Luis: Stuck at home, and other intense changes...
Introduction:
Luis is a 27 year-old gay Peruvian living in the United States. He is studying to become a physician, and was kicked out of school and forced to study at home when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Given public safety guidelines, he's been mostly stuck at home. As he is a medical student, he feels that this experience will help prepare him for any future global pandemic. On the other hand, Luis notes in his interview that he is still human, citing his fears and frustrations. Before the pandemic, Luis would spend time with his friends on weekdays and spend time at clubs on weekends. It sucks, he says, that he can't really go out and meet guys anymore. And yet, the sexual encounters he HAS had this year have been more intense, owing to the pent up energy being passionately expended. Luis recognizes that there is always a chance his partner may be infected and not know it, but admits that we all eventually need some release, especially since we can't be as free as we are accustomed to being. Being stuck at home has affected Luis' life significantly.
Notable Quotes:
DO YOU FEEL LIKE BEING A MEDICAL STUDENT HAS GIVEN YOU A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE ON THIS PANDEMIC?
“Yes, and no. Yes, in the fact that, in case we live through another world pandemic... ...I feel like I'm going to be more informed, more prepared on my own. But also no, because of the fact that, I'm just like any other human... ...I'm gonna be initially freaked out a little, because like I'm, I'm going to be looking out after my personal life... ...Am I really gonna wanna go into a hospital that may be filled with the agent that is causing all these deaths?... ...[But] this is what I have to do.”
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR SEX LIFE?
“It's definitely affected. I mean, it's, I don't really go out and meet guys as much, as I used to before. So, so that part sucks, as you know.”
“Initially, I was kinda frightened to, to you know, go out and meet other people, because I don't know where you've been, and this and that.”
“[But after chatting awhile], it's like, you know what, why not? He needs his release.”
“There's still that whole, how do I say, there's still that whole chance, that they may have contracted the virus, but they may not be aware.”
HAVE YOUR SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS, THEMSELVES, CHANGED IN ANY WAY?
“You have like all this pent up energy, from, that's been like, suppressed. And then, you meet with somebody, and then you're feeling each other, and then it's kind of like, more intense, per say. Because of the fact that we haven't been as, free, to you know, go and do our things, as we used to before.”