Yves Niyonkuru is a lanky 30-year-old Burundian who speaks easily about his life as a gay man in a society that has little tolerance for homosexuality. He told IRIN/PlusNews about his experiences since coming out of the closet.
"When I was 18 I told my mother that I was gay. She was very supportive, probably because she has a brother who is a cross-dressing gay man herself - he lives in Brussels now, because he couldn't be himself here. To be honest I doubt she was surprised; I used to wear eye-liner when I was a teenager.
"She has been the greatest support to me; judgement starts outside the home. I was kicked out of high school because of my sexuality, and never went back to school, which has made finding a job very hard. Occasionally I have been abused in the streets and even once I was beaten for nothing. People always point and talk about me in the street.
"I have had a few sexual partners; I lived with one man for many years but then he left Burundi and went to his home country. I knew about HIV, but sex was better without a condom so I rarely used one. Besides, our knowledge was limited; until recently, I had never even heard of water-based lubricants.
"In 2003, I started to fall ill; doctors sent me for an HIV test. When I went back for the results, the nurse told me I was HIV-negative, but then they called me back the next day and the doctor told me I was actually positive - I think the nurse didn't know how to tell me I had HIV.
"I started taking ARVs in 2004, and I've been lucky because I have had no side-effects. They have given me a good appetite; when I was first diagnosed I weighed 50 kilos, which is so little for someone like me [Niyonkuru is 1.98 m]. Now I weigh 67 kilos.
"Since I found out my HIV status I have never had sex. I am not secretive about it; everyone who knows me knows it. People still approach me - as you can see, I'm a good looking man. Many people want to have sex using a condom and lubricant, but I can't take the risk - I would feel like I'm killing them.
"Of course sometimes I'm tempted, but the voice in my head won't let me do it. Perhaps one day I'll meet an HIV-positive guy whom I can have a relationship with, but until then I'll remain on my own."
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions