TheBody.Com: Blog Central

Signs of Change: CARE Act Signing, Ban Removal, South Africa Leadership Focuses on HIV/AIDS

bgoldman@thebody.com (Bonnie Goldman) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:06:37 GMT

People in the HIV/AIDS community could be forgiven for thinking that, despite the election of Barack Obama, they still did not have a close friend in the White House.

After all, despite all the recent cacophony about health care reform, HIV/AIDS has not been mentioned. In fact, apart from Obama's widely praised selection in February 2009 of Jeffrey Crowley, M.P.H., to lead the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), and the subsequent commencement of a series of ONAP community meetings throughout the U.S., there's been very little direct comment about HIV/AIDS by President Obama since he came into office.

Hello to TheBody.com

jsmithco98@hotmail.com (Justin B. Smith) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 19:04:44 GMT

My name is Justin B Smith, I'm the writer and producer of Justin's HIV Journal and this is the first time I'm written for TheBody.com. I'm so very happy to be here to be able to talk with all of you guys and I hope to be writing here a lot.

A couple years ago I came up with Justin's HIV Journal. I honestly didn't know how I was going to do it or get it off the ground. I was inspired by the way Barack Obama was using the Internet as a tool to get his message out.

I have to admit I had many reservations in putting myself out there like I did. I thought about so many things that people might say about me. I worried for example, that they might say, "He deserves HIV for being gay," or "He slept with men and drank a lot, no wonder he has HIV." It hurts to my soul that people would say such things about me, but I remain strong.

The Thai HIV Vaccine Trial: Is It a Big Deal or Not?

mhelfand@thebody.com (Myles Helfand) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:11:33 GMT

If you're feeling a sense of whiplash over the recent barrage of HIV/AIDS vaccine news, you're not alone: Public reaction to the results of the RV144 Thai HIV vaccine trial has felt like a roller coaster.

First came the over-the-top headlines hailing the results as a veritable miracle of science. Then came the over-the-top headlines calling the results into serious doubt.

Answering Questions About Sex

River Huston — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:04:57 GMT

Since I started speaking in 1992, it seems that everyone wants to take me aside and ask me questions about sex. It doesn't matter where I am, from the office of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) to the Archdiocese of Paterson, N.J.; people have questions about sex, love, relationships, body image and plumbing. My mailbox is full of questions every day. After lectures I often find little slips of paper with inquires hastily scribbled out.

I was thinking about how I came to know so much about sex. I know about sexual wounding after surviving several sexual assaults, some brutal, while others were more emotionally devastating.

AIDS Criminals and Innocent Victims: Is There Anything Wrong With This Picture?

Catherine Hanssens, Esq. — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:11:45 GMT

On September 18th, ABC's "20/20" program aired a piece on five Texas women who slept with "HIV criminal" 53-year-old Philippe Padieu, convicted and sentenced to five concurrent 45-year sentences for infecting these women with HIV after failing to disclose his HIV status and having unprotected sex with them. I anticipated yet another sensationalized "expose'" pitting one or more unaware female victims against the evil person with HIV, narrated by a stunningly uninformed member of the media. Sad to say, I mostly got what I expected.

ADAP Coverage Struggling in Many States, Leaving Many HIVers in the Lurch

mhelfand@thebody.com (Myles Helfand) — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:42:22 GMT

HIV vaccine in Thailand = sexy. HIV treatment access in U.S. = yawn.

That's the lesson we can apparently take away from the news of the past two weeks. On the one hand, you have The Big News of the Year: Heralds throughout the U.S. trumpeted the story about an almost-sort-of-successful HIV vaccine, despite the fact that even if it does pave the way toward a fully effective anti-AIDS shot, that won't happen for many years.

Meanwhile, largely ignored has been the rapidly deteriorating situation regarding HIV treatment access in the world's richest country, where we seem not to be able to afford to give HIV meds to some of our neediest HIV-positive citizens.

25-Year Prison Sentence Vanishes for Man Convicted of Not Disclosing HIV Status

mhelfand@thebody.com (Myles Helfand) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:04:26 GMT

Twenty-five years in prison and a lifetime of parole. That's the sentence that was initially handed down to Nick Rhoades, a 34-year-old, HIV-positive man living in Ohio. His crime: Failing to disclose his HIV status to another man before having sex with him.

