im def gonna be making apost baout this on my site, thnks cl for being socially conscious (also make sure uw atch b.e.t allday today to get facts/info from ur fave celebs about the plight of african americans living w/ aids, also there will be a special edition of 106 n park tonite)

~unoz~

yes everyone please make sure you wear your red…
get tested…
know your status…
knowing is beautiful…
you’ve seen the commercials…

also dun trust everyone b/c there are people out there, that want to infect/be infected with the virus!! so make sure u get tested, try abstinence,celibacy,sex pleasure, or if u do make luv go w/ ur partner to get tested every few months..especially if u think they may be creeping

There’s nothing wrong with asking your lover to get tested. If they wont do it…… then you walk…

I just don’t get it… why wont people wrap it up? Its..well..embarressing to hear we make up half of that population.

Yeah,. thanks for the post CL. Our people need to be made aware of what this dreadful monster is doing to our generation.

I’m wearing my red ribbon today to help in teh awareness and support those that are infected with HIV/AIDS and also for myself because I am affected, no matter how indirectly it may be.

My beautiful people, please protect and take care of yourselves.

I will be repping red all day, good looking out.

Wow I am in the top ten??? Woo Hoo! But on a serious note red will be the color of the day for me. I can’t stress enough the importance of getting tested. Having SEX with someone unprotected or protected for that matter is not worth your life. Seriously condoms are not full proof but better safe than sorry : /

Am definitely wearing my red ribbon today, AND a red top to be precise. It’s really heartbreaking to know that we (blacks and also South Africa)have the highest growing infection rate in the world.It will be a pitty for us, the black community to be wiped out by this desease.

I was watching a documentary last night of the AIDS orphans in Western Africa, I got so emotional I had to change the channel, many a times we need to really see this so we can get a ‘reality check’ and see the hurt and tragedy that comes with AIDS, most of the time, we tend to put it at the back of our minds, untill someone close to us dies of the desease. Please people, let’s all stand to together and fight this horrible desease and also support those who are affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.

Knowing is beautiful but the best way to protect your self is abstinence. Red is the color for me today. Be safe everyone.

So much has been said about this horrible disease but still our brothas and sistas r dying,common now ppl…know ur status and PRACTICE SAVE SEX!!!

AIDS is a terrible thing. Protecting ourselves is a must but im gonna have to jump on the conservative bandwagon for this, maybe we do need to calm the crazy fucking down if we killing ourselves like this. Maybe, we should just try and find the one that makes us happy and just settle down, its making me nauseous just typing this, but damn its probably necessary to get these numbers down. Look, truthfully sex has become nothing more than real pleasing exercise and it don’t mean nothing anymore. I’m just being real, i have been with a few females and i can’t say i ever cared much for most of them, no disrespect, but the wifey/good gf material is hard to find. I hate saying this cuz im a hoe, but maybe i need to change.
Also the lying in our community needs to stop, if ur gay, one of those DL brothas own up to ur shit and stop playing our females.

There’s a way for people to help those who have aids and cannot afford to buy medications or food for that matter. Motorola has a new “red phone.”Their idea was to get big companies to help the fight against “AIDS in Africa” by creating red-themed products that would in some way financially contribute to African AIDS programmes. Which I think is Brilliant! Please go out and support support support!!!

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk...e_red_motorola_slvr.shtml

I will wear something red today, no doubt.

KNOW YOUR STATUS and PRACTICE SAVE SEX!!!!

When I got tested last month, they had the stats posted of the number of cases in our 7 cities, very alarming and scary. Everyone should be tested at least once a year. It should be mandatory. I worked at a plasma center, and the most cases we had were black male and female 18-23. Very hurtful to see a person break down when they are told they are infected.

Thanks Angel La, that’s pretty important information. We can’t hear it enough until we take heed and get tested often.

Talk about “ring the alarm”…Those facts are very alarming… The #’s are steady rising amongst us. Everyone please please please rap it up.

datdude and glinva yall said it best. guys need to stop lying about fucking guys or stop bed hopping every hoe you see and coming home to your girlfriend/Wife, and females need to really be careful out here. The numbers dont lie

Knowing beats not knowing. Everytime you engage in sex you put you and your partned at risk. A lot of the people have contracted HIV don’t even know they have it. Educate yourself. Call around, there should testing centers in your area (some of which are free).

A peace of mind is priceless….KNOW YOUR STATUS.

I also want to add my thanks to CL for posting this. My uncle died of AIDS back in the 80’s when he was only 27. My dad, who was the epitomy of strength and toughness, came home from seeing him when he was dying almost in tears saying that my uncle was really suffering and he wouldn’t wish that on anyone. They wouldn’t even let us kids see him in his last days, though we did spend time with him after his infection.

Even knowing what I know about AIDS, it is MIND-BOGGLING that AIDS is the leading cause of death among young blacks!!!! And that WE represent over half of all new cases, even though we only make up roughly 13% of the U.S. population. Man, we can do better than this. SMH

1. WRAP IT UP

2. STOP CREEPING ON THE DL

3. STOP SLEEPING INDISCRIMINATELY WITH FOLKS

4. GET TESTED, and MAKE YOUR PARTNER GET TESTED BEFORE YOU SLEEP WITH THEM.

AIDS is a horrible disease, and that fine girl or fine dude could have the disease and not know it. AIDS can incubate for like 6 months after contraction. It can take over a DECADE to show symptoms of this deadly disease.

HIV and AIDS are two different things. You can have HIV without having AIDS. HIV means you carry the virus, and you can pass it on, but you might not develop full-blown AIDS which is the killer. So you cannot tell whether or not someone has the disease just by looking at them or because they don’t feel sick. You could be a carrier of the virus and not even know it. Please people…get tested. I have been, and it is worth knowing.

@ 11,18

Totally agree

I saw a show on Oprah and it was about Aids infection at the end of it they had a piece about brothers on the Down LOw (very shocking).

Anyways this comment is for al the gay brothers out there who are on the Down Low.
If you are gay just say so, it is just ridiculous to pretend you hetero sexual and have unprotected sex with your wife/girlfriend who thinks she is in a monogamous relationship.And then to get infected and give Aids to her as well. Thats just plain wrong your not only making yourself a target to get HIV/aids you are putting her at risk as well and she could lose her life in the process ( so what you doing in fact is killing her )

Also to al the promiscious people out there it not only shows that you have low self esteem if you sleep around with everybody also you are putting your self at risk !! so make sure you use a condome wrap it up PLEASE !!

