By Ian Anderson (President, Smart + Strong)
What if sports athletes around the world went out and got an HIV test and then shared the results with the world?
Think of the oohs and aahs as the results came in. It would make HIV the talk of the town. And at the end of the day, a whole bunch of people would know their status and be able to take appropriate next steps.
It would be the stigma busting event of the century. People would say, "Well, if my favorite sports player isn't afraid to take the test, then dammit neither am I."
Well, guess what? Football wide receiver David Clowney of the Buffalo Bills went out and did just that. He took the test and then shared the results with the world via his Twitter account.
Here's the tweet (click here to see it on Twitter):
He's even getting some press for it as Zack Kelberman wrote about it for YardBarker.com.
I applaud Clowney for taking the test, sharing the test results and then tweeting: "Everyone should get tested!! Don't wait till HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to find out if you have it or not!!"
Now let's see who else steps up to the plate.
And BTW, although he didn't promote it, he also was tested for hepatitis C. We have more than three million Americans out there unaware they have hepatitis C. A double kudos to Clowney for also crossing that off his list.
What if sports athletes around the world went out and got an HIV test and then shared the results with the world?
Think of the oohs and aahs as the results came in. It would make HIV the talk of the town. And at the end of the day, a whole bunch of people would know their status and be able to take appropriate next steps.
It would be the stigma busting event of the century. People would say, "Well, if my favorite sports player isn't afraid to take the test, then dammit neither am I."
Well, guess what? Football wide receiver David Clowney of the Buffalo Bills went out and did just that. He took the test and then shared the results with the world via his Twitter account.
Here's the tweet (click here to see it on Twitter):
He's even getting some press for it as Zack Kelberman wrote about it for YardBarker.com.
I applaud Clowney for taking the test, sharing the test results and then tweeting: "Everyone should get tested!! Don't wait till HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to find out if you have it or not!!"
Now let's see who else steps up to the plate.
And BTW, although he didn't promote it, he also was tested for hepatitis C. We have more than three million Americans out there unaware they have hepatitis C. A double kudos to Clowney for also crossing that off his list.
What a STUPID article. Sure! This guy would tweet the world if his results came back Positive? Get real! If anything, it shows his narcissism behavior that he is proud to tell everyone he is negative. What about the millions who are positive and cannot afford medication? It would be more constructive if he donated some of the millions he makes to the small amount that is spent on Cure research rather than encouraging continuing treatments by greedy pharmaceutical companies who are making billions by cashing in on the development of treatment medications that not only continue the hiv phobia, discrimination from visiting countries like China, UAE and other nations around the world, and even job and cultural issues here in the USA. Getting a test result is a private thing. Just ask any social worker or hiv doctor who hear everyday stories from hiv+ patients about the emotional pain and discrimination they encounter - most states here do not protect legally if you are fired, and many are still dying because they can't afford treatments in states like FL and the midwest who have limited funds.
I think it's awesome! What a wonderful article and a wonderful way to spread prevention! Keep up the good work!
Totally agree this article is stupid and frankly upsetting. The fact that a popular sports player tweeted his HIV- test results would if anything ADD to existing POZ stigma. So strange that this site, would applaud him for it - especially in wake of the FDA's recent approval of 'home' aka 'anywhere and anyone anytime' HIV tests.
In a world that can change in an instant, are we really thinking about the fact that HIV testing can easily become a way of eliminating those who test POZ quickly? Like the first comment on this post said, if this athlete wanted to do something to help the epidemic, he would have tweeted a receipt to AMFAR whereupon he donated money for cure research. Yet he brazenly tweets a NEGATIVE test result, like a child running circles around another child who is crippled, and then thanking God that he has kept himself 'healthy and safe' - as if those who test positive somehow deserve their fate because of either not being safe or not being in God's favor.
The hyperbolic title is a a great way to set up a serious disappointment on the content of this article. What a slap in the face to all the people that have publicly announced their positive status amidst the entrenched culture of shame and stigma associated with HIV. Can we learn to celebrate the bravery of those that step up to be counted .. to support those positive people that speak for those who remain voiceless and invisible - rather than applaud the "bravery" of those that simply test.
