I have been me for forty six years. I have not always liked me, nor liked my actions; looking back I can see #mypassionrunsdeep.
Angel S.'s blog
Upon entering the police vehicle I asked the officer to please let me take my purse so I had my meds, they were very important. I told the officer I was HIV positive and my meds were in the purse. He then screamed at me "What the fuck is wrong with you not telling me you HIV?" I said "I didn't know we were going to have sex." He said it's my job to alert everyone upon my contact with them to disclose. When I asked him about the HIPAA law and if he was familiar with it and how it was in place to protect myself from certain people disclosing confidential medical information they may only know...
This year I was looking forward to changes with the new president. I realize it is a choice to get on an antiviral therapy and continue to strive to reach an undetectable viral load. Today I went to fill my prescription - $3209.00 deductible. That is quite a bump up from the usual co-pay. What a surprise after 10 years of meds and adherence to stay healthy. All the while educating not only myself but my community on the importance in knowing your status. I cannot help to notice the error in Health reform. This will set us back in the fight against HIV. However, it’s closer than that for me. To...
I see, I was offered a place to stay to get things going in a favorable direction. After some time of living under the same roof and eating out often together, Sex came into play. At that moment I was confronted with the real life struggle of Stigma as I know and fear of others’ beliefs of what living with HIV is really like day to day for of us; doing it. Every day is just the same as one would expect. I get the work done that needs to be done. I enjoy family, laugh, live. Enjoy being yourself. It is that perfect order within; no judging from inside (self) or outer sources (life/human...
I read several blogs this week reminding me: not everyone has to or can be at the front. Those of us who like to work behind the scenes are actually very productive in our communities given we love what we do.
In response to Walking the Thin Black Line of Violence in the Lives of HIV+ Women by Loren Jones, Board Member, Positive Women’s Network-USA I was thinking the same thing when I read about a Day of Action to End Violence. Against Women. I was thinking… Where is the solution? Being a woman who has experienced so much violence and you describe it beautifully well; however sad… it’s true. We wish to teach our children to stand up, to fight, to advocate for themselves. Then the reality of what you’re up against becomes very real. A friend, a lover, someone you just met. That individual, at some...
I attended the PWN 2016 Summit in Fort Walton Beach FL; there I was able to let the demons fade away with the love and solidarity I felt by meeting such powerful and encouraging woman.
Thinking about my story. What really is my story? I grew up in Chicopee, Mass. I have my GED. I have a daughter, I buried a son, I was a dancer for 12 years, and have had my battles with self, life, love, etc.
After reading Tiommi Luckett's blog It's Time for Change I was not even a bit surprised. Yet this brings much concern to me about how all of us living with HIV, no matter our undetectable status, our being on meds, taking our health serious and yet still we are given the short straw sometimes without even noticing. We all too often give our decision making up to others. In order to be heard we must speak! Thank you for educating me a little as to how you deal with the multiple issues involved in Living HIV positive and being transgender. I believe too many choices are being made for us by...
Yesterday I posted to my Facebook page… "People try to shame me for living with HIV, FUCK I'M NOT THE ONE SPREADING IT. I am safer than all the other men and women you are with. Test, ladies, because the men just don't care when it comes to get a nut. I have been undetectable for so many moons. Try reading up on that shit. You want something to talk about. Talk about this topic with your teens so they they will be better prepared. Mutual monogamy is not always the case for a lot of women are given the diagnosis by their supposed faithful husband. Yes, the numbers are high. Young girls sleeping...