THE ROUGH TRIP BACK TO BOGUSLAND
By Edson Emilio Board Member of Action LGBTQ with Immigrants and Refugees (AGIR), Montreal (Canada)Dorojulio’s friends were all too busy to pay attention to him. Dorojulio is living with multidrug-resistant HIV and the government of Canada decided to return him to a “place where he will not get into any trouble”. Dorojulio didn’t want to run away, to be without status and hide, because he wanted to stay in the vast lands of the North. He also didn’t want to be deported down South. Dorojulio began to look for help. As he looked over the Rainbow that appeared in the sky, he saw a piece of paper falling. The paper was a leaflet of an organization called AGIR, which helps migrants.
The Canadian Border Services Agency claimed, via their outdated crystal ball, that Dorojulio would not be in danger in Mexico. As a result, his friend Totilio is truly disappointed. One Saturday evening, on their way back to their home in Montreal, Dorojulio and Totilio faced a big windy storm: after the one that took place on June 28, 2012, this one was as windy as the one that occurred on December 15th, 2012. This strong storm produced a huge freshly changed immigration law book, flying in the wind, hitting Dorojulio in the head. He lost consciousness and he woke up only to find that he was at the centre of a media tornado, along with Totilio.
Dorojulio and Totilio were swept away from home in the vast lands of the North into a magical, beautiful and dangerous land called POz, were they met Glandy the Good Witch of the North. The witch stated that they are now in one of the several kingdoms of POz called Quebecland located in the land of the Kingdoms of the North. Glandy announced that while landing, Totilio had killed the Wicked Witch of the East, and she was giving Dorojulio the witch’s enchanted ruby runners. Dorojulio explained to Glandy that back home POz was an acronym, abbreviation or slang, that means HIV positive. The witch explained that the Wicked Witch of the East had ruled the land of the little Quebechkins for a long time with her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West. The Quebechkins rejoice that the Wicked Witch of the East was dead and immediately celebrated and organized a National Party.
At first, the Quebechkins were resentful, because they thought that Dorojulio and Totilio had come from the Kingdom of the Witch of the East. Suddenly, the evil sister of the Wicked Witch of the East arrived from the Kingdom of Ottawaland. The Wicked Witch of the West was furious when she realized that her sister was dead and that, Dorojulio, thanks to Glandy, now wore the sister’s enchanted ruby runners.
Glandy told Dorojulio and Totilio that POz was divided into three main territories: the Kingdoms of the North composed of ten kingdoms and three territories, the hostile Usaland and the southern and dangerous Bogusland. If they wanted to reenter their home in the vast lands of the North and claim asylum again, they have to follow the difficult path called law C-31, in order to go to see the Wizard of POz. The Wizard of POz lived in a huge territory in the center of Bogusland called Mexmerald city and who have the power to grant them visas to return home.
So, Dorojulio and Totilio left the territory of Quebecland and began their trek south towards the centre of Bogusland and ultimately – Mexmerald city. On their way to Mexmerald city to meet the Wizard of POz, just a few kilometers from the Usaland border, they encountered a fetichist threesome who identified themselves as the Scary Rubber Guy, the Leather Man and the Cowardly Bear. They were all boguslanders living with multidrug-resistant HIV as Dorojulio. They were sick and wished for specific brands of Antiretroviral Medications – Darunavir, Raltegravir and Maraviroc respectively. While crossing the border between Usaland and Bogusland, Dorojulio realized that he only had a single magical dosage of his medication.
Dorojulio and Totilio expressed to the threesome that they were going to meet the Wizard of POz so that they could ask to reenter the Kingdoms of the North. The Cowardly Bear explained to them that they were waiting for the right moment to cross the border to Usaland. There, they could access Antiretroviral Medications, but they needed a visa to get into the hostile Usaland. They didn’t have visas, so they were going to enter that territory illegally. Totilio encouraged the threesome to join him and Dorojulio so that they could all demand from the Wizard of POz access to their medication, which would be part of their magical Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART).
The threesome accepted Totilio’s kindly invitation to join them. So all together, they continued following the difficult path of law C-31 to go to see the Wizard of POz. Tragically, they were all surveilled by the Wicked Witch of the West. The Witch wanted to stop the group from entering the Wizard’s castle to meet the ruler of POz, who had the power to return Dorojulio and Totilio back home. The witch faced them and started to tell lies to convince Dorojulio and Totilio to stay; she told all of them that they shouldn’t leave Bogusland, since they all had universal access to HIV/AIDS medications. She also offered Dorojulio a monthly supply of a new magical regime, a different mix of antiretrovirals, all of them first generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs) – with the intention of poisoning him.
