I know I briefly mentioned this to you the other day, but I have had the exact *opposite* experience with my parents. Okay, none of my family are doctors nor do they handle infectious diseases by trade so I can't hold it against them completely...but, I've always offered up the fact that I do get tested to my parents.

They have always reacted as if I told them I just posed nude for Playgirl.

"Oh, Pete, that's, umm...[painfully long silence]...Well, good for you!"

I suppose it has more to do with the fact that I am essentially admiting to them I'm sexually active and have a reason to be tested. Now don't get me wrong, it doesn't always have to be "big girl sex" that can threaten possible infection. It can be "little girl sex" too! Come on people, you know what I mean!

Anyway, it would be nice of my parents to say, "Thanks for being comfortable enough to share that with us, Pete. We are glad you are safe." They could even throw in a little overly protective parental "and make sure you practice safe sex." and I wouldn't even mind. But to have them react so nervously leads me to believe that perhaps my parents aren't as cool with this whole thing as I had always thought.

Would it be different if my heterosexual brother or sister offered up the same information? I wonder...

Nate-
This has to be the most amazing thing I have read in a while on any blog. I hear you man, i do. It's fantastic the words you chose here and how much this clearly comes from the heart. Seriously, as I am reading this, I just wanna come and give you a hug. And not just for the sake of the hug, but for the sake of closeness and love (yeah, that thing that we all want).