this person and all people living with HIV.

Now on The Informer, the Melbourne man who contracted HIV while on the antiretroviral medication is sharing his experience of what it was like having his voice taken away from him and what that meant for his journey.

A full podcast of this interview will be available to download Tuesday morning via www.joy.org.au or on your preferred podcast platform.

This segment aired on The Informer on JOY 94.9 on 2nd July & was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

On the 22nd of May in 2017 Fairfax media broke the news that a Melbourne man had tested positive for HIV while he was on the PrEPX trial. Stating that this news had ‘sparked fears in the gay community about possible resistance to the medication’ siting fears about a non-resistant strain or HIV that could affect use of the HIV prevention drug.

The minute that news hit the headlines, a member of our community had their voice taken away from them. With assumptions being drawn in the media and on social media about their sexual practices and character, and what this meant for PrEP users around the country.

At the time he was the fourth man worldwide to have contracted HIV while on PrEP and In the lead up to 1 year since the news broke, he approached us here at JOY, wanting to share his story and to talk about what it was like for him. What it was like being the subject of conversation but not able to tell his side of the story as he saw assumptions and misinformation spread about his PrEP use, his character and his lived experience.

Now on The Informer, he shares his experience with Dean Arcuri.

A full podcast of this interview will be available to download Tuesday morning via www.joy.org.au or on your preferred podcast platform.

This segment aired on The Informer on JOY 94.9 on 2nd July & was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

What started out in 2014 as a celebration match between traditional rivals Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction has turned into a strong symbol for inclusion in Australia’s favourite sport right across Victoria.

\Now there are a range of Pride Cup games that are held throughout the state and are spreading round the nation. At the Shepparton Pride Cup, the founder of the Cup Jason Ball, reflected on what it means to see inclusion and diversity spread through regional communities through sport.

Click here to find out more about the Pride Cup.

This segment of The Informer aired on 28th June 2018.

The Pride Cups are not just about a rainbow on the field or the match on the day, with education programs and information training for players, coaches and officials on how to stamp out discriminatory language and make your club more inclusive.

It’s one thing for a person to come in and tell a club in a regional space how they can improve things, but another thing entirely when a member of your own community does it. And that is what Alison did in the lead up to the Shepparton Pride Cup. A local player Allison, and Damien Stevens capture what it means and what it feels to know the clubs are supporting diversity and inclusion.

For more information about the Pride Cup, click here.

This segment of The Informer aired on 28th June 2018.

 

Pride Cup began as a powerful gesture of mateship in a local footy club in country Victoria and has grown into a national movement for change that transcends sport and has even influenced inclusion in the AFL.

Last weekend there were Pride Cups in Hamilton and Shepperton and this weekend we have a Pride Cup in Mordiallic, which begs the question, could we be in danger of Pride Cup Fatigue?

The reality is that we are not, as Pride Cup evolves, so does it’s relevance and importance, and Dean Arcuri heads to Shepparton to find out.

Find our more about the Pride Cup here

This segment of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on 28th June 2018.