SAFE SEX !!!!! and even better NO SEX >>> NO Problem

I AM A NURSE AND DURING MY 1ST YEAR IN NURSING I TOOK CARE OF A HANDSOME YOUNG MAN IN HIS EARLY 30′S AND HE HAD FULL BLOWN AIDS. AND THE SCARY THING IS THIS: HE LOOKED COMPLETELY NORMAL. NO LEISONS, NO WEIGHT LOSS– NOTHING. IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME BECAUSE HE COULD EASILY BE AT THE CLUB AND AS FINE AS HE WAS, HE COULD SCOOP UP A FEMALE QUICK. I HEAR PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME, HE/SHE AINT GOT NOTHING—HOW DO YOU KNOW??? YOU SURE CANT GO BY THE WAY SOMEONE LOOKS. PLEASE GET TESTED. PLEASE MAKE YOUR SIGNIFIGANT OTHER GET TESTED–WRAP IT UP–AND LADIES DON’T BE SCARED TO TELL MEN TO WEAR A CONDOM. THAT CAN’T BE STRESSED ENOUGH.

Good post angel la!! Although it will fall on many deaf ears.. @ 11 as long as you wrapping it up I mean do you !!! I know a female my age (24) with Aids.. She dont even look like it. She look normal, but she do be honest with men about here atatus and not surprising to me they still want to be with her. Now that’s the scary shit right there.

I’M REPPIN RED
I’M NEGATIVE AND IT’S A TESTIMONY BEHIND THAT
PROTECT Y’ALL SELVES…BE SAFE…
LUV Y’ALL

IT AINT HARD NOT HAVE SEX, SHIT I BEEN CELIBATE FOR A LONG WHILE NOW. AND THIS IS EVEN MORE CONFIRMATION THAT I WILL WAIT TILL I GET MARRIED. MY HOE DAYS R OVER!

Abstinence is the key.

If not wrap it up.

Women, don’t give away your power and your (self) worth by laying with everybody.

Men, the best part of you is not between your legs. It is in your mind and hands.

Know your status.

I’d rather have a “PEACE” of mind than a “PIECE” of mind any day!

Black people we have got to WAKE UP!!! AIDS is no joke. Sex is beautiful but it is not worth loosing your life over. It cannot be said enough get tested, and use condoms. And we must spread the word to the younger generation. Your kids, nieces and nephews etc.let them know AIDS is a MONSTER.

#25

I ain’t no hoe, but I am going on 3 years now.

It’s been 2 years 5 months and 4 days and lovin’ it!

I got the LOOP to keep me statisfied…..lol

This fact right here caught my eye….damnnnn. I wonder out of that 100 how many are black?????

Every day in the United States, about 100 people of color become infected with HIV

27 u r exactly rite
the younger generation has to wake up
the majority of new infections are with people 18 to 24
there was just a 16 year old murdered in the city that i live in because he infected two men
that’s just unacceptable
kidz please wait…and if not U MUST WRAP IT UP!!

I think everyday should be World AIDS Day. It’s a shame that this has become a “managable disease”. I don’t think a lot of people even take it serious anymore.One of my biggest fears is becoming a statistic, whether it be to black 0n black violence, disease or otherwise.

@31 I totally agree that people don’t take AIDS seriously anymore. With people like Magic (no offense) living with HIV for 15 years and all the stories of people living w/it for a long time they don’t realize that it is still a death sentence.

WOW I HAVE ON RED AND DIDNT EVEN KNOW I WAS REPPIN! I WORE IT CUS TODAY’S MY JOBS CHRISTMAS PARTY

HOLLA FOR WORLD AIDS DAY!

Great post! WRAP IT UP! EVERYDAY SHOULD BE WORLD AIDS DAY!!!

Everyone should get tested. These facts on blacks are disturbing. This infection is killing everyone. Everyone should get tested, Blacks, Whites, Asians, everyone. Be informed. And Be safe.

I MUST MAKE A CONFESSION NO MATTER HOW PEOPLE MAY JUDGE ME CAUSE THIS IS TO HELP SOMEBODY. I AINT NO HOE, AND LIKE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY LIKE MYSELF, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SLEEP WITH MANY FAMOUS MEN. AND YES I GAVE IN A COUPLE OF TIMES. MOST RECENTLY IN OCTOBER WAS RAPPER TERRENCE A.K.A IM NOT TELLIN, BUT I SAID THAT TO SAY THIS, I FELT SO EMPTY AFTERWARDS. HE OFFERED ME MONEY AND GIFTS AND TOLD ME WHEN HE COMES TO MY TOWN, HE WANTED ME TO 1 OF HIS “MISTRESSES”. I GREW UP IN CHURCH AND I KNOW BETTER! SO IN THE WORDS OF JUANITA BYNUM I AM TAKING MY BODY BACK AND NO MORE SHEETS!

Don’t take this the wrong way, I’m just trying to educate.

#21, your comment is very ignorant and insensitive. It’s not so easy to just say ‘ok, i’m gay’. That means you’re welcoming prejudice, exclusion, risk of abuse, etc. No one wants to go through that.

Should all that have been raped say so? Should all that have herpes wear a headband? Should all who are agnostic wear a special ribbon daily? No.

And not every guy who is gay is DL. DL means you live a straight life, you don’t do ‘gay’ functions, friends, etc…very very few guys are DL. Most are just DISCREET! Everyone should be discreet in all that you do.

So, all in all, think before you speak.

Taj The Photographer said:
——————————————————————————–

I think everyday should be World AIDS Day. It’s a shame that this has become a “managable disease”. I don’t think a lot of people even take it serious anymore.One of my biggest fears is becoming a statistic, whether it be to black 0n black violence, disease or otherwise.

——————————————————

Such Magnificence said:

Taj me too…and alot of people aren’t taking HIV seriously anymore 1. b.cuz so many people have it and 2. people are living longer due to the newer medicines and such.

I’m not gonna lie I am scared straight…I say reading updated stats on HIV and other STDs b.cuz I want to know whats out there and I want to protect myself.
I am always preaching safe sex and abstinence b.cuz you just don’t know…even if you have been with the same lover for years what if they slept around on you. There is always that damn “what if”.

My 15 year old god-sister’s first boyfriend and sexual partner who is only 16 gave her THREE STDs!!!

Not one but THREE STDS…and we have to wait 6 months and pray he didn’t give her HIV! Shit is too real out here…

*I stay reading*…sorry about the typo.

dont have sex in the dark and get tested together…before engaging in sexual activity with one another is the best advice i can give… carry your stat in your (wallet/pocketbook) like you would any other important docutment

@32, I disagree with you. It’s not a death sentence. Alot of you may know me by another name on here, but I’m anonymous now, because I found out I was HIV positive 1 yr ago. When I didn’t know much about it I was scared and just figured I’m going to die. Now that I’m alot more knowledgeable about the disease I know that you can still live a full life. But you have to take care of yourself, and know your status early enough. There are people that have lived 35 yrs and with the new medications can live up to 50 yrs with the disease.

