Blog #12

This week I have been swamped with work and school. It appears to me that each week just gets worse and worse, but I know that soon I will see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am just trying to make sure I stay on top of things and get everything done, to finish this semester off strong. I have learned a lot from my HIV class this semester and I feel that I have learned so much more about the disease since I got into this class. At the same time, that is the point, to learn what you did not know before and cover what you did already learn about the disease.

I can not wait until the summer arrives so that I can be one step closer to graduating. I have been in college since 2008, so it has been a long and exhausting three years so far, and I am ready to receive my degree in which I have worked so hard for. I also am excited about the summer time because I will get to relax and I will celebrate my 21st birthday. I am very anxious and that is why I try not to stress over the things that are happening in my life now, because I know that it is only temporary and that joy will come in the morning.

DID YOU KNOW???
Homosexuals with HIV do not differ much from heterosexuals living with HIV. This has been something that many people find it hard to believe, but in reality is true. However, it has been noted that "Homosexuals also have a higher risk for anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and sleep disorders, as well as certain types of cancer. Gay men who are younger than 30 years of age are at increased risk for serious psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, general anxiety disorder), including suicidal behavior". Although heterosexuals can experience the same symptoms, the homosexual community are placed at a higher risk, which makes you think.

Homosexuality Concerns & Issues - Homosexuality - Sexual Health Channel. (n.d.).Your Sexual Health Community - Sexual Health Channel. Retrieved April 13, 2011, from http://sexualhealth.healthcommu

Blog #11

This week has been very difficult and stressful for me. I have dealt with many things since last week and I am trying to cope with everything that has happened. The bad part about it is that I feel that it is all happening at the wrong time, because this is the last month of school and all of my attention and focus needs to be on my academics. Even though things are going bad right now for me, I will make the best out of a bad outcome. I know all things happen for a reason, so the only thing I can do right now is to deal with the storm and have faith that the sun will shine soon.

Also, my friend is now dealing with the loss of her mother due to AIDS. It breaks my heart to see that she has to go through this, especially in college where she is no where near her family. I have tried to be the best support system for her through this time. Although I am going to always be there for her, I can only envision the pain she must be going through. There is nothing like losing your mother. However, I could not help but share with her information that I have learned from this class. To my surprise, she knew just as much as I did, but then again she learned through experience, whereas I learned through assignments.

DID YOU KNOW????


"In 2005, over half of new HIV infections diagnosed in the US were among gay men, and up to one in five gay men living in cities is thought to be HIV positive. Yet two large population surveys showed that most gay men had similar numbers of unprotected sexual partners per year as straight men and women".

"US researchers applied a series of carefully calculated equations in different scenarios to study the rate at which HIV infection has spread among gay men and straight men and women. They used figures taken from two national surveys to estimate how many sex partners gay men and straight men and women have, and what proportion of gay men have insertive or receptive anal sex, or both".

"They then set these figures against accepted estimates of how easily HIV is transmitted by vaginal and anal sex to calculate the size of the HIV epidemic in gay men and straight men and women".


"Different HIV Rates Among Homosexuals And Heterosexuals Ignores Risky Behavior Data." Science 2.0 - ® The world's best scientists, the Internet's smartest readers.. N.p., 23 Sept. 2007. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. <http://www.science20.com/news_

Blog #10

The semester is winding down and with there being so many upcoming assignments and exams left, I have to get on top of things and remain focus. This week has been a tough one for me, but I am trying to stay positive and optimistic about things no matter how bad they are. Hopefully things get better near the end of this week. I have a lot of festivities to look forward to and I can't wait. Easter is also approaching so I am also excited about that as well, because I will be traveling back to my hometown to be with my family.

So I have been writing many blogs about my topic "Homosexuals living with HIV" and I hope that my readers and followers have enjoyed them. This week's blog has caught my attention and I want to share. How is it for a homosexual infected with HIV to have intercourse with another person? What if the sexual partner is not infected? These are top questions for people like myself. You hear the term "safe sex" so loosely these days, but is there a such thing?

Anyone with an infection or STD has to think on this a lot, especially if they are sexually active. Even though HIV is something that is to be taken with caution when having sex, so is everything else, whether you have an STD or not. Intercourse does not end there. People who live with HIV have a lot to be safe about, but the most important thing is to disclose that information with your partner. There are some precautions such as properly using male or female condoms, and making sure that there is no exposure to cuts or wounds to prevent the passing of the disease. It seems like it is no different from the average sexual couple, but with one wrong move or not taking things seriously, it can lead to many bigger issues.

