The way many of us saw the corona virus as something on the other side of the world, was how many of us in the UK saw the onslaught of HIV and AIDS. For me it was something that happened in Africa and America then we started to hear that gay men in London were falling ill. 

In Norwich, we were in a bubble, I can’t imagine anyone would be putting there hand up to say they had HIV. The reason why became very apparent when two gorgeous American solders came to the only gay club in town, and much to my shame none of us spoke to them, they just stood in the corner for a bit and eventually left.

Do You Understand?

I used to think that AIDS happed to
Africans and Americans
Well, that’s what I was led to believe
and with that knowledge I felt safe.

Do you Understand?

I heard that the plague was rife in London
so it was best for a provincial queen like me
to stay clear of any East End Rough

Do you Understand?

I once heard of a friend of a friend who
knew someone who had died of cancer
It was best not to call it AIDS

Do You Understand?

I’ve sat by the beds of friends who looked
starved and grey, who shit themselves and could
not tell me it hurt and degraded them

Do You Understand?

I heard today I’ve got five years to die
to join the statistics on some government list
I prepared to pack away my Go-Go Boots and fans

Do you understand?

Seven years on, I’ve still not gone, I’ve decided
not to take my doctors advice
I’ve kept my boots and fans, i’v decided  to give
death a miss, for a bit….and I’ll dance to
some HI-N-R-G song

Now, do you understand

written 1995