We’ve all had to send a few texts the morning after a party. But the day after his first PrEP+ party in New York City, Frank Ocean felt compelled to issue a whole statement. The event, billed as a recurring queer club night that pays “homage to what could have been of the 1980s’ NYC club scene if the drug [PrEP+] … had been invented in that era,†received criticism for erasing queer history, not being queer-inclusive, and just being hard to get into. But it’s all okay, Frank says! “Club culture around late 70s and 80s nightlife in NYC was a special, much talked about and written about thing,†he writes on Tumblr (where he may be the only one still with an account). “I recognize NY wasn’t all lasers and disco lighting and that simultaneously, there was a lot of crime and poverty and that a huge part of club culture, the gay community, at that time were being wiped out by HIV + AIDS.†As for his decision to name the night after an HIV-prevention drug, Ocean writes, “The pricing strategy behind it is malicious in my opinion and so it’s public perception is marred and rightfully so. But the fact remains that despite price being a very real barrier to this potentially life saving drug for some, the other very real barrier is awareness.â€
At the end of the day, Ocean is “happy that folks are talking about the subject in the first place.†And if you’re a hater, you’re now invited: “I saw someone say that this was a PR stunt etc etc, pshhh bitch pls come get a drink next time and I’ll put several barstools out so you can have as many seats as you need.†See you next week, then?