DID YOU KNOW???
"Usually when people talk about sex they mean sexual intercourse or 'penetrative sex' and this cannot be described as 'safe sex'. Safe sex means sexual activities which you can do even if one person is infected with HIV, and they definitely won't pass it on to the other person. Lots of sexual activities are completely safe. You can kiss, cuddle, massage and rub each other's bodies. But if you have any cuts or sores on your skin, make sure they are covered with plasters (band-aids). Nothing you do on your own can cause you to get HIV - you can't get infected by masturbating".


AIDS, sex and teens. (n.d.).AIDS & HIV information from the AIDS charity AVERT. Retrieved March 30, 2011, from http://www.avert.org/aids-information.htm

Blog #9

Homosexual couples who decide to adopt has been a major controversy to many people and the media. Many feel as if it is not right for a homosexual couple to adopt a child. Others feel as though it is ok and that a couple can raise a child despite their sexual orientation. There have been studies to prove that growing up under a home that composed of homosexual mothers or fathers does not have any affect on how the child will grow and develop in life.

Adopting in the homosexual community is nothing new. Many couples decide to build a family and consider adopting. Suppose a homosexual couple decide amongst themselves to adopt. As the child gets older, he or she realized that their family is a little different from the traditional family. Once the child gets older his/her parents decide to disclose with them that they are HIV positive. How will the now teenager react to the illness of their parents? This is something that some adopted children face in their life.

The best way to handle a situation such as this is to remain calm and supportive. Accepting that your parents are homosexual is one thing, but accepting that they both have HIV is another. Counseling is also something that one may want to consider. Getting help with these issues can help one cope with hearing this devastating news and relieve stress or anger that could be built up. 

DID YOU KNOW???

"In the United States, second parent adoption is allowed for couples of the same sex in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington and in Washington D.C. The other 38 states that the laws for adoption by partnerships of the same sex are ambiguous. Homosexuality has become a major social issue with civil unions and marriages of same sex couples becoming legal status in many countries. It may only be a matter of time before all these issues regarding same sex partnerships are wiped out". (HIV/AIDS,2010)

 Adoption For Homosexual Couples – How To Begin The Adoption Process. (2010, August 14). HIV/AIDS. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from aids.ebloge.com/adoption-for-homosexual-couples-how-to-begin-the-adoption-process/

Blog #8

Being in a monogamous relationship, for most people, is protection from sexually transmitted diseases. They feel a sense of security because of trust and loyalty that was instilled in the relationship. But, what if you find out that you contracted an STD from your partner? What if it was HIV? To no surprise, even being in a monogamous relationship can not protect you from contracting an STD. Cheating or infidelity occurs in relationships all the time, and other than that there are still other ways to contract HIV. This is why it is important to take all precautions and be safe, because you never know. You can never be too sure or safe!

This topic interested me because I've read stories and watched movies that dealt with someone being in a monogamous relationship and found out they contracted HIV through their partner, in which they had trusted. One movie in particular that I watched was "For Colored Girls." In this movie, one of the characters, Janet Jackson, was married to a man who was having sexual intercourse with other men. Throughout the whole movie she could detect that something was wrong with her husband by the way she seen him look at other guys. Later in the movie, she had got tested for HIV and found out that she was positive. Although this was a movie, I felt that this depicted the lives of those who were exposed to HIV through a monogamous relationship and found out that their partner was homosexual. 

DID YOU KNOW???

It is estimated that roughly 30 to 60% of all married individuals (in the United States) will engage in infidelity at some point during their marriage (see, Buss and Shackelford for review of this research). And these numbers are probably on the conservative side, when you consider that close to half of all marriages end in divorce (people are more likely to stray as relationships fall apart; also see, who is likely to cheat).

"Infidelity Statistics - Truth About Deception." Lying and Infidelity in Romantic Relationships - Truth About Deception. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/cheating-and-infidelity/stats-about-infidelity.html>.

Blog #7

Since my last post, a lot has happened. One thing in particular that has happened was that I went to the counseling center on campus to get tested for HIV/AIDS. To many it is the most nerve wrecking experience because the time that is elapsed before you are informed of your results. Depending on the type of test that was conducted it can take from 20 minutes to two weeks to find out your results. For me, I will not receive my results back until next week.

Although this is not my first time getting tested for HIV, I still get that uncomfortable, anxious feeling when waiting for my results to come back. Many thoughts spiraled through my mind. What if my results come back positive? What do I do? Where do I go? How could I live with this? These are amongst the many questions that many people find themselves thinking when they get tested for just about any STD. You never know what you would do in any given situation until it happens to you, and youre the person in those shoes.



DID YOU KNOW???

No matter the sex, race, or sexual orientation, ANYONE can get infected by HIV. If you get tested positive, here are some helpful tips in helping you:

1. "Take a deep breath".

2. "Find a doctor that is experienced in dealing with HIV and AIDS".

3. "Take your meds".

4. "Practice safer sex".

5. "Adopt a healthy lifestyle".

6. "Get in shape".

7. "Protect your heart".