Sure testing is great, but heroic? Testing is the means of course .. but testing negative should be a non-sequitur. Shouldn't we be celebrating the people who are not afraid of the stigma of +status rather than those that are happy not to share their realities?
Despite the negative comments, this blog post has over 200 Facebook likes, which should speak for itself ... And the title refers to what the author wishes would happen if a whole lot of athletes tested for HIV at the same time, he's not referring to this one event!
I am glad for this article. This is not about whether he is positive or negative, he is promoting getting tested. With 1 of 5 people with HIV not knowing their status, if he causes even one person to take a test who is at risk, he has done his job. This epidemic is not just about money.
What a disgusting article! I'm happy that God was kind enough to keep David Clowney HIV negative. I guess that means God gave me HIV because he does not like me. Posting HIV negative test results does not reduce stigma. I have found most HIV negative gay men waive their negative test results proudly. That does not reduce the stigma HIV positive people experience nor do I see how it encourages those who are afraid to test to test.
it's all good...but when it comes to stigma, I don't think he would do the same thing if the test came back positive....that's where the stigma lies; being positive....
Unfortunately, Facebook doesn't allow for "UNLIKES". So just because the article has 200 LIKES doesn't mean anything.
I agree, it is unfortunate Facebook doesn't have something such as an "Unlike" button. That said, if you don't like something, then don't click "Like" on Facebook. I don't think most people who click "Like" on Facebook actually mean the opposite...
I applaud him for getting tested. Most black men don't. But that's a topic for another discussion I suppose. But I digress. I don't think there is any stress in broadcasting your negative status. And thanking God for keeping your body safe is a little ignorant. Keeping yourself safe is your own responsibility. Guess God didn't keep me safe. Would he broadcast his status if it had come back positive? I think not. It's like getting an A+ or an F on a test. Nobody brags about failing a test. And to post this article on this site is insulting. It's comes of like this to me..."Ha ha...I'm negative, and you aren't. My life is perfect. Thank God that I didn't get HIV from having all that unprotected sex with all those women. Or men." Cause let's face it...we all know that HIV is a delicate virus. If you have safe sex, you don't have too much to worry about. Only reason to worry is if you know you've been reckless or had an unfortunate interaction with tainted blood etc. So was he worried about his results? Was he participating in unsafe sexual behavior? Maybe he should advocate having safe sex and using condoms instead. I am sure the youth that are idolizing him are the ones who need the schooling on safe sex.
I am saying that if people were allowed to NOT LIKE on facebook, that there would be more UNLIKES than LIKES. So bragging that there are 200 LIKES is worthless when there isn't anything to compare it to. And not to change the subject in this particular post, but how about we have all closeted professional athletes come out. That could change a lot of stigma on being gay and HIV. Not saying that HIV is limited to being gay, but it's the biggest stigma about being gay I believe.
Really? This article should have never made it to this site. Then to appauld David Clowney for posting his results, I am sure he would not have done so if the test came back positive. The stigma doesn't exist in testing negative, the stigma is testing positive.
Seriously - what the hell?? this article does nothing for promoting HIV testing, if anything it only inflicts stigma on those who God "didn't keep safe". Why doesn't God like me??? oh, I get it - I am not a religious fanatic.
I am not objecting getting tested, and he is certainly entitled to tweeting whatever he likes, but the way he's done it (i.e. the wording) is arrogant, intolerant and insensitive
Is this the dumbest article I have ever read? YES
What stigma is attached to being HIV negative?
This is not even close to a good site for people with HIV, but this article really is just too phuking ridiculous.
Yeah, about as "stigma busting" as telling people he's "ddf clean". Apparently, I can't even log onto poz.com without seeing some precious seronegative brag about their good luck like they deserve a freaking cookie. Get back at me when someone tests positive, takes control of their health and advocates for the millions who haven't been graced with so much of God's grace.
Yeah sorry: #FAIL. This isn't journalism nor is it stigma busting. I agree with Andy above. "Get back at me when someone tests positive, takes control of their health and advocates for the millions who haven't been graced with so much of God's grace."
I have to agree, this article does nothing to diminish HIV Stigma!
HIV Stigma is still strong and there are still many people who are ignorant when it comes to HIV and AIDS.
I think more needs to be done to show what living with HIV is like! Where are those in your face images????
