Where I live, there are strict rules as to who is "at risk" enough to qualify for it, and it basically amounts to healthcare professionals, HIV men, or men who have sex with men and have multiple partners. So unless you're a practicing healthcare worker, showing up to the vax site is pretty much an admission that you're a not-straight guy.

There was a journalist taking pictures for a piece his company was doing about the vaccine rollout. I guess he liked my look and the mask i was wearing. He asked if he could take pictures of me getting my vax for his paper.

Just six months ago, i would've said no way (if I'd even have the balls to show up to the appointment in the first place). But today, i said sure, why not? A picture of me - in a mask - getting a monkeypox vaccine may be appearing in a national publication in the coming weeks, published worldwide through the power of the internet...

...and I'm not worried at all!

If anyone I know that i haven't already come out to happens to find it, and recognize me, and has a problem, they can eat a dick!

If seeing a "normal-looking" guy like me getting the mpx vaccine can help convince one on-the-fence guy - who either isn't fully out, or just doesn't take it that seriously - it'll be worth it. And if it doesn't, i really couldn't be bothered to care, because I've finally gotten past the point where I feel any shame or negativity from anyone. Idk, it feels meaningful to me

Get vaxxed, boys