In this interview, Franz talks about how he has experienced the medical developments and how his (sex) life has changed as a result.
Franz, you were infected with HIV in 1987. Thanks to successful drug treatment, your viral load has now been below the so-called detection limit for several years. This means that, according to current medical knowledge, you are practically no longer infectious and can no longer transmit HIV to your partner, even if you have condomless sex. What has changed for you as a result?
Above all, this has made it easier to deal with my partners again and made sex more intense. Before, there was always the fear that something could happen. Now I can let myself go more and enjoy it more. That's definitely the case. The quality has improved. At my age, quality is more important to me than quantity anyway.
I no longer have to constantly worry about my health because I know that the HIV therapy is working and I am therefore much healthier overall.
The "good news" that you are no longer infectious if your viral load is below the detection limit was only "officially" announced in 2008. Did you realise this straight away and were you able to put it into practice in your life?
No, not at all. It was a big change for me at first. I still very much had this old view of Aids and HIV. When I had my positive test result 25 years ago, it was almost like a death sentence. I only planned my life for another six or seven years, life expectancy wasn't much longer back then. Effective therapies have only been available since the mid-90s. And my experiences before then had a huge impact on me. It's very deep-seated, you don't just shake it off. And then you suddenly have to change your mindset: "Wow, I still have this HIV, but I'm no longer contagious ... ." It takes time to get that into your head, it was a long learning process for me.
You met your partner 18 years ago. Was HIV a big issue for you back then?
For me, yes. I was just afraid that I might infect him, even though we were always careful and Safer sex have done. But the fear is still breathing down your neck, because something can always happen, for example, that a rubber tears or that a tyre breaks when you're trying to get off. Bubbles but Sperm in the mouth. But it was different with him. He told me very clearly that it wouldn't change anything for him, that it didn't matter to him that I was HIV-positive. That was crucial for me: that there was someone there who wasn't afraid of me because I have HIV. But then came the moment that really shocked me. After four years, we were informed that he had been infected. We didn't know whether it was through me or whether it was before our relationship. Nevertheless. It was such a shock for me, I blamed myself so much that I told myself: Nothing is going to happen with sex for a while! We then didn't have sex again for years.
No, not at all! He said that it was clear that he might get infected too. But he generally deals with things like that differently to me. His family has a long history of chronic illnesses such as diabetes. And, of course, with examinations and therapies associated with it. So his view of things was probably different to mine. But I made my life hell back then. It was a lot of psychological pressure for me because I was constantly asking myself if and when I might have infected him, what I should have done differently. But we still don't know whether he was infected during our relationship or before that, with someone else. It doesn't matter to us anymore.
You now have an open relationship and are often out and about in the scene. If you have sex partners there, do you make an issue of your HIV infection?
I bring it up if someone really wants to get to know me better and it might develop into something, be it a better acquaintance or a friendship. At sex parties or dates, I make it clear beforehand that although I'm positive, I'm no longer infectious thanks to the therapy. Of course, it can also be a shot in the arm if you trust someone too much and they can't handle it. But that's just the way it is.
If you bring this up with potential sexual partners and then say that you are "non-infectious", does everyone immediately know what this means and what it means in practice?
There are some people who don't understand this and are not particularly aware of the medical advances. I try to explain that to them. But not everyone has realised that yet. However, in the leather and fetish scene - where I mainly operate - knowledge about it is already very widespread.
Why there in particular?
The sexual practices can simply be more intense here. The game variations are more varied. Whether it's SM, Fists or other things. The risks of transmission can be different than with "conservative" sex. That's why the people there are usually very well informed and are generally more open about it in the fetish scene.
What does responsibility mean to you when it comes to sex?
I make sure that I am always below the detection limit. That I'm not "contagious". I have this checked regularly by a doctor. I also have myself checked regularly for all other sexually transmitted infections, including Hepatitis C. What I personally don't like at all are men who might want four, five or more sex partners in one weekend. That's not for me. I don't have to get it by force. Or blokes who are always going on about whether they've been tested. If you don't take responsibility for yourself - in other words, if you don't get tested so you know what's going on with your health - then you don't take responsibility for others either, I think. And that tends to turn me off. If I'm very sexually active and have lots of sex partners, then I should get tested regularly. For myself, but also for others.
And as I said, I discuss my HIV status so that the other person can decide whether they want to have sex with me or not. I also explain that I am below the detection limit and what that means in practical terms.
The issue of "non-infectiousness with a viral load below the detection limit" does not yet seem to have reached all public prosecutors and judges. There are still judgements against HIV-positive people who are convicted of attempted assault, even if their viral load is below the detection limit and there was therefore no possibility of transmitting the HIV infection.
I know some judgements from Bavaria, where I come from. Many judges incorporate their own moral views into their judgements. If you read some of the judgements, that becomes clear. You have to recognise in court that someone who is below the detection limit is no longer contagious. It is intolerable that positive people are automatically placed in such a criminal corner.
Do you feel discriminated against?
Of course. There's such a huge responsibility placed on me. I've been below the detection limit for six years. I certainly haven't infected anyone in that time. I think that has to be recognised.
And these judgements are clearly counterproductive: I know people who no longer have themselves tested so that they don't know their status and can't be prosecuted. That can't be the point! It's bad for prevention, because then of course they won't get tested for other sexually transmitted infections either.
But I am also concerned with something else, namely the general issue of responsibility.
You mean the responsibility you have during sex?
Yes, and everyone has to bear it for themselves. You can't assume that the other person will do it for you. Here's an example: At some point during sex, there's a situation where we either reach for a condom or not. Both of us are aware of this. Everyone has to decide for themselves at that moment, do I want it or don't I want it? Do I say something or do I say nothing? And if I don't say anything because I want to, then I have to take responsibility for it at that moment. For myself alone. It doesn't matter whether my sex partner is positive or negative, whether he is below the detection limit or not. There is no obligation to provide information. The other person could also be HIV-positive or have another sexually transmitted infection and not even know it because they haven't been tested. I therefore have to decide for myself in every situation what I want and what I don't want and I have to make this very clear. Blaming someone afterwards or even taking them to court doesn't really do me any good. It just doesn't work like that. We are adults. So, take responsibility! For yourselves!