Dorojulio didn’t realize that in the Witch therapy there were several antiretrovirals that he had taken before, which he had developed resistance and intolerance to. Dorojulio used the Witch’s medication and a few days later, he got sick. He had developed resistance to one of the components of the Witch’s regime. Totilio assumed by the symptoms that Dorojulio was sick and immediately tried to get him his last magical dosage of medication prescribed by Dorojulio’s Good Mother Marina. Dorojulio’s Good Mother’s prescribed therapy, which he had been on for the last 2 years, consisted of two classes of antiretroviral: three-antiretroviral Protease Inhibitors (PIs) including Ritonavir, Atazanavir, Darunavir and Truvada, which is an antiretroviral Nucleoside analog Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI).
All of a sudden, Glandy, the Good Witch of the North arrived. She immediately intervened and stopped Totilio from giving Dorojulio his last current therapy dosage. She informed them that there was no need for medication because the enchanted HIV Cure Ruby Runners protected him. Dorojulio was actually sick as a consequence of the secondary effects of the enchanted Ruby Runners, as they were fighting the multidrug-resistant HIV virus.
Dorojulio recovered and everyone finally arrived at the border of Mexmerald city. Several guards protected the border pass. Totilio pleaded with the guards, telling them that Dorojulio was really sick and in need of urgent medical attention. The group crossed the border and on their way to the castle of the Wizard of POz, the Leather Man informed everyone that the Wicked Witch of the West had a team of Sorcerers and Sorceresses settled in Bogusland, which developed a draconian witchcraft Guide to Antiretroviral Treatment for boguslanders living with HIV and AIDS. The Leather man continued explaining that if Dorojulio looses the Ruby Runners and doesn’t go back home, his life will be in peril because the Guide clearly states that Dorojulio’s current therapy is not viable, is ineffective and is highly toxic.
The Guide outright disapproved the co-administering of Ritonavir, sold under the brand name Norvir, with two other antiretroviral protease inhibitors (PIs). Furthermore, he said that the Guide stated that due to a cost-benefit analysis, all Good Mothers are obligated scrutinize any therapy of Raltegravir, Darunavir or Maraviroc for boguslanders with a multidrug-resistant (MDR) virus.
Also, the Leather Man said that in a 2009 study of viral resistance showed that of those boguslanders, whose medical records were provided, 75% of their therapies were incorrect and that, in most cases, the therapies recommended by the Chief Sorcerer in Bogusland were cheaper alternatives for the boguslanders. He told them that the Chief Executive Sorcerer faced difficulties ensuring that Good Mothers prescribed the right antiretroviral medication and was required to take the proper measures to ensure that all Good Mothers comply with the Guide to Antiretroviral Treatment for boguslanders living with HIV – because out of over 200 Good Mothers, half of them wrongfully prescribed the antiretroviral medication.
Also the Chief Executive Sorcerer stated that the Chief Sorcerer in Bogusland made a mistake while threatening the Chief Good Mothers that managed the HIV/AIDS prevention and control program in different boroughs in Bogusland. The Chief Sorcerer sent the threat to stop supplying antiretroviral medication due to the fact that they haven’t followed the guidelines in place regarding the usage of public funds.
The Scary Rubber Guy told Dorojulio and Totilio that if they didn’t go back to home in Canada, it would be almost impossible to get Dorojulio’s prescribed medication called Darunavir and difficult to get it prescribed by a Good Mother from Bogusland. The Scary Rubber Guy told Dorojulio that he read an article from Mexmerald city, which raised awareness of the probability of having a huge shortage of antiretroviral medication in Bogusland in 2013. The Chief Sorcerer was worried about the rise of the cost of Antiretrovirals and blamed the Good Mothers, who prescribed expensive non-necessary medication.
The Scary Rubber Guy told Dorojulio and Totilio that out of the 48,378 boguslanders living with HIV registered in the 2012 database, only 1.34 % of boguslanders were prescribed Darunavir. The Scary Rubber Guy said that, from the year 1983 to the year 2012, there were 89,879 (56.38%) registered AIDS-related deaths in Bogusland.
