Hostile Words From a Nasty Pig...an Invitation, Too

Last week I wrote about an AIDS group that wants the government to stop Pfizer from marketing Viagra. My argument is simple: people must be held accountable for their actions. To go after Pfizer is ridiculous because it opens up a Pandora's Box of targets for people who don't know how to control themselves. You can start blaming anything from HBO to a clothing line called Nasty Pig for the rise of HIV cases -- so where would the recrimination end?

Well, David Lauterstein, CEO of Nasty Pig, doesn't like my thinking. So offended was he at the sight of his company's name within three words of the letters HIV and AIDS on my blog that he failed to see my point: that neither his clothing line nor Pfizer should be held responsible for the results of people's behavior.

Mr. Lauterstein called me out on his blog yesterday and made me the first inductee to his annual Hall of Shame for my "limited" and "moronic" point of view. I'm in some stellar company -- the image above comes from his blog -- and I find it laughable.

Nasty Pig is in the business of pedaling sex and the fantasy of wild, reckless behavior. And more power to them! But if I throw on a pair of their chaps and get into some wild, unprotected behavior to fulfill my fantasy, I can't go knocking on Mr. Lauterstein's door to tell him that his product and the lifestyle it promotes just gave me a deadly disease.

But of course, Mr. Lauterstein, who probably agrees with me and ponders what role his company has in the global AIDS epidemic, can't see that I'm defending his capitalist right to sell and goes on to shoot himself in the foot by saying:

If this guy [GCL] had done his research he would know that Nasty Pig publicly promotes a positive responsible view of gay sexuality while respecting personal choice. He might have read my interview in Instigator Magazine where I discuss my decision to stay negative. He might have asked around and found out that I love having incredible sex with my positive brothers.
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Well, I don't subscribe to Instigator Magazine and oddly enough I wouldn't even know who to ask about whom Mr. Lauterstein is sleeping with. But I will read between the lines in his quote and translate:

"...respecting personal choice"-- Barebacking is fine by me
"...I love having incredible sex with my positive brothers"-- HIV isn't the worst thing that can happen to you.

With these pearls of wisdom just floating on a clothing line's blog I am AMAZED that the Board of Health hasn't availed itself of Mr. Lauterstein's unique, insightful opinions on sex and disease.

But Mr. Lauterstein is no punk -- he has enough sense to do a Google Blog Search for his company and that's how he found my blog. I appreciate his comments and his correcting me on the fact that his company has been around since the 90s. Mazel tov!

And I also appreciate his invitation for us to meet "man to man." So Mr. Lauterstein, if you're reading this, I accept your invitation for us to meet. I have some questions for you and I'm sure you have some questions for me. I'm not "coming after Nasty Pig" as you say on your blog, but you've opened the door for what I hope can be a frank and productive debate on the issues that affect our community.

Are you man enough?