We spoke to Daniel about migrating to Australia from Brazil, finding community and getting his first HIV and STI test.
My name is Daniel (he/him). I am originally from Brazil and just turned 30. I came to Australia in 2017.
This is my experience coming to Australia, finding my tribe here and accessing sexual health services.
What are the main differences in sexual health between Australia and Brazil?
The big difference is PrEP. It’s more common for people to be on PrEP here. You can see it on dating apps, and there’s more information about PrEP.
What about hookup culture and the kind of sex that people have?
It can be similar. We both love a lot of [physical] contact. But here, they are more sex positive and often use dating apps. Back home, especially in the capital Brasília, meeting people in person and hooking up at parties is more common.
Did you know a lot about HIV prevention before you came?
When I first came to Australia, I didn’t know about HIV prevention. This was not a big thing in my country. I did get tested for HIV in Brazil, but it was at a hospital.
I got my first HIV and STI test in Australia when the guy I was dating told me he had syphilis. It was a big shock. I didn’t know a lot about syphilis at the time. I was afraid. We went to the clinic together. The doctor there told me about the treatment, using PrEP as HIV prevention and getting tested for HIV and STIs every three months. And it was free!
This calmed my nerves a lot.
After that, I continued to learn more about sexual health and felt more comfortable going for a test.
How do you take care of your sexual health now?
Getting tested for HIV and STIs works for me. I usually go to the clinic every three months to get tested. I can access testing for free with no judgment.
I also protect myself from HIV and STIs using condoms.
How do you maintain your cultural and family values while away from home?
So, I maintain my culture through my connections with the Brazilian community here. We hang out often, have meals together and try to keep our culture alive.
In Brazil, we celebrate many holidays. In June, we have a famous party called Junina. It’s a festival of farming and harvest, and we celebrate it here as well.
When I came to Australia, I was by myself, staying in a student house. There, I made a Brazilian friend. From there, I met more people at school and work and built my community.
Today, I have many Brazilian, South American, and Aussie friends. We often go out together and party.
How do you balance being gay and maintaining your cultural values?
In Brazil, it wasn’t easy being a gay person. It was less open, and there was a risk of violence. Coming here, I feel more comfortable, and I have a community that I can get support from.
What advice would you give to someone who’s just moving to Australia as a gay migrant?
As a migrant in Australia, try to make friends. For me, this involved going out and talking to new people. This is also how I found out about the sexual health service I now go to.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
We thank Daniel for sharing his story! You can find a service for an HIV and STI test near you using our map.
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