The man Rhoades slept with did not become infected with HIV. Nonetheless, when District Court Judge Bradley Harris sentenced Rhoades in May 2009, he gave Rhoades the toughest sentence possible under the law, likening Rhoades' actions to "carrying a concealed weapon." And Rhoades himself basically agreed: He pleaded guilty, after all, and from the beginning expressed remorse for his actions.

Then, on Sept. 11 -- just four months into Rhoades' 25-year sentence -- Judge Harris wiped the whole thing out and gave Rhoades five years of parole. Rhoades was released from prison that very day.

Wait. What? Twenty-five years and lifetime parole becomes five years of parole, end of story?

Demonizing HIV

Gary Bell — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:19:47 GMT

AIDS activists have been buzzing lately about a new German HIV awareness advertisement depicting a woman having sex with Adolph Hitler. By now, I am sure you are wondering: what does the Fuhrer have to do with AIDS? Well, in the ad, which is available online, a heterosexual couple is seen having sex. The man's face becomes that of Adolph Hitler followed by a slogan describing AIDS as a "mass murderer. Print versions of the campaign also use Saddam Hussein as well as other despots. The company that created the campaign, Das Comitee, defended the advertisement stating that it was meant to show "the ugliness of the illness."

How Long Will You Live With HIV? Take Studies With a Grain of Salt

mhelfand@thebody.com (Myles Helfand) — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 21:12:25 GMT

"How long will I live?"

It's one of the most pressing, frightening questions facing people with HIV, whether they've been newly diagnosed or have been infected for some time. And like so many other questions in HIV, the answer is frustratingly complex, confusing and ever-changing.

How long will you live with HIV? It depends on who you are. Research suggests that HIVers die sooner if, for instance, they use injection drugs; are coinfected with hepatitis; are depressed; or are pretty much any race and sex other than a white male.

Human Rights: When Officials Get Serious About HIV Prevention, This is Where They'll Start

Catherine Hanssens, Esq. — Tue, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Nearly three decades after the identification of the first cases of AIDS, our national dialogue continues to fail those living with HIV by failing to put human rights at the center of AIDS prevention and treatment.

Stigma, discrimination, poverty, homophobia, racism, sexism, and misinformation continue to fuel the spread of HIV and hurt those living with it in very real ways. These terms routinely are recited in our collective litanies of what needs to be addressed, but far less frequently made concrete and specific in policy plans and prevention strategies. As a community, we need to consistently insist that government officials commit to a long-term response to HIV that treats human rights as a central theme rather than an isolated issue that can be bargained away when politics get in the way. Until all approaches -- whether legal, medical, or political -- are grounded in respect for the dignity of those individuals they purport to help, they will fail those individuals.

HIV Testing

Gary Bell — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:50:40 GMT

Few would argue that HIV testing is one of the most vital tools in addressing the HIV epidemic. But, does everyone feel that way, or even understand the significance of knowing his/her HIV status. A recent study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (June 2009) found that despite efforts to encourage more HIV testing, including making it a part of routine medical care, "reported rates of HIV testing have remained flat over time." In fact, the share of non-elderly (ages 13-64) who report having been tested within the last year has not changed in over a decade. Although some groups, such as African Americans, Latinos and young adults are more likely to report having been tested, even their rates have remained virtually unchanged over the last several years. In 2009, less than one-half of the adults in the United States say that they have ever been tested.

Community Engagement on HIV Policy: Are Town Halls Meaningful Enough?

Catherine Hanssens, Esq. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:00:00 GMT

One of the highlighted events during the national AIDS prevention conference in Atlanta this week is the town hall meeting scheduled for this evening, Tuesday, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Jeff Crowley, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), will hear from conference attendees and others on their views of the development of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). This and a dozen other town hall meetings scheduled all across the country have been planned to "engage the public in meaningful ways," as the White House website puts it, in the development of a long-overdue national strategy to address the U.S. domestic HIV epidemic. ONAP also plans to get input from a soon-to-be-reconstituted President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), and from input posted on a new page for that purpose appearing on www.whitehouse.gov.