But it does have a downside. Since I’ve been diagnosed, I can’t just walk up to people or someone I might be intersted in and see what happens. Now I think about how and when should I tell that person I’m positive. Most people act nice and say they’re ok with it, while others, who dont know anythng about the disease ( like I was before I got it) get scared and disapear. It can be lonely. But I feel like the old person has died and a new one has come into existence. I’m a more driven person, and set on accomplishing my goals. I’m more health conscience now. In a weird way being pos. is a gift and a curse for me. There are even ways that you can still have kids.

I believe everyday they’re gonna find a cure. This disease is only about 25 yrs old. Majic said on Oprah when he first was diagnosed 15 yrs ago there were only 3 pills he could take, now there are 24. With that being said. Still be careful. I never thought it would happen to me. And I wish I knew someone close who had it. It would make me more aware of this disease. But in the black community, we dont talk about it, just like we dont talk about homosexuality in the church. These issues aren’t going away, so we need to be accpeting of people in this world. Black people have a big problem with that.

Just be safe, cuz as much I’m safe now, there are kats out there that know their pos, don’t care, or don’t know, and pass it on!

If you have any questions, you can hit me back on here or email me at junkyspammail@yahoo.com. The more you know about this the smarter you’ll be.

My god-sister learned on her first experience…sex ain’t nothing to play with.

I’m not ashamed to say I get tested…even though I was involved in a monogamous relationship. My mother almost died when she found out I get tested…she was like why are you doing that?

I had to put her up on game for real…I don’t understand why people are ashamed to get tested. Its not only sexually responsible but socially responsible as well.

I know I’m going to want to get involved in another relationship one day and I want to be 100% positive about my status. I pray that others would do the same…like someone on here stated before condoms DO NOT guarantee 100% protection okay.

Damn sisters! Y’all gotta take control of yourslves! Tell that nigga, NO! Stay away from drunk nightclubing fools! Party at home with yo family and neighbors! Be more deliberate in the relationship and look for alternatives! Sisters don’t deserve to be hit so hard by this $#!T!

Damn gay azz niggas and down low brothers! I wish Angel La had more statistics on these guys that go both ways! That wicked $#!T just ain’t right! It’s a pitiful shame that a man or woman would know that they’re infected and pass it on!

One day the government should require infected men to be marked! A simple tattoo on the his hip would identify these murderers and curve the spread. If someone has infected you, sisters…I think you should expose his azz! I know it will cost you some dignity, but future generations will reap the benefits.

For a women the virus is like a hollow point bullet! Sure to kill! A womens body provides the perfect environment for the virus and the desease to exist! I wish someone would post the HIV statistics on black college campuses! You’d be amazed to hear numbers as high as 40%!

Developing…!

#41 thanks for sharing your story. I don’t think that HIV is a death wish…but it is not too be taken lightly.

I must admit your story is very enlightening and positive…I think its great that you are keeping it real with people by being straight up about your status and offering your email addy to enlighten others.

FATHER GOD IN THE NAME OF JESUS I ASK AND I PRAY FOR PEACE OF MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. U HAVE BLESSED ME THIS FAR AND HAVE SPARED MY LIFE! U HAVE TAUGHT ME AND MADE ME LEARN NOT TO GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION. AND YES, I KNOW EVERYTHING IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE, BUT MY LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND I LOVE IT! ALL THE FORNICATION IN MY LIFE HAS HELPED ME. AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER BEEN PROMISICOUS, EACH TIME I TOOK A CHANCE. BUT STILL IN ALL, GOD U SHOWED YOUR MERCY AND GRACE ON ME AND FOR THAT I AM FOREVER MORE THANKFUL.

TO DA REST OF YALL, I MEET AND SEE FINE MEN EVERYDAY AND BE LIKE DAMN!!!! I WORK FRONT DESK AT A HOTEL SO I SEE ALL KIND OF MOFO’S. I AINT GON LIE, I BE WISHIN I CAN DO WHAT I DO BUT WE LIVIN IN A DAY IN TIME THAT THIS WORLD JUST AINT SAFE NO MORE. IN FACT, ITS GETTING WORSE. I LOOK GOOD AND I AM HEALTHY AND I WOULD LIKE TO STAY THAT WAY. YOUR PAST IS NOT WHAT MAKES YOU, BUT YOUR PRESENT IS WHAT’S GONNA ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE. BE SAFE YALL AND LEARN FROM 1 ANOTHER.

The problems is our babies are having sex. I’m sorry, but if you are under 17 or 18, while your body is physically able, your mind cannot fully comprehend the life-long consequences of your actions.

16 year olds are not ready to take care of babies, and they are not thinking about getting deadly STDs like AIDS. They just don’t completely grasp the severity of having sex. That is something that comes with age and experience. Our society has sexualized our children in videos and movies, and they think they are grown, but they aren’t!

#37, I agree with #21. She didn’t generalize about all gays, she was very specific and said to brothers on the DL who are basically BI, and PRETENDING TO BE STRAIGHT when they are not. I’m sorry, but I don’t care what their fears are, but it is selfish and wrong to lie to someone about your sexuality. Be honest and let them decide if they want to deal with that. It’s never OK to lie about your sexuality to your partner. If you grown enough to put your woman at risk by lying, then be man enough to deal with the consequences.

43
what do u mean by gays and dl brothers
women need to understand that there is a difference between gay and bisexual men..that’s why there is so much dl creepin and infection
gay men do not pose a threat to females as far as infection is concerned…they are sleepin only with other men…and actually infection rates among gay men are down….its man to woman contact by BI SEXUAL brothers that it whats infecting us women

Just a bit of info:

Every 3 months or so, I get my CD4 and my viral load checked..

CD4 is the white cells in your immune system that keep it going, a healthy person is generally aroun 800-1000

Viral Load is how much the virus has multiplied in your body. I’m not 100% but I think when your CD4 count hits around 200 and your viral load is around 200,000 then you’re classified as having AIDS.

Because eating fatty and unhealty food breaks your immune system down, it’s very important to eat healthy and to stay away from high fatty foods, also regular excercise…things we should be doing anyway.

Most people with HIV don’t look it. The people that are just hella skinny usually just need to gain weight. I get hit on like everyday. I think that’s what makes it hard, cuz in my mind I just think “If they only knew”.

The doctors like to say in about 10 yrs of infection, basically you can die. That’s an old statistic. I had to talk to other people to learn that you can live longer. Magic is one example.

Just because u have HIV doesn’t mean you can have unprotected sex with another person with HIV, you can reinfect yourself. The other person can have a different strain of HIV than you have.

