Nathan Felk: HIV Private Social Campout and Living With HIV

We discovered Nathan Felk's MySpace efforts as a HIV+ man from the Fort Wayne, Indiana area and have been wanting to interview him for some time to discuss his story and what he's doing to make life better for those already affected by HIV/AIDS. We felt during this campaign would be perfect. Here is Nathan's story and more about his efforts called HIV Private Social Campout:

Bambi Weavil: How did you discover you were HIV+? How old were you?

Nathan Felk: For 15 years, I had unprotected anal and oral sex at bath houses, adult bookstores, and met guys off the internet. I always heard about STDs like Herpes, Syphilis, anal warts, and HIV but never thought I could get them. I would sometimes sleep at the adult bookstore for 14 hours waiting for guys to come in and have sex with me! I developed a rash on my hands and feet and was told I was positive for Secondary Syphilis. It was then recommended that I get a HIV test done! Since I was tested HIV negative in 1997, I thought I should be fine. My doctor set up an appointment to see me after my HIV test. He came into the room and told me my test came back positive for HIV and reassured me that if I stay healthy and follow my doctors advice, I should be ok! He offered the phone number to the local AIDS task force to seek assistance! Being told you have HIV felt like you are being raped and suffocated and it is like a bug that won't get off you! Finding Bicillian LA to kill the Syphilis was a challenge since not every drug store carried it and I had to go to larger city health department for four series of shots in each backside cheek. I was 34 when I was told I have Syphilis and HIV.

BW: Since you're from the Northern Indiana area - how is AIDS viewed in that area?

NF: Many in this area hear about Africa and think it is just a gay disease. Lots of people forget men, women, gay, and straight can get HIV. Many think they are invincible and HIV could never happen to them. I know of several HIV positive people that have been fired from their job not because of HIV but the employer will find other reasons to fire them. Many in this area treat you like it is a plague and some have told me it is "God's way of punishing you for being gay." One person told me it is "like the Scarlet Letter." Many in this area like to gossip and that is why most HIV positive people stay in seclusion.

BW: How is it perceived to be gay in the Fort Wayne area? Is it "okay" to be out?

NF: In Fort Wayne, Indiana there is a law for same sex and equal rights for people that are gay, lesbian, or transgender. Since there is a law to protect discrimination then there aren't as many problems like in the workplace because people are out about their status. But in surrounding counties, gay people tend to be more closeted and the laws don't protect gay people from getting fired because Indiana is a "right to work" state and can fire you if they don't like your hair style that day!

BW: What do you feel is the biggest misconception of the world regarding AIDS?

NF: Most people aren't educated well enough on HIV and AIDS. I thought you had to be skinny or lose a lot of weight to be HIV positive! I was wrong! People hear so much about Africa and the RED Campaign but because of the new medications and medical advances, some people believe if you get HIV than you just take a pill and you are fine! What they don't realize is there is side effects from the meds and you must take the meds at the same time daily. HIV meds can be toxic and hurt the liver over time. Thirty pills of HIV Atripla cost $1,400 at Walgreens. HIV can become drug resistant and just because you are HIV positive does not mean you can have sex with another HIV positive unprotected person and be fine! Just like Cancer, there are different cancers and so there are also different strains of HIV. If you catch other persons HIV strain, your meds could stop working!

BW: Please tell us more about HIV Private Social Campout. Are you becoming a non-profit? What is your mission and why did you create it?

NF: I made a friend in Chicago and we met at the local Starbucks and I told him I was depressed about being HIV positive and was lonely! I told him about my work and how I take care patients and they respect me! He said, 'why not take what you do at work and apply it to your entire life?' He said that I could paint or write a blog, and people would respect me not by what I say but "wowed" by what I do! I wanted to connect with HIV positive people so I felt camping was a way to get away from everyday life and allow you to be yourself! I now have four MySpace accounts with over 5,000 friends and over 10,000 hits. I have created a buzz in the HIV positive community. My sites are designed to be upbeat and a place where people would want to hang out in! I want more done for HIV positive people as in events and social gatherings and meanwhile slowly erasing the stigma of HIV.

BW: Are you working with any sponsors to help make this a growing reality?

