The reasons relapse occurs are manifold. The reason it lasts is shame. Shame is a defining characteristic within queerness and addiction. The effect of combining them is injurious. The gay community suffers a crisis of shame. Society has long told us that who we are is inherently wrong, that it must be changed or extirpated. We’ve witnessed progress, but this trauma runs deep. Meth functions as a false antidote, seemingly converting shame into pride, permitting men to engage in their sexuality in excess, unlocking a barbaric force that is ultimately detrimental to our well-being. But healing
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