Subscribe to this blog's feedMan, this virus sucks big green donkey dicks! It pisses me the fuck off.
I met TWO beautiful, young vibrant women this week who were recently infected. Both have young children, both were betrayed by the men they loved and both are devastated. They have been walking around with this virus not knowing their status. SUCKS
Why are we not shouting from the roof tops about this? Why is it not in the news more, why isn’t there mandatory testing? WHY-WHY-WHY?
I guess I shouldn’t rant, if I didn’t have IT, I wouldn’t think twice about someone who I didn’t know having it, but shit! If there was mandatory testing, we would have a damn pandemic on our hands. That’s why there isn’t, no one wants that with an election coming up huh?
STOP THE INSANITY! It kills me to meet newly infected people, yet at the same time I find comfort in knowing there are others out there just like me.
I see that “look” in their faces when they tell their stories for the first time, in some cases, it’s the first time they have shared it with anyone else other than their doctor. I see their relief in seeing “others like them” and the comfort they feel knowing they are not alone. I was them, I remember it so clearly. Now I am looked to as someone who is knowledgeable and knowing, if they only knew. I’m just as scared as they are.
When did I become the one people turn to about advice on this thing? Since when did I become the expert? I’m not, and they are not looking for expert advice from me. What they want to know is how they feel “normal” again? I wish I had an answer, shit, I’m still waiting myself.
22% of all new infections in San Diego are heterosexual women as of March 2007. Would I buy a shirt that was 22% off and feel like I was getting a good deal? Probably not. Do I think that 22% is a HUGE fucking number considering when I got diagnosed one year ago it was 12%? HELL YES!
Comments (2)
Hello Lisa-
You hit upon exactly what I was thinking of this evening. First, let me tell you that I enjoy reading your blogs. I dont know if its simply that your passionate about what you write or if your just a great writer but I find myself very engaged. Anyways, you mentioned something I thought of this evening- the fact that people are being infected by deceitful lovers (sometimes) and you mention mandatory testing which would only do so much. How do we get disclosure? Unless we start branding ( i dont endorse that) mandated testing only does so much. What can we do to encourage disclosure...I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter. Is it something that can be taught to adults or does it have to do with the ethics we learn as children. The greater question is not simply related to HIV but trust in a general context. I find it frightening that our lovers can become our worse nightmares even if we've taken all the right precautions ( unfortunately we claim monogamy but only our partners know if thats true). Am I looking at it from the wrong angle? Is it actually the stigma that prevents disclosure and therefore commenting on HIV education or lack thereof? You mention the election- I would say that even without that no one wants to discuss these issues because its a reflection of the society as a whole. If you remember the debates from last election Cheney was unaware African American females were the fastest growing infected pop.-- its just not on the policy radar despite being an epidemic.
Posted by Imani | April 10, 2007 10:14 PM
Posted on April 10, 2007 22:14
I am going to be making a website based on this type of ranting and such. please please email me i will definitly get back to u.
Posted by George | September 12, 2007 10:52 AM
Posted on September 12, 2007 10:52