Living with HIV in the Post-Activist Era

HIV treatment has come a long way since the early 1980s, when AIDS was more prominently a sure killer. Today, a person can live a long and healthy life with the proper medication. However, as highlighted in a recent New York Times article, a new type of struggle has arisen for many HIV-positive activists in the United States—the struggle to live healthy lives in a post-activism era.

A “HONEY BOO BOO” STAR REVEALS HIS HIV DIAGNOSIS – Should you go to jail for not disclosing your HIV status?

Last week, “Uncle Poodle” (Lee Thompson) from the TLC show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” revealed that he was diagnosed with HIV. By sharing his story, Lee hopes to use his reality TV fame to combat bullying in schools and to advocate safe sex. While it’s refreshing to see a star from a silly show about toddler beauty pageants focus on such a serious (and worthwhile) subject, perhaps one of the most interesting details about Thompson’s revelation is that he decided to press charges against his ex-boyfriend, who infected him.

World AIDS Day: An Open Letter About My HIV Status to My Future Grown-Up Son

This post was originally published in the Altarum Health Policy Forum

To my beautiful son –

It’s hard to know how to start this letter, but I find myself needing to write to you on this World AIDS Day about my having HIV. Right now in 2012, you are only 3 years old and much too young to understand what it means for your mom to be living with HIV . . .

World AIDS Day 2012

Peer Education: Negotiating Healthy Sex in a Social Setting

In the world of sex ed, peer education is on the rise.  Especially in terms of HIV, peer education has been used in various groups around the world as a public health intervention.  While it is receiving more attention in the US, I saw this in action at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in an area where HIV rates are up to 15%.

Students there volunteer as peer educators, making rounds to the residence halls as well as to community events and a nearby prison. During these events they play a warm-up game and start with a presentation or video. Then they begin asking questions of the participants. At first, the room is quiet. People are shy. However, a few brave souls speak up, and before you know it everyone in the room is on the edge of his or her seat waiting to talk, eager to share opinions about sexual health practices today at their university and in their communities. And when it starts rolling, topics get juicy.