8. "Learn all you can about your virus".

9. "Contact your local ASO".

10. "Keep your chin up".

"hivpositivemagazine.com." hivpositivemagazine.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2011. http://www.hivpositivemagazine.com/basics.html

Blog #6

So far in my blogs I have covered a variety of topics from the stigma about HIV homosexuals to education in schools. This week I want to cover the dating life for HIV infected persons. The dating life in people living with HIV is sometimes easily overlooked, because we as people just look at other issues. One issue is dating someone and knowing when to disclose information to that person that you are HIV positive. So many thoughts spiral in the minds of an HIV infected individual such as: When should I tell him/her I'm infected? Should I tell that I'm HIV positive? and How would they react? are amongst the many questions that are thought about when dating comes around.

When dating, there are many reasons that people have trouble with when it comes to disclosing their information to someone else. Some of the conscious thoughts around this touchy subject are: 

• "Their HIV diagnosis will no longer be a secret". 
• "They fear the rejection that may come with disclosing their HIV status to a prospective partner".
• " They fear the judgments and stereotypes that come along with an HIV diagnosis". 
• "They are afraid they may lose their only shot at a relationship".

Although there may seem to be many dark sides to dating, there are also many positives. If the person is educated about the disease, they wont display ignorance to the person disclosing their information. It is also possible for someone who is HIV positive to have a healthy and safe relationship if the proper precautions are used carefully. In the end, dating life does not decease when a person becomes infected, it just opens a new chapter in that persons life. 

              

DID YOU KNOW?

• Kiss and Tell – those who choose to “kiss and tell” will go on a few dates before disclosing their HIV status. This does have its advantages. For one it allows you to wait and see if the relationship is going to get serious before disclosing. If the relationship stalls, your status was not disclosed needlessly. In other words, people who kiss and tell feel this option is best because it limits the number of people who become aware of their HIV diagnosis. Important Note! – Before any sexual contact can be made, HIV disclosure must occur.
• Tell and Kiss – there are some people who choose to “tell and kiss,” meaning that HIV disclosure occurs very early in the relationship, in some cases on the first date. One reason for early disclosure is there is less emotional attachment at that point. It is a fact of life that some people will not be ready to date an HIV-infected person. Some feel that it is better to be rejected early as opposed to later when an emotional connection has occurred. In addition, early disclosure implies honesty. Waiting to disclose until you have had a few dates first may be viewed as dishonest by some. Finally, people who disclose early find comfort in knowing that if the relationship does succeed and move forward, their partner accepts them for who they without conditions.

Cichocki, Mark. "HIV Dating - HIV and Dating - Dating with HIV." HIV Symptoms - HIV - The Symptoms of HIV. N.p., 6 Dec. 2006. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. <http://aids.about.com/od/legalissues/a/hivdating.htm

Blog #5

Lately, I have been pondering on the many athletes that have came out with HIV. Among these athletes, there are some among that population that are homosexual. While doing an assignment for my HIV class, I had to research athletes who were living with HIV and what they had to go through. This assignment inspired me to post a blog on this open topic. While researching about each athlete given, I discovered several things that many people at that time, and sadly even now, have failed to realize. These people did not let HIV hinder them from living their life, or being successful. Even though they were publicly criticized and lost a lot of things, they also gained one of the most important things....RESPECT!


Athletes such as Tom Waddell, for example experienced life in a different aspect. Not only was he living with the HIV virus, but he was also openly gay. He, among the many, went through many hard times just as much as good times. Being the founder of "gay olympics" was one of his accomplishments, which nearly cost him because of his status. What people failed to realize at that time is that HIV is a disease, that does not change anything about a person but its health. People were so ignorant to this fact that they would do things to degrade a person who was infected instead of lending out a helping hand and becoming a mentor. Just like Waddell, there have been many athletes that have suffered the brutality that came with having HIV, but they did not let that be the death of them, because they continued to strive and become advocates in educating the youth and public.


DID YOU KNOW???
"HIV/AIDS affects men and women, gay and straight, San Franciscans and Africans, adults and children, drug users and athletes. HIV positive athletes today strengthen immune systems by staying active. They also help tear down stigma on and off the court by showing that AIDS is no longer a disease for “those people”; it is our disease. Those with HIV, especially athletes, face increased discrimination, raising questions about disclosure".


Kajimura, Hana. "Playing Positive: HIV-Positive Athletes Then and Now | The Paly Voice." Home | The Paly Voice. N.p., 12 June 2010. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <http://voice.paly.net/node/23189>
"The brief history of gay athletes." ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports. N.p., 18 Dec. 1998. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <http://espn.go.com/otl/world/timeline.html>

Blog #4

Sexual education plays a vital role in schools. For decades schools have enforced the education on such diseases like HIV/AIDS. Prevention classes such as Sexual Education and also other programs have reached out to all people who have questions or may be sexually involved. Although sexuality is not exposed to the teachers or health professionals who come to schools to talk about safe sex, homosexuals find themselves benefiting a lot from these courses. These courses educate people of all ages, race, sexuality, and genders about various diseases, transmission, and preventions.

