Thilo and René could be cosy in their small farmhouse. Instead, they are travelling through Germany to inform other men about HIV and Aids. Why are they doing this to themselves?
Thilo and René, why are you involved in the Campaign team from I KNOW WHAT I DO?
Thilo: The IWWIT campaign is a good platform for sensitising the public to the topic of HIV and AIDS. We want to help ensure that "safer sex" is practised. And: perhaps it will also help to reduce dormant fears when dealing with positive people.
René: My topic is not about safer sex, but about personal responsibility. When I found out that I was positive in 1992, I knew nothing about HIV - until I met the first other positive person. Since then, I've realised how important it is for positive people to come out in public.
What is the difference between IWWIT role models like you, Thilo, and the "preventionists" in the campaign team like you, René?
Thilo: The preventionists are out and about in the scene all year round to inform people about safer sex. The role models are mainly on stage at public discussion forums. But I also feel like a preventionist! The only difference is that my face and my story can be seen on iwwit.de and in adverts. For me, both honorary posts are an equally important part of I KNOW WHAT I DO.
René: The information that we can pass on in personal discussions is crucial. And this is what both the role models and the preventionists on site do. We work together to ensure that positive people are accepted. And we want to sensitise HIV-negative people to their own responsibility and to safer sex.
How do you do that?
René: For example, I once took part in a panel discussion on the topic of "HIV and work". One of the things I talked about there was what it's like to be retired because of HIV. People often say that everything is going well with tablets, that the positive people are all fit and vital. Unfortunately, that doesn't apply to me. Otherwise I would have cancelled my pension immediately. We often went to big events like CSDs and parties.
What do you enjoy most about the IWWIT assignments?
Thilo: The best thing is when you can have a personal conversation in peace and quiet. When I have the feeling that the other person is genuinely interested in getting an answer to their question.
René: I like small street parties best, for example at the CSDs in Halle, Lübeck and Bielefeld. People were very open-minded there. After the event, some of them came up to me and we had an in-depth chat behind our IWWIT bus. I don't like mass events. You can usually just hand out condoms and ask "Do you know IWWIT?".
Do your neighbours in the village actually know that you are positive?
Thilo: Yes, at least since we got married in the village church in 2009. In his speech, the priest told us that we met at a positive meeting in the Waldschlösschen. The whole village now knows that we are both positive. At least half of it: there were probably around 200 guests in the church, it was filled to the last seat.
Are you married in church? How does that work?
Thilo: We first went to the registry office and then got married in church. It was a real wedding, not just an alibi blessing. We were even entered in the parish register of marriage. René is now also on the parish council and we are both members of the local association for the preservation of church buildings. So we also want to give back some of the support we receive here.
Would you recommend that every positive person live as openly as you do?
Thilo: Basically, yes. It's important that you deal with people honestly, that you move confidently in society.
That is easier said than done.
Thilo: You have to be authentic. Above all, you must have fundamentally accepted that you are positive. That it is what it is. Then you can also approach other people authentically.
Why did you move to the countryside?
Thilo: I've always wanted a house with a garden. I had my first one near Berlin. I never got on in the village community there - because I was a Wessi. But the atmosphere here was completely different. After just two days, the mayor was at the door and introduced himself.
René: Well, I moved after my love. Country life is nothing new to me, as I grew up in a small town in the Black Forest. But there was also an economic side to the move: we own our little house and can live better on our small pension without paying rent.
Spring will soon be here again. What are you particularly looking forward to?
Thilo: Here's to the first flowers in the garden when the marsh plants around the pond turn green again. And we have leased a piece of land opposite to breed chickens there!
Do you like eating eggs?
Thilo: We are more interested in saving chicken species that are now threatened with extinction, such as Dutch bantam chickens.
René: The entire population of our farm cottage is threatened with extinction! (laughs)
Thilo (46) is Chairman of the Works Council in an elderly care facility and IWWIT role model
René (42) is a pensioner and IWWIT preventionist
