finding balance

I perfectly recall all that was said by the people around me. My Mother: Promise me that you will never have an operation or have anything cut off…you really must promise me that!! My Father: What would my Mother, your Grandmother, say if she were still alive for God's sake! And to think that you were her special favorite!

I am a daughter, niece, sister, cousin and mom. I will be 36 years old this birthday. Three days before I will celebrate my 8 year poziversary. My diagnosis was a surprise, since I had tested negative...

I can remember back when I was a child and things were difficult. All the lessons life had to teach me, the hardships, the abuse, homelessness, drugs, rape. I struggled and fought to survive, thru the...

I was invited to attend the Saving Ourselves Symposium in Memphis, Tennessee this past weekend from June 4-7. I made a promise to myself that before I wrote about the experience, I would calm down first.

HIV has opened me up to so many people, places, prejudices, and misconceptions while completely shutting me off from the rest of the world. HIV had me convinced that no one would love or care about me. I would always be stuck in poverty, lack, doubt and hatred. I was a victim of self-induced stigma.

Michael Johnson is a young black man living with HIV who has recently been found guilty of recklessly infecting another person with HIV without disclosing his status. It seems befitting that I make my...

My spirit gets shaken when people write me and tell me they want to get famous for having HIV. This is not about fame or us!

This photograph was taken the summer of 1989. I had traveled from Florida to NY with my boyfriend for a mini vacation. As you can see, I was excited to have caught this little fish. We were in a small rowboat enjoying the warm day and I had no cares or concerns. Except that it had taken me a long time to reel that fish in.

I have written this over and over again. I was going to write about the things that disappointed me while at AIDSWATCH 2015 but I couldn't. I have no desire to put people on blast. It would not...

If you are hurting let it be known. If you don't know, say it so that you can learn. If you need somebody tell them!! If you need to cry, do it. Confronting and admitting your pain is not a sign of...