Yes it is important to be aware and to get tested but the reality of it all is there are Hundreds of thousand of people living with this disease that ride the train and work right next to you everyday that have the potential to be persecuted for disclosing their status.
Maybe need to re-educate America about HIV being a death sentence.
I have been HIV Positive for 17 years...
What a load of garbage."Hooray im negative and your not because your scum and God hates you."Thats what i got out of this article. Time for a new editor?Its pretty clear the writer of this article has NO idea what its like to be positive, if he is in fact positive then he's been in denial for a while.
He was only bragging about being negative. Magic Johnson did something to end stigma by coming out as positive, there is no stigma in being negative. And no where did Mr. Clowney urge people to get tested.
Exactly. Magic Johnson came out as positive when this virus was still a death sentence. It ruined his basketball career and put him in immediate danger of being labeled gay in an era when that was still problematic. That took guts, changed the face of HIV and made him one of the unsung heroes of the epidemic. Still, people complain that Johnson isn't doing enough. This guy is just bragging about his status, thanking a god that has apparently abandoned tens of millions of others. "stigma busting"? This is reinforcing stigma. Someone else had the right idea, this is the exact same thing as bragging that he's "DDF Clean" online. This guy is a serophobic lowlife. This magazine does us a disservice in trying to build a case that this man is anything but a self-centered jerk who has learned that the HIV negativity is a commodity.
funny...i usually find myself the harshest commentator, yet here i have to pull back bcuz most of u r far more annoying than this athlete, or even this indeed-stupid article about this athlete.
the athlete did nothing wrong at all, and yes an hiv-negative test result is in fact worth celebrating every time it happens. some of u have gotten so used to complaining about stigma to other people that u have lost perspective on just how BIG that stigma really is.
how big is it? it's SO big that it's 2012 and it's STILL a big deal for an athlete to even announce the mere fact that he got tested AND that his result was neg.
how big is HIV stigma really? ask urselves this: if Magic Johnson came out as HIV+ NOW instead of 20 years ago, would the general reaction have been better or worse.
i say it would be worse now. i think many here would have to agree with me.
yes, it does little for ME that he's HIV-. yes, i know his gesture was not that significant. yes, i found this article embarrassing to even see linked on the front page of poz.com days ago...and couldnt even click it until now. when i noticed this many replies i actually expected some controversy about the article...i didnt expect poz people to be attacking the athlete as a "serophobic lowlife"...this is laughable.
people, get a grip. rip on the article, rip especially on how pathetic a scrap it seems to throw to readers HERE ESPECIALLY, even rip on the dude for whatever u obnoxiously elect to read into his "God" statement...
...but poz people publicly ripping on him for being publicly happy about an HIV-negative test results is ass-backwards, and inherently counterproductive to all poz people.
snap out of it! hello!?
I stand with everyone else. The dude is scum. I wouldn't tweet that I don't have diabetes and then expect a cookie for getting tested. He is the straight version of "tested negative on xx-xx-xxxx". This isn't stigma busting, and he doesn't deserve to be congratulated by anyone, poz people especially.
Jeton if we are far more annoying by all means ignore us.Frankly i could care less about your opinion of my opinion buddy.Thats what these comment boxes are for if you have a problem with that then simply go elsewhere instead of trolling these posts as if your the "annoyance watchdog". Did you even read the article or are you just looking for a reason to create drama to amuse yourself? It wasnt the fact that he announced that he was neg, it's what he said after the results that pretty much labeled us as unclean and reckless people. In the future learn to read all the comments before you type such nonsense.
it's appropriate that hypocrisy comes so easily to u...in fact i read every comment here, and u obviously did not read thru mine.
ur pretense that the athlete thanking God for his good fortune n health is somehow a rebuke to HIV+ people is nothing more than the new breed of hackneyed, internet-activist atheism trying to leverage the concerns of HIV+ people against people of faith.
i get it, u read some Hitchens n some Dawkins n now ur committed to attacking all public displays of religious faith. it's transparent agitation politics, it's uselessly obnoxious and i'll happily deflate any attempt for this new breed of obnoxious internet atheism to piggyback on my social and political concerns as an HIV+ gay man.
go ahead, swarm all u like...expect ur attempts to hijack the poz cause to ur own to be addressed. ur invitation for me to depart is dismissed.
the athlete (whoever he is) did a good thing by publicly taking a test, n was perfectly within his rights to express his gratitude for his test result in religious terms.
it's a shame that POZ' overselling of his rather minor gesture has provided this silly rallying cry for atheists and fools to grandstand upon...especially bcuz it's done in terms that damage the political interests of HIV+ people.
go find another political boat to barnacle urselves to, the HIV-activist ship is already weighted down and slow-going as it is...