NF: If I can get any sponsors that share the same vision then I am all for it! I can't do this alone and know from the daily e-mails I get that there is a huge need! I created this because I was tired of being alone and the stigma of HIV is still out there! I figure I don't have anything to lose but so much to gain! My vision is to have several campgrounds throughout the United States that would allow HIV positive people to meet and socialize for little to no cost! Right now I do this from my home computer and high speed internet! Some people think I am an organization or have a staff! HIV MySpace is growing because it is a place where people want to go and be themselves!

BW: Please tell us more about the upcoming HIV Social Campout 2008 plans!

NF: People that went to the Michigan Campout loved it so much that we have decided to make a five state camping tour in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida to raise awareness of HIV and to let people know you can still live, work, and play even if you are HIV positive! I have gained support from porn stars, exotic dancers, and entertainment actors on MySpace. Right now I use gay campgrounds and even look at the smallest detail as to the nearest hospital in case of an emergency. I want only the best for my friends!

BW: How can people contact you to find out more information and help your organization out?

NF: They can go to my public MySpace and contact me through MySpace e-mail! I post information about the campouts in my blogs and lend my support for anything that is going to better the lives of HIV positive people! I even advertised for a positive friend that is a travel agent to host a HIV cruise out of Miami, Florida next October 2008. My public MySpace site address is www.myspace.com/hiv_campground_project and private site is www.myspace.com/hiv_poz_campout.

BW: Thank you Nathan for your time and being so dedicated to helping others with HIV and doing something very positive in the community! We support Nathan's efforts and we hope you will too. Please visit and be a friend of Nathan's at: www.myspace.com/hiv_campground_project.




