"I was born in India, but I grew up in New York. I’ve gone back and forth between these two worlds typically described in binary terms as East and West. I find this way of thinking very anxiety provoking. My parents, being Indian immigrants, expected me to be successful in America while keeping some Indian culture intact. This conflict was complicated and I was aware of it at a young age. To understand both these worlds, I have always confided in science and in what the power of scientific knowledge can do for societies with deep-rooted beliefs systems. And so PrEP made perfect sense to me because there was enough scientific data to prove that it was a way to end this epidemic. I wanted to be part of that and at first it felt risky, but the more I thought about it, the more convinced I was that I was reducing my risks and was being more conscious of my overall health.
I get PrEP from Callen-Lorde, an LGBTQ health clinic. My health insurance pays for this medication. I am aware of the health care debate that has been going on in this Country for the past 3 decades. For me, the health care debate is valid concerning who is paying for this expensive medication versus who is benefiting from this drug. These issues go back to the notion of public good in a society and who pays for it. This blue pill does raise many important questions about the nature of our society as a whole, but, ultimately, I believe the collective "we" should choose progress over stagnation, just as we did when we chose cars over horses and carriages, and now driverless vehicles.
I think it is common to associate Truvada with the way people have changed their sexual behavior, however, I think that is misleading. I believe that a pill cannot make people do anything more or less, just like Coca-Cola doesn't make one happier as portrayed in their commercials. I do feel much safer in having sex because of the scientific evidence this pill has propagated."
Rajan, 32, on PrEP. Brooklyn, NY. Working in Tech