Totilio estimated that, in 2012, out of 48,378 boguslanders living with HIV, around 12,602 of these boguslanders could have multi-drug resistant HIV and that only 1,700 boguslanders (13.48%) of them were prescribed highly efficient antiretrovirals to treat multidrug resistant HIV.
Dorojulio and Totilio told their new friends that things in POz were both scary and beautiful. But even though POz was a magical, beautiful land, they just wanted to get back home to Canada, where Dorojulio would have universal access to HIV/AIDS medications. The travelers finally arrived to Mexmerald city, visited the palace of the wizard of Oz and were greeted by both the doorkeeper and coachman. Dorojulio and the Cowardly Bear got makeovers while Scary Rubber Guy got his rubber silicon polished and the Leather Man had his black combat boots polished.
Finally the Wizard’s guard got them in to see the Wizard of POz. The Scary Rubber Guy repeated to the Wizard all the facts regarding the Guide. The Cowardly Bear stated that on August 13, 2011, the Chief sorcerer’s office suddenly, and without any advance notice to boguslanders, closed for a week all the institutions that treated boguslanders living with HIV. When they re-opened, the Chief sorcerer’s office didn’t explain the reopening of its institutions. Totilio believed that the government of Bogusland was systematically denying treatment for boguslanders with multidrug-resistant (MDR) virus, more evidence of the widespread problems of access to treatment for HIV/AIDS.
The Wizard of POz uttered that although some evidence demonstrated cases of discriminatory treatment, the preponderance of the evidence was that the government is providing treatment to people with HIV/AIDS and is combating its spread amongst the Bogusland population.
Later in the day, the Wizard of POz told them that he will grant their wishes – if they did one thing – go to the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle and bring him the Wicked Witch of the West’s broomstick and the Chief Sorcerer’s draconian witchcraft Guide to Antiretroviral Treatment for boguslanders living HIV to destroy it. Daunted but determined, they set off again.
On their way to the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle in Bogusland, the flying Junkies working for the chief sorcerer ambushed them, and kidnapped Dorojulio and Totilio while the others scattered. In the castle, the Chief Sorcerer and the Wicked Witch of the West blackmailed Dorojulio, threatening to sting Totilio with HIV-infected needles if he does not give her the Ruby Red runners. After Dorojulio agreed, the witch realized that the Ruby runners couldn’t be taken off Dorojulio’s feet until he died. The Chief Sorcerer cast a spell on Dorojulio, so that we would die. The witch set her hourglass and stated that he would die when it ran out.
Totilio escaped and asked for the help of their new friends who had snuck into the castle by subjugating the slim Twinkies guards, and tying them up with rope. The threesome wore the Twinkies uniforms, which consisted of white sexy tied briefs and a harness. The Witch discovered the threesome and as revenge, the witch set their fetish gear and their collection of instruments on fire. In order to try and stop the fire, Dorojulio peed on the fetish gear and instruments, but splashed the witch by accident. The Witch suddenly started melting! The Twinkies guards were happy and free and rewarded Dorojulio by giving him the Witch’s broomstick.
Dorojulio and friends went back to Mexmerald City and faced the Wizard of POz. The Wizard wasn’t delighted to see them again and still refused to grant their wishes, until Totilio found a way to reveal his true identity by pulling aside a curtain. Totilio revealed that the Wizard of POz was not a powerful master, but an old bitchy Drag Queen pulling levers and speaking into a phallic microphone. The Scary Rubber Guy shouted out loud “YOU ARE BOGUS!”. Embarrassed and exposed, the so-called Wizard gave the threesome their respective life regime of antiviral medications – Darunavir, Raltegravir and Maraviroc. Then he revealed that like Dorojulio and Totilio he’s from the vast lands of the North himself and came to POz to escape the current Zerophobia. He invited Dorojulio and Totilio to get home in a poppers acid-filled hot air balloon. The Leather Man, the Scary Rubber Guy and the Cowardly Bear were appointed council of POz.
Totilio asked the new council of POz for the resignation of the Chief Sorcerer of Bogusland, due to the fact that he had restricted access to antiretroviral medication and that his program was intended to limit the supply of medication to Bogusland health institutions. The threesome granted the request and the Chief Sorcerer resigned.
Unfortunately, Dorojulio and Totilio couldn’t go home in the poppers acid-fumes balloon, due to Totilio’s allergy to poppers. Suddenly, Glandy arrived and told them that the Ruby Red Runners would get them home. After saying his goodbyes, Dorojulio clicked his heels three times and woke up. He was back home and realized that his visit to POz was simply a dream and that “There’s no place like home”.