	Nathan Felk: HIV Private Social Campout and Living With HIV We discovered Nathan Felk's MySpace efforts as a HIV+ man from the Fort Wayne, Indiana area and have been wanting to interview him for some time to discuss his story and what he's doing to make life better for those already affected by HIV/AIDS. We felt during this campaign would be perfect. Here is Nathan's story and more about his efforts called HIV Private Social Campout: Bambi Weavil: How did you discover you were HIV+? How old were you? Nathan Felk: For 15 years, I had unprotected anal and oral sex at bath houses, adult bookstores, and met guys off the internet. I always heard about STDs like Herpes, Syphilis, anal warts, and HIV but never thought I could get them. I would sometimes sleep at the adult bookstore for 14 hours waiting for guys to come in and have sex with me! I developed a rash on my hands and feet and was told I was positive for Secondary Syphilis. It was then recommended that I get a HIV test done! Since I was tested HIV negative in 1997, I thought I should be fine. My doctor set up an appointment to see me after my HIV test. He came into the room and told me my test came back positive for HIV and reassured me that if I stay healthy and follow my doctors advice, I should be ok! He offered the phone number to the local AIDS task force to seek assistance! Being told you have HIV felt like you are being raped and suffocated and it is like a bug that won't get off you! Finding Bicillian LA to kill the Syphilis was a challenge since not every drug store carried it and I had to go to larger city health department for four series of shots in each backside cheek. I was 34 when I was told I have Syphilis and HIV. BW: Since you're from the Northern Indiana area - how is AIDS viewed in that area? NF: Many in this area hear about Africa and think it is just a gay disease. Lots of people forget men, women, gay, and straight can get HIV. Many think they are invincible and HIV could never happen to them. I know of several HIV positive people that have been fired from their job not because of HIV but the employer will find other reasons to fire them. Many in this area treat you like it is a plague and some have told me it is "God's way of punishing you for being gay." One person told me it is "like the Scarlet Letter." Many in this area like to gossip and that is why most HIV positive people stay in seclusion. BW: How is it perceived to be gay in the Fort Wayne area? Is it "okay" to be out? NF: In Fort Wayne, Indiana there is a law for same sex and equal rights for people that are gay, lesbian, or transgender. Since there is a law to protect discrimination then there aren't as many problems like in the workplace because people are out about their status. But in surrounding counties, gay people tend to be more closeted and the laws don't protect gay people from getting fired because Indiana is a "right to work" state and can fire you if they don't like your hair style that day! BW: What do you feel is the biggest misconception of the world regarding AIDS? NF: Most people aren't educated well enough on HIV and AIDS. I thought you had to be skinny or lose a lot of weight to be HIV positive! I was wrong! People hear so much about Africa and the RED Campaign but because of the new medications and medical advances, some people believe if you get HIV than you just take a pill and you are fine! What they don't realize is there is side effects from the meds and you must take the meds at the same time daily. HIV meds can be toxic and hurt the liver over time. Thirty pills of HIV Atripla cost $1,400 at Walgreens. HIV can become drug resistant and just because you are HIV positive does not mean you can have sex with another HIV positive unprotected person and be fine! Just like Cancer, there are different cancers and so there are also different strains of HIV. If you catch other persons HIV strain, your meds could stop working! BW: Please tell us more about HIV Private Social Campout. Are you becoming a non-profit? What is your mission and why did you create it? NF: I made a friend in Chicago and we met at the local Starbucks and I told him I was depressed about being HIV positive and was lonely! I told him about my work and how I take care patients and they respect me! He said, 'why not take what you do at work and apply it to your entire life?' He said that I could paint or write a blog, and people would respect me not by what I say but "wowed" by what I do! I wanted to connect with HIV positive people so I felt camping was a way to get away from everyday life and allow you to be yourself! I now have four MySpace accounts with over 5,000 friends and over 10,000 hits. I have created a buzz in the HIV positive community. My sites are designed to be upbeat and a place where people would want to hang out in! I want more done for HIV positive people as in events and social gatherings and meanwhile slowly erasing the stigma of HIV. BW: Are you working with any sponsors to help make this a growing reality? NF: If I can get any sponsors that share the same vision then I am all for it! I can't do this alone and know from the daily e-mails I get that there is a huge need! I created this because I was tired of being alone and the stigma of HIV is still out there! I figure I don't have anything to lose but so much to gain! My vision is to have several campgrounds throughout the United States that would allow HIV positive people to meet and socialize for little to no cost! Right now I do this from my home computer and high speed internet! Some people think I am an organization or have a staff! HIV MySpace is growing because it is a place where people want to go and be themselves! BW: Please tell us more about the upcoming HIV Social Campout 2008 plans! NF: People that went to the Michigan Campout loved it so much that we have decided to make a five state camping tour in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida to raise awareness of HIV and to let people know you can still live, work, and play even if you are HIV positive! I have gained support from porn stars, exotic dancers, and entertainment actors on MySpace. Right now I use gay campgrounds and even look at the smallest detail as to the nearest hospital in case of an emergency. I want only the best for my friends! BW: How can people contact you to find out more information and help your organization out? NF: They can go to my public MySpace and contact me through MySpace e-mail! I post information about the campouts in my blogs and lend my support for anything that is going to better the lives of HIV positive people! I even advertised for a positive friend that is a travel agent to host a HIV cruise out of Miami, Florida next October 2008. My public MySpace site address is www.myspace.com/hiv_campground_project and private site is www.myspace.com/hiv_poz_campout. BW: Thank you Nathan for your time and being so dedicated to helping others with HIV and doing something very positive in the community! We support Nathan's efforts and we hope you will too. Please visit and be a friend of Nathan's at: www.myspace.com/hiv_campground_project.			Meet Dillon, our special friend affected by HIV Ashley Judd, Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS YouthAIDS Global Ambassador, Ashley Judd's Asia Diary * Every day, 14,000 people contract HIV * 40.3 million people now live with HIV * AIDS kills one child every minute Featured Performer Raising Awareness for AIDS: Annie Lennox The Concept Behind "Sing": More Videos Please purchase "Sing" by clicking here Annie's Call to Action: More Videos Please purchase "Sing" by clicking here

	In Loving Memory - Some of Those We Lost to AIDS: Steven Bates, Bob Bendorff, Doug Boar, Joey Brunneti, Jay Burwick, Ray Coe, Keith Dodge, Doug Ermet, Gary Falardeau, Mark Fotopoulos, Jim Franks, Bill Graham, Jeffrey Grover, Jim Hankins, Frank Harper, Mike Hendricks, Frank Jackson, Jay Jackson, Pat London, Terence Maguire, John McLeod, Terry Peterson, Ron Pierson, Mark Pritchett, Steve Prokasky, John Richmond, Bill Robles, Steve Roher, Kenny Sasha, Jack Simmons, Randy Smith, Ted Smith, Jeffery Vogt...