What is it going to take for you to get angry enough to move to action? Reproductive oppression must end! And it's going to take all of us to make it happen! What's the first thing you can do? VOTE!!!
msplusamerica2011's blog
Being an advocate can at times be overwhelming, frustrating, and emotionally draining. Society is forever taking shots especially when it comes to those who fully disclose. The emails, messages, comments from others make you question why you allow yourself to go through such abuse when all you ever wanted was to create a safe place for people to no longer hide from behind their diagnosis and change the perception of societal views of HIV positive persons. We adapt, we seek out self-care and we keep it moving because at the end of the day, we genuinely want to be the change facilitators that...
(Note to readers: The following blog contains some details of sexual and physical abuse.) I went to visit my mother a few weekends ago to check up on her and to just hang out. A few minutes into the visit, my father handed me an old passport and my kindergarten report card from overseas.
In my previous blogs I spoke a lot about what life was like being diagnosed with HIV. I spoke of the shame and guilt I felt along with the shame people placed upon me because of this disease. I hated my fate, I hated the man and I hated me. I stopped living, dreaming and hoping. It wasn't until I began to deal with the issues that impacted the life that led me to HIV that I began to live again.
It's been a while since my last writing. I have been consumed with new horizons and just living my life. One of the highlights was being able to attend the PWN's SPEAK UP conference.
When I look in the mirror, I hate everything about you. You are fat and ugly! You've got pimples all over your face and your teeth are crooked. Nobody is going to want you. Ha-ha! They're talking about you. See them pointing and laughing at you? You don’t fit in. You are dumb. You’re never gonna be nothing! I have sex with you… I don’t want to. Do I have to prove my love for you? I took a drink.... OK! This makes me feel better! I'm the life of the party! I took a hit of cocaine....Wow! Now I can forget the loneliness. They rape me… Get off of me! I’m tainted and dirty. Attempts at suicide...
I remember when I was first diagnosed. I was court ordered to go to rehab. It was either that or face jail time. I didn’t want to be there and just wanted to do my nine months, graduate and leave. I was so full of pain during that time and I just wanted the pain to go away. After the first week or so, it was announced during a group session that Dallas County was providing free HIV testing. Since the group was boring, I decided to go ahead and take the test. I figured what the hell, it’s free and I can get out of group. Never once did I ever fathom I would be HIV positive. HIV didn’t speak to...
There aren't anymore news coverages. The candles that once flickered in the wind have since been blown out and discarded. Cicely has been laid to rest. The sensationalism of her death has now been replaced by headlines reading, "NFL and Referees Union End Lockout!", sending people into a frenzy to buy their favorite team jersey or shopping for the best football game spread known to man! While time has passed, many of us have not forgotten that eventful day which changed many of our lives little over a month ago....Where do we go from here? I asked myself this very question. So a decision was...
On September 7, 2012, my life changed forever upon hearing the loss of a fellow sister in the struggle, Cicely Bolden. I was devastated by the crime and questioned my own thoughts about disclosure and my safety as an HIV positive woman. The idea of someone taking the life of another because of their status, fueled anger, tears, and uncertainty of my own value to society. I had to do something. I just didn't know what. I sent out a message to one of the family members to convey my condolences and sadness about what happened to Cicely hoping to show there were people out there who did not share...
Michelle Anderson, Ms. Plus America 2011, is the first openly HIV-positive woman to ever run for, and win, a national pageant title. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas and is very active in her community as Lead Peer Educator/Programs Assistant for the Afiya Center HIV Prevention and Sexual Reproductive Justice, Co-Chair of Campaign to End AIDS Texas, Treasurer/Board Member for ADAP Advocacy Association and sits on the Ryan White Consumer Council Committee. Michelle has dedicated much of her personal life to educating others on HIV/AIDS throughout the greater Dallas area and across the...