When I think of some more, I’ll put some more up…

I decided to make a yearly commiment (they will take it out monthly)to donate money to the Children w/ AIDS fund. It dented my pockets a lil’, but its worth it!!!!

————————————————–

Now, I hate those dayum stats.

(1) WE ARE A MINORITY

(2) THERE ARE MORE BLKS IN AFRICA THAN THE US AND SO OFCOURSE MORE BLK CHILDREN WOULD HAVE IT…MANY OFTHEM LIVE IN AFRICA

(3) THEY ARE REALLY SNEAKY B/C THEY DISTINGUISH BTW BLK AMERICANS AND BLK AFRICANS

(4) THEY ARE JUST WRONG WRONG WRONG AND MY BLOOD BOILS EVEN THINKING ABOUT TYPING MY JUSTIFICATION B/C IT WOULD BE LOOONG, SO ILL REFRAME

—————————————————–

People, of any color, plz get tested! It only takes 20 minutes of your life to find out ur status and the wait/worry will be over. Most clinicians get over 80% of a neighborhood to get tested, but when the 20 min. wait is up and the results are in, they DO NOT come back for their results…SAD…AND IF U ARE THAT DAMN SCARED, STOP HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX….

(1) Tell ur bf/gf that its ur choice and no rubber, then no booty.

(2) THINK ABOUT UR UNBORN BABIES THAT U COULD POSSIBLY CONCEIVE. Why should they be marked with the scarlet letter, so to speak, forever b/c u just had to get it in and protection didnt “feel right”…that’s bullshit

If someone loves you, they respect your honest, substantiated opinions.

(3) So what if he/she leaves you…no amount of lovin’ or sexing is worth my life!

(4) Practice celibacy or abstinence(sp?)…those ARE still choices.lol

Peace, Love, and Blessings be with you.

Have a great day…Carpe Diem, & Cavate! Too many ppl never got the chance to and wish they could have.

Preventing HIV infection
© The Terrence Higgins Trust 1997

This booklet is for people who want to understand how they can protect themselves or others from HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. It describes how HIV can be passed from one person to another, and how this can be prevented. (material reproduced with kind permission from the The Terrence Higgins Trust - visit their informative website for further information)

If you would like to talk to someone about HIV and AIDS, please telephone the Terrence Higgins Helpline:
0171-242 1010 12 noon - 10 pm, every day of the year. revised Jan 1998 © The Terrence Higgins Trust

CONTENTS
What are HIV and AIDS?

How is HIV passed on?

Who has HIV?

HIV and sex

Safer drug use

HIV and health care

HIV and pregnancy

Towards the future

——————————————————————————–

What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus attacks the human immune system, the body’s defence against disease.

A person with HIV may feel completely well and have no symptoms. However over a long period of time the virus may damage the immune system. As a result the body may not be able to fight off certain rare illnesses and cancers. When this happens the person is said to have AIDS.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The ’syndrome’ is a collection of rare illnesses which people with HIV can get if their immune system is weakened by the virus.

How is HIV passed on?

HIV is not a very infectious virus. It cannot pass through unbroken skin, or through the air like cold germs. It cannot be passed on through ordinary social contact. People with HIV and AIDS live and work with uninfected people without putting them at any risk.

There are three main ways in which HIV can pass from someone who has HIV to an uninfected person:
through having sexual intercourse (sex where the penis enters the vagina or anus), without using a condom or Femidom (the female condom)
through sharing drug injecting equipment
from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or birth, or through breastfeeding.

It is very uncommon for HIV to be passed on in any other way. However a small number of people have been infected from giving oral sex to a man with HIV (sucking his penis), and there have been a few cases of health care workers (doctors, nurses etc) being infected through accidents with needles while caring for patients with HIV.

In the past, people who were given blood transfusions, blood factor treatments (for haemophilia) or organ transplants sometimes became infected because the donor had HIV. All blood and organ donations in the UK are now screened to prevent this happening, though it is still a risk in some parts of the world.

HOW INFECTION HAPPENS

HIV can only be passed from a person with HIV to another person in the following body fluids:
blood ”
seminal fluid (”cum”)
vaginal fluid, including menstrual fluid
breast milk

Infection can only happen if HIV - in one of the body fluids listed above - gets into someone else’s bloodstream. This can only happen in certain ways:
through the internal linings (membranes) of the genitals (sexual organs) and rectum (back passage)

For men this means through the rectum or the urethra (the tube in the penis). HIV may also pass through the glans (the head of the penis)

For women, this means through the vagina, the cervix (the entrance to the womb), the urethra term(the urethra is in front of the vagina) and the rectum

directly into the bloodstream, such as when someone sticks a needle into a vein very rarely, through the eyes, mouth or throat
if HIV (from the mother) crosses the placenta before birth, or during birth when the baby is in contact with large quantities of its mother’s blood and vaginal secretions, or after birth through breast feeding (a baby’s mouth and throat is more sensitive than an adult’s, so a baby is far more susceptible to infection by this route).

The saliva, sweat and urine of someone who has HIV do not contain enough virus to infect another person.

OTHER ROUTES OF TRANSMISSION

There are no recorded cases of people becoming infected with HIV by the following activities, but other more infectious viruses carried in the blood, such as hepatitis, certainly could be passed in these ways:
any procedure in which piercing equipment is used, such as tattooing, ear-piercing and acupuncture, if the equipment is not sterile. It is wise to go to a respectable and accredited practitioner who uses disposable needles and sterilised equipment
sharing toothbrushes and razors is best avoided. It is basic good hygiene not to share such personal items but to keep your own brush and razor separate and identifiable.

IS IT A RISK?

Remember that for someone to be infected with HIV, three things must all be present. They can be summed up as source, quantity and route:
source: HIV can only by transmitted in certain body fluids of someone with HIV
quantity: only blood, seminal fluid, vaginal fluids and breast milk of someone with HIV contain enough HIV to infect another person
route: there has to be a route for the HIV into the blood stream in order for a person to become infected

If you are worried that you could have been at risk or you are not sure whether a particular activity is risky, you could talk it through with someone on a Helpline. There are phone numbers at the end of this booklet.

Who has HIV?

WHO HAS BEEN MOST AFFECTED BY HIV?

Although anyone may become infected with HIV, some UK communities have been affected more than others:
HIV is most common amongst gay men in the UK. Up to one in five gay men in London and up to one in twenty outside London have HIV

Men and women who inject drugs (and their sexual partners) have been affected because of HIV being passed through sharing drug injecting equipment. Of those who have tested for HIV, about one in forty have HIV. This figure may be nearer one in fifteen in London

HIV has spread rapidly by sex between men and women in parts of Africa. Many of the men and women in the UK who were infected through sex with the opposite sex are people who have lived in or visited Africa.

