This is the second year for myself, its World Aids Day, and I happened to be watching some HIV video’s from Youtube, from The Poz+ Life of Patrick, and from Andrew Langston. You cant help but think about how HIV still touches the world. It get’s me thinking, is the message still reaching people? Are people either very afraid or just plain ignoring the message entirely.
Today when I watched the news World Aids Day seemed to be a small cliff note to a very important topic that needs serious consideration. We cant say that HIV is a killer virus and epidemic, then don’t address the serious issues surrounding it. CNN talked about Prep and how it could be not so good for people. When it comes to Prep, the thought is that people will engage in reckless behavior, meaning sex without condoms. People are still doing that even before the pill came out, and people still have unprotected sex.
The problem with all of this is that people are not being open minded enough to help in the en devour to stop new infections, that’s the goal, managing and preventing new infections. There is so much that comes with moving forward. Peer support, groups, outreach, even fundraisers. Acknowledging the simple fact that until we make more and more people aware and awaken more minds, the same habits still end up repeated.
For me World Aids Day means, when are more people going to choose to wake up to the reality, that people living with HIV, are ordinary people, that we don’t look any different, yet we are managing it, we have some of the most influential minds looking for a cure, I believe its possible and soon, why this event has had such a profound major impact globally, I have seen documentaries, and I have seen what it took to get their message out there and make a difference and not just become victims who died in silence, people who died and got carried out in hazmat bags. Living in an era where people they knew died in a blink of the eye. I have not lived to experience those events, when I opened my eyes and did so much research, keeping as connected as possible. World Aids Day comes once a year, yet HIV once contracted becomes something you survive as long as your health permits it.
My message to so many people out there, please pay attention to the message that is being put out there, recognize all those who are trying to educate and keep others safe when it comes to sex. At the end of the day you make your own choices regarding your sexual habits and you are responsible for who you engage in sex with, make your decisions count, don’t be caught in life that these avoidable instances sneak up on you living life. Be wise and be safe.
sunvalleyhiv 