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This is the
story of a young man who is an INTHANOU
caller. He has
allowed us to post his story on our website in order to help
other people. The following account deals with issues about
his personal life. Upon his request, our program will not
reveal his real name. |
Presently, this young man works as a
hairdresser at a beauty salon in Phnom Penh. He is a skilled
beautician and can style the hair of both male and female customer
and also do face makeup.
He told our counselor;
“My
boss really likes me. I am honest, good at serving customers, and am
highly skilled, which helps attract a lot of customers to his shop.
Now I am learning new skills as a clothes designer. In the future
when I have enough money I want to run my own business."
He recalls that his current behavior started at a very
young age. His parents have 5 children and he is the only and
youngest son.
“My mother and sisters really
love me. They have always supported me and let me do as I want. For
example I used to like to keep my hair long; moreover I wanted to
have a cute face like other young women in the village. Every night
I would steal my sister’s cosmetic powder. Although she sometimes
knew about it, she never got angry with me. I’ve always preferred
playing with boys than girls. Boys often called me gay, since I had
a cute face and long hair, but I never felt angry with them. When I
was about 17yr, I started feeling different from other men of my
age. For instance, I liked to stay around handsome guys and to act
as a coquettish girl. If by chance I stayed near a beautiful girl, I
didn't have any special feelings for her. I often wondered why I was
different. When I was young my mother and sisters didn't feel angry
about my behavior because they considered I was still young. However
when I grew up, they started complaining and told me I was crazy.
They have never accepted that I was behaving naturally. They accused
my friends of influencing me”.
He revealed:
“I have had sex with my closest
friends and I rarely thought about using condoms. I heard that
having sex with a woman is the major way to contract HIV infection.
I believed that having sex with a man was secured”.
One day as he was reading an old
magazine he came across INTHANOU
’s hotline number, advertising that
the hotline provides anonymous and
confidential information related to HIV and STDs
Later he called the INTHANOU
hotline.
Counselors advised him that having unprotected sex (sex without a
condom) with a male partner, is a high risk
behavior for transmission of HIV and STDs
infection. The hotline counselor also told him that he should use
water-based lubricants when using a condom, to avoid tearing of the
condom during sex. He acknowledged that the hotline counselor
gave him important and information about HIV and STDs and also
discussed safer sex.
He is now interested in reading books
and listening to various programs related to health. He often calls
INTHANOU
counselors when he has questions.
Finally, we wish him a good luck in his life and a success in his
career!!!
This case illustrates that misunderstanding and lack of information
can increase the risk of HIV/AIDS and STD transmission for men who
have sex with men.
Edited by:
Mrs Mary Dunbar
Senior Strategic Behavioral Communication Officer
PATH Cambodia