People who have unsafe sex within these groups are at increased risk of meeting a partner who has HIV.

In addition, numbers of people (almost all men or boys) with haemophilia were infected with HIV through blood products used in haemophilia therapy. Sexual partners of some of the men infected in this way were also infected. Haemophilia treatments used in the UK are now safe from HIV.

Levels of HIV infection remain highest within these population groups. At the moment it is very uncommon in the UK amongst people who have had no sexual contact with them. However, HIV and safer sex is an issue for everyone, and increasingly so:

there is a slow but real spread of HIV in the UK amongst women, and amongst men who have never had sex with men, including men and women with no links to the communities described above

people in the UK have been infected by sexual partners who they never dreamt could have HIV

HIV is more common in the general population of some parts of the world than it is in the UK. There are higher rates of infection in parts of the US, Africa and Asia, and in some European countries including Spain and Italy. So for both men and women, sex without a condom while travelling abroad could be a bigger risk than sex at home.

DO I HAVE HIV?

Many people feel they have some idea of whether they have HIV or not. Perhaps you suspect that you could have, based on things you have done in the past. You can never really be sure unless you have an HIV test, and deciding to have a test can be difficult - there is a big difference between thinking you may have a serious medical condition and finding out that you definitely have. Some people choose to delay having an HIV test until the time feels right. Others decide that there are advantages to knowing, such as access to anti-HIV treatments, which make it worthwhile.

If you are thinking about having an HIV test, see the Terrence Higgins Trust’s booklet Testing Issues for more information to help you decide.

It can sometimes be tempting to make guesses about sexual partners too: “this person could never have HIV” or “I know this person so well now, I just know they have not got HIV.” But there is no easy way to tell if someone has HIV or not, and they may not know themselves. Many people with HIV are healthy and well after several years of living with the virus, so you cannot tell from how someone looks, or how well you know them, whether or not they have HIV.

IF YOU HAVE HIV

Whether you think you have HIV, or know that you do, safer sex and safer drug use will not only prevent you infecting other people. They will also help you stay healthy:
you will avoid getting infected with other strains of the virus which may be resistant to treatments which could benefit you
you will avoid getting other infections which could be difficult to treat if your immune system is damaged by HIV (although many of these are more infectious than HIV and may be avoided only with even ’safer’ sex than what is described below).

For more information about sex and living with HIV, see the Terrence Higgins Trust’s leaflet Sex Positive (for gay men) or Living with HIV & AIDS (available from NAM Publications, 0171-627 3200).

PREVENTING INFECTION The rest of this booklet gives detailed information about the ways in which you can avoid getting HIV from other people or giving it to them. These are:
safer sex - using condoms or Femidoms if you have penetrative sex, or avoiding penetration
safer drug use - making sure that you always use new drug injecting equipment if you inject drugs
reducing the risk of transmission during and after pregnancy.

There is also more information on how HIV transmission is prevented in medical settings.

HIV and sex

If someone has HIV, it can be passed to another person through anal or vaginal sex. This can happen whether the person with HIV is doing the penetrating or being penetrated.

If either you or your partner has HIV (or could have HIV), the only way to protect each other when having sex is to have safer sex.

SAFER SEX

Safer sex principally means using condoms or Femidoms (the female condom) and lubricant if you have penetrative sex, or having sex where the penis does not penetrate the vagina or anus.

It is “safer” not safe sex, because there will always be a tiny risk (for example, condoms can break), but the risk can be made so small that it does not interfere with enjoyment of sex.

As well as preventing HIV transmission, safer sex protects against most other sexually transmitted infections (STDs). Some STDs can do serious long-term damage if they are not treated promptly.

Safer sex will also prevent pregnancy.

This section gives a general overview of safer sex. Other Terrence Higgins Trust publications provide information about safer sex for particular groups of people:
Safer sex for gay men
HIV and AIDS - information for women
Reducing the risks (for drug users)
HIV and AIDS - information for lesbians

SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH A CONDOM OR FEMIDOM

Condoms and Femidoms (the female condom) can make penetrative sexual intercourse - anal or vaginal - very much safer. Condoms and Femidoms will also protect from most other sexually transmitted infections.

The male condom

Condoms with the British Kitemark or the new European CEN mark are recommended for use in vaginal sexual intercourse. No condoms have been scientifically tested for anal sex, but extra strong condoms such as Durex Ultra Strong and Mates Super Strong are widely used.

Standard and extra strong condoms are available free from family planning clinics, genitourinary medicine clinics (known as GUM clinics or STD clinics) and some GPs. Extra strong condoms are sometimes available free from gay venues. Not all chemists stock extra strong condoms.

Most condoms are already lubricated, but extra lubricant should always be used for anal sex to help prevent damage to the rectum or the condom. Vaginal sex is safer and more pleasurable with extra lubricant, particularly when the vagina is dry. Put the lubricant on the condom when it is on the penis, or on the anus or the entrance to the vagina before penetration. To increase the penis’s sensitivity, some people also like to put a dab of lubricant inside the tip of the condom before it is put on - don’t use a lot, or the condom could come off. Water-based lubricants, such as KY jelly or Boots own brand, are safe to use with latex condoms (all recommended male condoms are made of latex). Oil-based lubricants, such as Vaseline or massage oils, will damage latex and make the condom unsafe.

Nonoxynol-9 is a chemical used on some ready-lubricated condoms and in spermicidal creams. As well as killing sperm it provides some protection against HIV and other STDs. But some men and women are allergic to it - it can cause abrasions (roughness) and this increases vulnerability to HIV. If you experience discomfort with a product containing nonoxynol-9, stop using it. Lubricants such as KY and Boots own have no spermicidal properties and will not cause irritation.

The female condom

Femidoms (female condoms) also carry the Kitemark. Like Kitemarked male condoms, they protect against HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.They can be used with most lubricants because they are made of plastic, not latex. They sit inside the vagina instead of fitting onto the penis. If you are using lubricant with a Femidom, put it inside the Femidom or on the penis.

Although designed for use in the vagina, a Femidom can also be inserted into the anus for anal sex. It can be worn by a man as a baggy condom for vaginal or anal sex. Some people remove the Femidom’s inner ring before using it for anal sex or as a baggy condom. If it is used for anal sex, lubricant should be put on the inside and outside of the Femidom. Femidoms have not been scientifically tested for use as a baggy male condom or for anal sex.

Condoms are sometimes criticised as being unreliable, based on their failure rate as a contraceptive. In fact, condom failure is usually due to incorrect use or not enough lubricant. It is important to follow the instructions carefully. Neither male nor female condoms should ever be reused.