These programs, as mentioned before educate and inform the students about potential risks and experiences young gay men and women go through or deal with. It is believed to help reduce the stigma and prejudice that follows the gay community. Informing the heterosexual community about these health factors help them come to the realization that it can also effect them as well, and not just targeted to homosexuals. Teaching about the risk and behaviors of homosexuals in the sexual education classes will give more knowledge to the one person who may have not come out about their sexuality or who is in a relationship with someone of the same sex. It has been proven that these programs in school have become effective and reduced additional risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.

DID YOU KNOW?
"53% of students report hearing homophobic comments made by school staff". More than half of students in school hear derogatory statements being made by staff members. This may lead many students to be discouraged about opening up about their sexuality in schools. 
"HIV, AIDS and young gay men." AIDS & HIV information from the AIDS charity AVERT. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. <http://www.avert.org/young-gay-men.htm>.
"Gay Statistics - The Real Truth." Parents Of Gay Children. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. <http://www.gayfamilysupport.com/gay-statistics.html>.

Blog #3

African American homosexual males are widely discriminated across the world for having HIV/AIDS. With over a million people living with HIV/AIDS today, half of the population reported are African American. In the early 80s, many African Americans viewed HIV/AIDS being a disease that only white gay men could get, because of the medias depiction of it. Some black males at the time did not believe that this disease could affect them, even though they accounted for most of the population living with HIV/AIDS. Many women were also infected from their partners who unconsciously knew they had the disease. Among black males, 43% were noted to have the disease from male to male intercourse. Even though these are shocking numbers, they continue to grow through the years dramatically.

Since then, there have been many activist, non profit organizations, and celebrities that have went out to the media and all over the world trying to educate people about this growing epidemic. Many celebrities such as Earvin "Magic" Johnson have came out to the public about living with HIV, showing that it is possible for anyone of any race or ethnicity to get the disease, no matter if they are homosexual or not. Although there are many reasons for why the African American community are mostly targeted for getting HIV/AIDS, there have been many organizations formed to raise money to help those in need and with low income. With money being used for research and medicine, many people are in hope that this world wide epidemic will soon cease.


DID YOU KNOW?
"The estimated lifetime risk of becoming infected with HIV is 1 in 16 for black males, and 1 in 30 for black females, a far higher risk than for white males (1 in 104) and white females (1 in 588). In Washington D.C, which has the nation’s highest district HIV prevalence (3%), three-quarters of those infected with HIV are African American.  According to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, African Americans "comprise the greatest proportion of HIV/AIDS cases across many transmission categories, including among women, heterosexual men, injection drug users, and infants."


"HIV and AIDS among African Americans." AIDS & HIV information from the AIDS charity AVERT. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2011. <http://www.avert.org/hiv-african-americans.htm>.

Blog #2

Homosexuality has been something that has been easily looked at for many generations as the main transmission of HIV. During the 1980s in the Caribbeans, many people believed that HIV was widely transmitted through homosexual men. It was until the mid 80s that people started to realize that homosexuals were not the main mode of transmission of HIV, but the heterosexual people were. Even though it has been a big dispute for many decades, many people label HIV as the "gay disease." This disease has placed a big stereotype on many homosexuals because of this myth.

DID YOU KNOW?
Homosexual males, who make up less than 2% of the US population, account for 56% of the adult AIDS cases?
"AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men." Fathers For Life. 14 Oct. 1999. 26 Jan. 2011. <http://fathersforlife.org/dale/aids1.html>.
"The Stigmatization of Homosexuals and Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica, W.I.." The AIDS Pandemic. 22 Feb. 2008. 22 Jan. 2011. <http://the-aids-pandemic.blogspot.com/2008/02/stigmatization-of-homosexuals-and.html>.

Blog #1 And So It Begins.....

My first week of class was quite interesting. It took some time to get adjusted to the web course and I got a late start on things due to me adding the class near the end of the first week of the spring semester. My thoughts on being thrown into a web course on a disease that is still killing thousands of people each year is that it is a little intimidating at first. Being that there is a full course dedicated to learning information on HIV makes me question how much do I know about the disease. I was frightened in some ways because this is a disease that is growing in numbers across the world and each year more and more people are getting infected. I did not feel challenged because I feel that this course will better me in understanding the causes, effects, preventions, and other useful information. Following the first week, I feel that I have gained some valuable information that I will retain. As the semester progresses, I believe I will acquire more knowledge about this worldly disease and be able to educate my peers about what I have learned in this course.