'LOOKING'
A couple of days ago, I accidentally stumbled upon a show while browsing HBO called Looking, a miniseries from about 10 years ago about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco.
Honestly, after a few episodes, I found it pretty boring and a bit pretentious. But that wasn’t even the part that bothered me the most. There’s a scene where two guys have sex and then ask each other if they have any STIs. One of them says, “I don’t have AIDS,” and the other responds with something like, “Thank God!”
I found that exchange so inappropriate and uncomfortable. It really made me think about how HIV stigma and the shame surrounding it are still perpetuated, sometimes even within the LGBTQ+ community itself. I understand that the show is a product of its time, and I’m not expecting every character to be perfectly educated or politically correct. But the way that scene was written and played out felt particularly insensitive.
Am I overthinking this, or did anyone else find that scene problematic? I’m curious how people who watched the show when it originally aired feel about it today, especially considering how much HIV prevention, treatment, and public awareness have evolved over the years.