ORAL SEX

It is very rare for HIV to be passed to someone giving oral sex to a man with HIV. Not one single case is known of a person being infected by giving oral sex to a woman with HIV.

Sucking the penis of a man with HIV

As far as we know, this is the only kind of oral sex in which HIV can be passed on, but the risk is still very small. Though there is enough virus in semen to infect another person, it is difficult for the virus to survive in the mouth, and it is difficult for the virus to get from the mouth into the bloodstream. Gay men - who have been the most affected by HIV in the UK - continue using oral sex as a successful form of safer sex.

There are about a dozen cases of HIV world-wide where infection is believed to have taken place by this route. If you are the person doing the sucking, and your partner has, or could have, HIV:
HIV could be passed on if he comes in your mouth and you have cuts or sores in your mouth or a throat infection
if you have gonorrhoea in your throat this can cause abrasions (roughness), making you more vulnerable to HIV. Gonorrhoea can be passed on during oral sex.

If you are the man whose penis is being sucked, you can make it safer for your partner by withdrawing before coming. Some people choose to be even safer by using condoms. Watch out for lipstick or lip salve as these are oil based and will damage condoms.

Other kinds of oral sex

Licking the labia or clitoris of a woman who has HIV is even less risky than oral sex with a man who has HIV. This is because there is less virus in vaginal fluid at the entrance to the vagina than in semen. If menstrual fluid (blood) is also present there will be more virus, but it is still very unlikely to get through the mouth lining of the person doing the licking. There are no confirmed reports of infection occurring by this route.

When the person who is doing the sucking or licking has HIV, there is no risk to the partner who is having his penis sucked or her labia licked, because there is not enough HIV in saliva to infect another person.

OTHER SEXUAL ACTIVITIES

Anal-oral contact

(rimming, licking a man or woman’s anus). HIV is not transmitted in this way, though this is a route for transmission of other infections. If you have HIV it can be dangerous to lick your partner’s anus as you could get an infection that could lead to serious illness. A dental dam (oral shield) or a piece of non-microwaveable clingfilm placed over the anus will prevent infections being passed during rimming.

Sharing sex toys

If a sex toy such as a vibrator or dildo is used to penetrate both partners, the virus could be passed on. A dildo should be washed between users, or a fresh condom put on it.

Cuts and injuries.

If sex results in cuts or broken skin, it is good basic hygiene to cover the wound with a waterproof plaster.

Other sexual activities like deep kissing, body rubbing, fingering and mutual masturbation will not transmit the virus.

SAFER SEX AND COMMUNICATION

Communication is important in all sex, but it is especially important if you want to have safer sex.

Try to be clear with your partner from the start that you want to have safer sex. This may mean that you need to talk about safer sex before you’re in a situation together where sex could happen.

Don’t risk being unprepared - the right moment for sex could arrive when neither of you has condoms with you. Don’t rely on your partner to provide the condoms and lubricant. Remember also that you don’t have to have intercourse to have good sex: you can explore ways of having fun together without intercourse.

Talking about sex sometimes feels awkward or embarrassing. It may seem easier to just let things take their course. But delaying the discussion until you are both sexually aroused could mean the discussion doesn’t happen. Perhaps your partner was hoping you would raise the subject first.

Although talking about sex can be difficult, it can also be fun - some people find that discussing sex can be a great way of turning each other on.

GETTING USED TO CONDOMS

Some people have said that stopping to put on a condom kills spontaneity and deadens sensation. It would be foolish to suggest that intercourse with a condom is exactly the same as intercourse without. But many people have made condoms an integral part of a satisfying sex life.

Getting out the condoms before any sexual activity has taken place can raise the sexual temperature: a hint of what is to follow. Rolling a condom down your partner’s penis (or your partner rolling one down yours - whatever applies) can be a sexy experience for both of you.

RELATIONSHIPS

If you are in a relationship (or starting one), the prospect of always having safer sex may be daunting. Some people choose not to use condoms in this situation. However, this is only a reliable way of avoiding HIV infection if you know that neither of you has HIV, and you are confident that neither of you will have unsafe sex with anyone else.

Having an HIV test is the only way of being sure that this strategy will work. For more information, see the Terrence Higgins Trust’s booklet Testing Issues

Safer Drug Use

Sharing any drug injecting equipment (works) can easily lead to HIV and other diseases carried in the blood (such as hepatitis B and C) being passed on. Works are not just the needle and syringe but include spoons, mixing dishes, filters, water and citric acid.

If you inject drugs, use a new needle and syringe each time and don’t share any injecting equipment. New equipment can be bought from some chemists, or is available free from needle exchanges, most drug agencies and some chemists. Look out for this sign:

In most needle exchanges you do not have to literally exchange old needles for new ones. You should be able to get a supply of new, sterilised needles.

Get rid of your used works carefully. Needle exchange schemes provide sharps or ‘cin’ bins for safe disposal. If you do not have one, put the needle and syringe into a tin can, crush carefully to ensure they do not fall out, then place in a bin.

Cleaning works

It is best to go to a needle exchange and get a new set of works. But if sharing is impossible to avoid, works can be cleaned between users as a last resort. Cleaning works will kill HIV, but not hepatitis C. Hep C is more common among drug users than HIV and can have serious long-term effects.

This is what you should do to clean works:

draw fresh cold water through the needle into the syringe and flush x 3
draw household bleach through the needle into the syringe and flush x 3
draw fresh cold water through the needle into the syringe and flush x 3

The bleach should stay in the syringe for 30 seconds. Remember not to flush out into the clean water.

Do not use hot water: it will make the blood congeal so traces may be left behind. Boiling works may not remove all the blood for the same reason, and anyway disposable works usually buckle if boiled.

The Terrence Higgins Trust leaflet Reducing the Risks gives more information about keeping as healthy as you can if you are a drug user.

If you are concerned about your own or a friend or partner’s drug use, you could contact the Terrence Higgins Trust for support and information about further help available.

HIV and health care

HIV AND DONATED BLOOD AND ORGANS

Before it was known that AIDS is caused by a virus carried in the blood, a number of people became infected through transfusions of blood donated by people with HIV.

The UK blood supply is now one of the safest in the world. All donations are tested for HIV antibodies (the test which shows whether HIV is present). People from population groups which have been severely affected by HIV are asked not to give blood, because there is a gap (the window period) between infection and an accurate test result. A newly infected person could unwittingly donate during this time. Blood used for blood transfusions must be used whole and untreated, and it must be used quite quickly, so these measures ensure the supply remains as safe as possible.

You cannot get HIV from donating blood.

In some countries of the world, infection through blood transfusion is still a significant risk, due to lack of resources to ensure the safety of the blood supply. Travellers can telephone MASTA at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (0891-224100) or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Consular Department’s Travel Office (0171-270 3000) for up-to-date information and advice.

