AIDS-Hilfe Hamburg has been counselling deaf people in sign language for 20 years. Michael Stürmer and Jochen Aldag, the heads of the sign language AIDS team, explain why HIV counselling is particularly lively for deaf people.
When Michael Stürmer speaks, things start to move: once again, he wipes his black reading glasses across the table with a quick gesture. They only come to a halt against the wall. Michael laughs out loud, a dozen laugh lines play around his eyes.
The 55-year-old is used to reaching out: Michael has been speaking with his hands since he was a small child, as he can hear almost nothing. The surveying technician came to his voluntary work as a "native sign language speaker": since 2008, together with his partner Jochen Aldag (52), he has headed the Sign Language AIDS Team, G.A.T. for short, which is based at AIDS-Hilfe Hamburg.
On the first Wednesday of every month, the team of five counsels gay and bisexual men who find it difficult or impossible to hear. "Sometimes straight men come to us too," says Jochen. "People know each other among deaf people. The community is like a small village."
The G.A.T. can also be reached online, via email or video chat. "We call with a picture," explains Jochen, "the people we talk to have to be able to see the signs. Most contacts are made in the chat, followed by a meeting at the premises of AIDS-Hilfe Hamburg or at Hein & Fiete, the gay information centre.
You can also get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases at both centres. The G.A.T. then interprets the test. "People come from far and wide to get advice from us," says Jochen. Most of them are used to long journeys: "Deaf people are prepared to travel long distances to meet others."
Especially when it comes to complicated topics such as sex, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), communicating in sign language is the best method of counselling. Written information is more difficult to understand for people who have grown up deaf than for hearing people. "The grammar and the entire logic of sign language work differently to German," explains Jochen. This sometimes leads to misunderstandings.
Michael distributes information material at the Hamburg CSD every year. He therefore knows when written information reaches its limits. "An abbreviation like 'negative' for 'HIV-negative' is often understood to mean 'in a bad mood'," he says.
Videos in sign language are easier to understand than texts. The Hamburg-based organisation Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe has been helping to produce such films for three years. Although there have been some videos before, they were not so well received by the test audience. A deaf viewer quickly realised that texts had simply been translated into sign language.
"The new videos are planned in sign language from the outset and are much more visual," explains Jochen. "Deaf people love body language, facial expressions and gestures. To reach them, a video has to be very lively."
The jointly produced films now not only feature a narrator, but also two actors: "Bernie and Gerd" act out what it's all about - explaining safer sex with the help of a dildo and spray cream, for example. 22 videos have been produced in the last three years and the next season is already planned for the summer.
But before working on the next season, there were celebrations: At the end of April, the sign language AIDS team celebrated its 20th anniversary. AIDS-Hilfe Hamburg organised an open day to mark the occasion. There were grilled sausages, cool drinks and lots of stories from two decades of G.A.T. - presented lively and bilingually by the five team members. Because: "We've experienced a lot over the last 20 years," says Jochen.
"We would also be delighted to receive donations," adds Michael. Although the team works on a voluntary basis, the G.A.T. uses the donations to pay for additional sign language interpreters, for example, who are present during HIV tests at the AIDS service organisation.
And what do Michael and Jochen want for their twentieth? "That we get applause," says Michael, throwing his arms up and shaking hands, laughing loudly again. "And that as many curious people as possible come. It's nice when hearing and deaf people come together."
All videos of the German AIDS service organisation for the deaf in sign language