Glossary
From Julio’s Real life
AGIR = Action LGBTQ with Immigrants and Refugees (AGIR), Montreal (Canada)
Multidrug-resistant HIV = Patient resistance to one or various antiretroviral agents (ARVs) or to one or more classes of ARVs to treat patients living with HIV.
Outdated crystal ball = Fictive name for the National Documentation Package, Mexico, regarding people living with HIV not updated since 2008. (HIV reports on Mexico). Document used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Canadian Border Services Agency to take decisions.
Storms: Fictive name for the days were the amendement and the implementation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, the Marine Transportation Security Act and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act. Bill-C31 was assented on June 28, 2012 and came into force on December 15, 2012.
Vast lands of the North and home = Fictive name for Canada
From the magical land called POz
Bogusland = Fictive name for the Republic of Mexico called that way by the author, due to the fact that M. Jason Kenny has made statements regarding Mexican refugees seekers calling them Bogus Refugees.
Boguslanders = Fictive name for Mexicans, Mexico called that way by the author
Dorojulio = Fictive name for Julio Cesar composed with the name “Dorothy” a character from the wizard of OZ
Glandy the Good Witch of the North = Fictive name for “Glinda” the Good Witch of the North a character from the wizard of OZ
Good Mothers = Doctors
Draconian witchcraft Guide to Antiretroviral Treatment for boguslanders living HIV = Fictive name for the Mexican Guide to Antiretroviral Treatment for People Living with HIV
Habitants in the Kingdom of the North = Canadians
Mexmerald city = Fictive name for Mexico City
Nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) =One of the six classes of antiretroviral agents (ARVs) to treat patients living with HIV
Ottawaland = One of the 13 Kingdoms of the North
POz = Fictive name for Oz composed with the acronym, abbreviation or slang “POZ “ that means HIV positive.
Protease inhibitors (PIs) =One of the six classes of antiretroviral agents (ARVs) to treat patients living with HIV
Quebecland = One of the 13 Kingdoms of the North.
Sorcerers and Sorceresses from the National Committee on Antiretrovirals Resistance in Bogusland = Fictive name for the Mexican National Committee on Antiretrovirals Resistance (CORESAR). Medical experts that produce the Mexican Guide to Antiretroviral Treatment for People Living with HIV
The Chief Executive Sorcerer = Fictive name for the Undersecretary of Prevention and Promotion of Health which is part of the structure of the Mexican Health Secretariat (Secretaría de Salud) (SSA).
The Chief Sorcerer = Fictive name for the Chief executive officer of the Mexican National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS (CENSIDA) (Centro Nacional para la Prevención y Control del SIDA (CENSIDA)
The Kingdoms of the North of POz= One of the three territories of POz composed by 13 kingdoms.
The Wizard of POz = Fictive name for the Canadian Federal Immigration ambassador on the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City.
Totilio = Fictive name of the author (Edson Emilio) of this article composed with the name Toto a character from the wizard of OZ
Twinkies = Fictive name for the Gay sub-culture group that is used instead the composed with the name the “Winkies” characters from the wizard of OZ
Usaland = Fictive name for the United States of America
. The Leather man continued explaining that if Dorojulio doesn’t go back home, his life will be in peril because the Guide clearly states that Dorojulio’s new medicine regimen is not viable, is ineffective and is highly toxici
. Furthermore, he said that the Guide stated that due to a cost-benefit analysis, all Good Mothers are obligated scrutinize any medicine regime of Raltegravir, Darunavir or Maraviroc for boguslanders with a multidrug-resistant (MDR) virus.
and that, in most cases, the regimes recommended by the Chief Sorcerer in Bogusland were cheaper alternatives for the boguslanders.
. The article stated that the Chief Sorcerer was required to take the proper measures to ensure that all Good Mothers comply with the Guide to Antiretroviral Treatment for boguslanders living with HIV, because from the total of 243 Good Mothers half of them wrongfully prescribed the ARV’s medication.
boguslanders living with HIV registered in Bogusland’s 2012 database, only 1,700 of them (3.51%) were prescribed highly efficient ARVs for multidrug-resistant HIV Ritonavir-boosted Darunavir, Raltegravir and Etravirina, which since 2008 had successfully treated habitants, in the Kingdoms of the North and Usaland, living with multidrug-resistant (MDR) virus.