People with haemophilia are treated with blood products derived from donated blood. Before the link between HIV and AIDS was understood, many people with haemophilia became infected because they were given blood products derived from infected blood. Blood products for use in haemophilia treatment can be heated, and this kills HIV. Treatment with blood products is now safe from HIV in the UK.

All organ donors are now tested for HIV.

HIV AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Health care workers are sometimes said to be at particular risk of getting HIV, either from sprays or spillage of infected blood, or injuries from needles. In fact, the standard infection control measures (”universal precautions”) designed to protect against hepatitis B in health care settings will also protect against HIV transmission. Hepatitis B and HIV have similar modes of transmission with one key difference: HIV is much less infectious than hepatitis B.

Though many thousands of patients with HIV have been cared for in hospitals and clinics around the world, only a handful of health care workers have become infected. Where this has happened it has generally been because the standard safety procedures were not followed. These procedures are:
wear gloves when mopping up body fluids and giving injections
wear goggles if blood may spurt during surgery
point needles away from your body
do not resheath needles after use
do not leave needles lying around
dispose of used needles carefully in sharps containers and incinerate them

It is sometimes suggested that health care workers with HIV might be a risk to their patients. Extensive follow up of patients cared for by workers with HIV has revealed only one case in the world of a worker whose patients may have been infected. This was an American dentist, and it remains unclear whether he did actually infect his patients and, if he did, how this happened.

Reducing the risk of transmission during and after pregnancy

A woman living with HIV who wishes to become pregnant may have particular anxieties about the health of her baby. The chance of the virus being transmitted to the baby is about one in seven. It can happen before or during birth or through breast feeding. In parts of the world with lower standards of general health, transmission from a woman with HIV to her baby is more likely.

Viral load and mother-to-baby transmission before and during birth

Viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood. If a woman with HIV has low viral load it is less likely that the virus will be passed to her baby than if she has high viral load. However, even if viral load is very low, there is still a chance that HIV will be transmitted.

Among people with HIV who have not had anti-HIV treatments, viral load is highest during the weeks immediately after infection and when they start to become ill. So a woman with HIV might reduce the risk to her baby by becoming pregnant while she is healthy rather than delaying until she has become ill.

Viral load can often be reduced by taking anti-HIV drugs. Research has shown that if the anti-HIV drug AZT is taken by the mother during the last six months of her pregnancy and while giving birth, and given to the baby for a few weeks after birth, the baby’s chances of infection will be reduced by up to two thirds. No significant side effects of exposing babies to AZT before and after birth have yet been reported, but the long-term effects are not known. Taking the drug in this way may also affect the mother’s own future treatment options.

Caesarean section

There is evidence that delivery by Caesarean section will reduce the chance of infection during birth. More evidence is needed before this potentially hazardous procedure can be routinely recommended to pregnant women with HIV.

Breast feeding

The breast milk of a woman with HIV contains enough virus to infect a baby during breast feeding. In regions with a poor water supply, using substitutes for breast milk can be a greater risk to babies’ health than HIV, and women with HIV are advised to breast feed. In parts of the world where the water supply is safe, women with HIV are recommended not to breast feed.

Talking to health care workers

Many doctors and midwives will be helpful and supportive to a woman with HIV who wants a child. A few are less so. It can be very hard for a woman with HIV to tell her health care workers she is pregnant or wants to be, if she suspects they will try to change her mind. Staff with experience of working with women who have HIV are likely to be the best informed and most supportive.

Towards the future

In time the development of a vaccine may prevent new HIV infections throughout the world. Until that happens we all need to know how to protect ourselves and each other. HIV infection is preventable, but we need to understand how. Often we need support to help us act on our knowledge.

Honest, sex-positive sex education will help prepare young people for adulthood, but it is not always available in this country. Particularly important is a sex education which will help young people to feel confident and good about their sexuality (and this includes young gay men, lesbians and bisexuals), and which gives them information about sexual health which is relevant to them. Confidence and self esteem help everyone achieve a healthy sex life.

Sticking to safer sex is not always easy, and the same can be true for safer drug use. We are all human after all. Even in the UK, people are becoming newly infected all the time.

If you are finding that safer sex or safer drug use is a struggle, why not call one of the Helplines to talk it through. They are there to give support, or just to listen. Many HIV organisations, including the Terrence Higgins Trust, also have counsellors you can talk to face-to-face.

© 1996 -1998 The Terrence Higgins Trust Charity Registration No. 288527

I’ll wear red, but the (RED) campaign supports Africa’s aids problem, not the US? Dang where is our campaign? Jesse?

Ladies,and men, a good indication of someone with HIV is having swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are the parts of your body that make white blood cells and help the immune system fight disease. Because during the HIV infection, your lymph nodes are working overtime and tend to get large. Someone with HIV may have swollen lymph nodes on their neck, underarms, or groin region.

You can anoymously search for these areas during 4play. You can ask to give the person a massage, while massaging, check those key areas. They generally feel pretty hard and are about the size of like a raisen under the skin. If you notice, ask them “what is that” under curiousty. They may use the excuse it’s always there. Or if they don’t know either, that can be a sign to just cool it down a little.

If you’ve had unprotected sex you should get tested, then get tested 3months after that. The virus can sit in your body for 3 months before it gets to a point where it’s making you feel sick. When I felt something wasn’t right, it felt like I had the flew. My stomach was hurting, and I didnt feel really good. I’m not a sickly person and it was during the summer so I knew something was up. It’s your body trying to control the virus, after a while, your body is in control of it. some people dont even get sick….

#48..thank you!

New strands of HIV are being formed daily. Ppl w/ HIV sleeping w/ other w/ HIV w/o protection is very detrimental. They will then have 2 strands of HIV and the meds that they are on were designed for a specific one.

————————
More stats that ppl dont hear too much about

(as of 2005)

~6.7% of HIV is through intravenous drug use/blood transfusion

~63% of the HIV/AIDS Population is Homosexual males (watch out for men on the DL, women…and homosexual men, watch out for nasty-ass bi-sexual DL men…it could happen)

~0.1% of the world population is immune to HIV…they have been linked to ancestors during the Bubonic Plague (research was done after several homosexual men in places in Europe who were promiscuous w/ HIV carriers were not found to have contracted it…I dont know how but they prob injected the disease into those men (there werent really any research ethics in those earlier days) and they still tested negative for it)

Aids is not a death sentence—but it should be taken VERY seriously:

Many ppl diagnosed with HIV and later full-bloomed AIDS go one to get married, through AI, they have babies, who, inturn, w/ the right medication during pregnancy and in the early years, test NEGATIVE for the virus

The difference btw HIV and AIDS is a T-cell count.