I can't believe this article is on POZ. What a slap in the face to those of us that come here for encouragement, education, and the ability to connect with others living with HIV.
Instead we click to find praise for a professional
athlete continuing the stigma. Thank you for the complete lack of support & respect.
"Like"
So please answer me this, anyone. Do you not believe there is any stigma in HIV testing in general, results aside?
For one, I hear from many people that just coming in for a test makes them feel stigmatized because they "must be doing something bad".
That said, many of you are poz. Would you publicly announce your positive test result after receiving it?
No, I don't think there is stigma in getting an HIV test, so long as the results are negative. Amongst many groups, an obligatory HIV test is seen as something of a mitzvah. Is it done as regularly as it should be? No. But I don't think there is any considerable stigma to the act of being tested. Where the stigma begins is when someone gets the "wrong" result.
As for announcing our positive status, that's irrellevant. Yeah, being closeted about poz status doesn't help, but bragging about neg status causes way more harm. This is a total non sequitur. Just because we might choose not to turn ourselves into pariahs doesn't mean he should have the right to do it.
I know for a fact that just getting tested has stigma attached. I work in a medical facility were Doctors and Nurse Practioners hesitate to even offer a test because they don't want to offend the patient. I have heard (more than once) someone ask a person why they wanted to get tested "you don't look like one of those people". I asked a 17 year old girl if she would has sex with a POZ guy. She told me NO! I asked how she would know. She told me “he would look skanky”. We have a LONG way to go yet and I’ll take any help we can get.
I WONDER WOULD THIS GUY TELL THE WORLD IF HE WAS POSTIVE. IM HAVE A HARD DAMN TIME DEALING WITH MY RESULTS. YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DID STEP UP TO PLATE
You bring up a good point. I sense there is a cultural misunderstanding here, between gays who are accustomed to regular testing and straights who are not. It is worthwhile to note that while it is good to understand that HIV could happen to anyone, an HIV test does not necessarily take us there. To see how this can go horribly wrong, look no further than The Gay Community, where seronegative status is a commodity, and negative gay men trumpet their weekly test results to affirm their value as human beings. People are increasingly screening not just their partners, but their platonic friends, citing the virus as a referendum on character. Calls to know people's status are increasingly hostile and accusatory, and outright serophobia and witchunting is increasingly seen in real life. If anything, the testing process has fueled this this quagmire. Many of us cringed when we saw a negative proclamation leap across the sexual divide.
I'm wearing a t shirt saying "undetectable" and there are others that say "tested." I think people should be proud that they are helping to stop the epidemic - that they got tested and if they're positive, that they are adherent to their meds and undetectable - not that wearing a t shirt offers any proof as to their infectiousness - I think it does promote getting tested and reducing stigma - and stopping the epidemic. Get one and wear it. I'll be giving some out free at the AIDS conference.I understand there's pozphobia among many gay people, but I think throwing it in their face is a good way to call them on it. It's no badge of righteousness to be negative. Are they abstinent? Let them wear that t shirt. They are perpetuating the epidemic.
"...Thank God for keeping my body healthy and safe." Really? It was God all along?
So I guess promiscuity is okay as long as God is on your side? Pretty cool! Ummm... altho, what is the logical implication for those who test positive?
Look, if he's not an Olympic diver or gymnast, I personally couldn't care less who he is or what he has to say, but others do. Others seek his autograph, wear his jerseys, toss his balls (pardon any pun), and actually live their lives according to his every act and nuance, so I'll be clear:
"Faith" ranks right down there with "hope" and "luck" when it comes to HIV/AIDS. It's a disease. Period. When you bring religion into it, you confuse and cause harm by inviting a flood of inaccuracies, irrelevancies and outright stigma.
*Get tested because if you are “+” medicine can save your life.
*Get tested because you set a good example for others and it can save their lives.