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