When your T-Cells reach 200, you are diagnosed with AIDS.

AIDS and HIV are asymptomatic (sp)…

Ppl over the age of 60 are JUST being diagnosed….do you want to wait THAT long to be diagnosed??? (I worked as a shadow at a clinic where I live and it was devasting to see these senior citizens finding out their status.

#52—not NECESSARILY true..will ur scenario is the case….they can also arise from thyroids.

@PO BOI — i think that’s the point #21 was tryna make….. it’s not fair to “play str8″ and then come back home and lay with your wife/girlfriend when you know you’re bi sexual, gay ,what have you…… discretion is fine, deception is not.

@55—I couldnt have said it better!

on Friday, December 1, 2006 @ 10:27 am

Be Safe said:
——————————————————————————–

Ladies,and men, a good indication of someone with HIV is having swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are the parts of your body that make white blood cells and help the immune system fight disease. Because during the HIV infection, your lymph nodes are working overtime and tend to get large. Someone with HIV may have swollen lymph nodes on their neck, underarms, or groin region.

You can anoymously search for these areas during 4play. You can ask to give the person a massage, while massaging, check those key areas. They generally feel pretty hard and are about the size of like a raisen under the skin. If you notice, ask them “what is that” under curiousty. They may use the excuse it’s always there. Or if they don’t know either, that can be a sign to just cool it down a little.

If you’ve had unprotected sex you should get tested, then get tested 3months after that. The virus can sit in your body for 3 months before it gets to a point where it’s making you feel sick. When I felt something wasn’t right, it felt like I had the flew. My stomach was hurting, and I didnt feel really good. I’m not a sickly person and it was during the summer so I knew something was up. It’s your body trying to control the virus, after a while, your body is in control of it. some people dont even get sick….

Bill Said:

Thank You for sharing.

I’m sure you are aware of Magic Johnson.

One can live with the HIV virus for many years…

a dear, dear friend of mine lived with HIV for over 22 years…Her name was Carolyn Jenkins Pineda
her website is http://www.yaskus.org/bio/

Carolyn Jenkins Pineda went home to be with the Lord in October of 2006.

She had STOPPED taking her medication…I think that’s why she passed…

glad to see everyone making a big deal out of this. i hope it encourages alot of change.

on Friday, December 1, 2006 @ 10:31 am

first time said:
——————————————————————————–

@PO BOI — i think that’s the point #21 was tryna make….. it’s not fair to “play str8″ and then come back home and lay with your wife/girlfriend when you know you’re bi sexual, gay ,what have you…… discretion is fine, deception is not.

Bill Said:
I Cosign 101 %
Selah & Amen !!!!!

it not fair to deceive people…that’s just not right..

@54, ok…I’m still learning myself.

@54…I take that back. I believe tyroids are just in the head, around the neck, and tend to do with growth and weight gain, you’re not gonna have a tyroid under your arms or groin region. I had to think about that for a second. Your thyroid is in your brian…the base of the brain.

wow i didn’t know 2 infected people couldn’t have unprotected sex…. just taught me something new!!!!

co-sign w/#54. I had surgery in Sept., and had swollen lymph nodes for WEEKS after the surgery. Your lymph nodes are central to a lot of disorders, not just HIV/AIDS.

This day is special for me, since my brother died of aids 12 years ago. So I’ma do my part to help end AIDS by getting tested today. And my man is too! So please, Black people (and all people), be safe. Take care of yourself. The only ones who can end AIDS is us! Peace!

For those ppl who are afriad to go into a Dr. Office/clinic:

http://www.drugstore.com/...36064&aparam=xsp81260

Just remember….you HAVE to make the call at the end of the wait period!

@63, that’s true, that’s why I said to ask the person. But I think it would be safer to just wait and know for sure, than to take their word for it, don’t you agree?

As a people we need to take this disease very seriously and we need to know that Aids affects us all.When i was 5 years old my father died of complications from Aids.He was an intervenous drug user and died in 1985 in Kings County Hospital, at that time Aids was a new disease that was attacking the Gay Community. Many healthcare workers did not wanna take that risk of caring for those with Aids.
Shirley Hawkins Funeral Home is where we had the services for my father based in Brooklyn New York, they did not even want to take my fathers body b/c they were not sure if Aids could still be spread after one has died. So in the end his body was made to lay on a plastic covering so as a child my last memory of my father was him covered in plastic seperating him not being able to touch him at all. Im so glad that we now are more educated about Aids but we still need to take Aids more seriously than we do. To everyone please be safe.

I just looked up the tyroid, it’s in your neck around you vocal cord region. it’s ‘bow-shapped’ and has 2 regions; a left and right. The doctor may tell you to lift you chin and swallow. Lymph nodes in the neck are generally on the back of the neck, around the base. Hope that helps someone.

@61—oh okay. Im not sure about that but I will research it…I still also thank you for your insight and personal take on this. Also, I said thyroid b/c when my friend was diagnosed w/ a thyroid problem, she has a “bulge” in her neck (I am supposed to be going to med school in 3 yrs, I should know the med term, but I dont) and she had elevated (fat) under her left underarm (and she had it for YEARS and just thought it would go away), so that’s why I said that.

@62—Yup.

@68—thanx!

Ease your mind….
Speak with a Counselour at NO CHARGE !!!

1-800-682-3047 x 100

HIV & STD Testing Centers NATIONWIDE !!

I think I will do a project with everyone wearing red and showing various emotions. Yeah, that’ll be hot (and different from what GAP is doing).

@32 Uptowngirl said:
With people like Magic (no offense) living with HIV for 15 years and all the stories of people living w/it for a long time they don’t realize that it is still a death sentence.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
With that statement alone, is the reason why a lot of people go without being tested. Whether it’s right or wrong, folx don’t wanna think about a “death sentence.” My brother passed away from AIDS on November 23, 1996. His wife, had AIDS when she met him and didn’t tell him. Once he found out, it was too late! He never had children, his own place and other things MEN like to do. Fortunately, she died before he did. Bottom line, there are people that are infected that CLEARLY want to give it to others out of shear spite and hate.

People need to wake up and recognize. This incident changed my life FOREEVER in more ways than one. I slowed down my bopping and I really started to watch my step. It was hard taking my brother to the ER practically everyday after I got off work. He was 5′11 and by the time he passed he got down to 100 pounds people. Please get tested and stay safe!

I wore my RED today as well!

@41 I concede your point that it may not be the death sentence it was in the past and I commend you for your attitude. But the reality of the matter is that people aren’t scared of AIDS anymore because they believe that if they get it they can ‘manage” it and keep it moving. I hope they find a cure for your sake and the sake of all of us. Stay strong.

The stats are crazy, this is serious