Efforts are underway to help people make their comments at these town hall meetings as useful as possible. Starting with the Atlanta town hall, advocates in 13 different locations will have about 90 minutes (assuming things start and end on time, and minus introductions and wrap-up) to tell Crowley their views. This is a start towards making a reality out of manifestos such as the Denver Principles, which call for inclusion of people with HIV in every level of decision-making in the policies and organizations affecting their lives. But is this step enough? Is this opportunity for input sufficiently meaningful?

Since When Is the Expression of Fear and Ignorance a Basic American Right?

thomasdelorenzo@mac.com (Thomas DeLorenzo) — Wed, 25 Aug 2009 16:40:52 GMT

All these conversations about health care just keep me going back to two words -- fear and denial. Remove these two words, and we would easily have a health care system that could work for every single American. Keep these two words in the equation, and you have the quagmire that we are currently engaged in. Keep these two words in the conversation, and people will continue to get ill unnecessarily. Keep these two words in the conversation, and we all lose precious ground.

I can speak from personal experience about fear and denial. I held off treatment, rather seeking the truth about my own diagnosis until it was almost too late. I was caught up in my very own mix of fear and denial -- I was completely scared that people would abandon me, simply because I had HIV. I had to be dragged almost kicking and screaming to the hospital, to find out my news. When I had stabilized, my doctor told me that I would have lived only a few days had I stayed home. Fear, denial, and a strong dose of stubbornness would have won, and I would have lost. All of this because I was scared out of my mind and was willing to do absolutely anything, including putting myself at risk, in order to avoid the potential of being alone and isolated from the people I loved.

Recently, I dated a man who practiced his own version of fear and denial. When things seemed to be getting a bit more serious, I shared with him my status. I mistakenly assumed by his silence that he was negative. He did nothing to change my mind. I shared my fears with him about losing my health coverage, being too sick to care for myself, and other nightmares that come with being a person living with AIDS.

Kaletra and Gemfibrozil (Lopid): A Match Not Made in Lipid Heaven

mhelfand@thebody.com (Myles Helfand) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:34:15 GMT

Here's a heads-up for those of you with HIV and high cholesterol/triglycerides: Depending on which HIV meds you're taking, lipid-busting drugs may not work exactly the way they're supposed to.

The latest item to add to your "Oh Great, Another Thing I Need to Keep an Eye On" list comes from the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, and it specifically concerns a drug known as gemfibrozil (brand name: Lopid), part of a family of triglyceride-fighting drugs called fibrates. The study involved eight men and seven women, all of whom were HIV-negative. Here's what happened:

The 15 people took a single dose of gemfibrozil.
For the next two weeks, the 15 people took a regular twice-daily dose of Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir)
When the two weeks were up, the 15 people took another dose of gemfibrozil.
In all 15 people, gemfibrozil didn't absorb into the blood nearly as much as it's supposed to, meaning it lost at least some of its effectiveness.
Nobody experienced any major side effects.

Zoonoses

Gary Bell — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 21:31:04 GMT

Confused? I had not heard of that word either, until I did a little research for this blog about animal to human disease transmission. Zoonoses are emerging infectious diseases that have transferred to humans from animal hosts. I embarked on this research after learning of the discovery of a new HIV strain thought to have originated from gorillas native to Cameroon.

HIV (Apparently) Comes From Gorillas: What This Means for the HIV Community

mhelfand@thebody.com (Myles Helfand) — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 23:13:42 GMT

Look out! You can get HIV from a gorilla! Somebody warn Ann Darrow!

OK, OK, let's all calm down. Yes, scientists have apparently found that HIV can make the leap from gorillas into humans. But what does it mean for someone living with HIV -- or even for the human race in general? For now, at least, it means pretty much nothing -- unless, of course, you're fascinated by cool (by which I mean nerdy) developments in science.

Is Candid Safer Sex Education Obscene?

River Huston — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 18:41:10 GMT

I woke up this morning and discovered an e-mail from YouTube in my inbox. They have banned one of my videos! I don't know what it is about me, but I seem to offend people with what I think is educational and entertaining information.

The said video, which you can view below, describes how to put a condom on with your mouth. It is done in a very direct and candid manner, but is in no way obscene. I was indicted in 1996 by the district attorney of New Jersey for doing the same thing at Hillsborough High School. (I had permission and I was using a demonstration penis, not a student) In the end, they had to drop all charges because it was not against the law to educate. It did not stop me from being banned from high schools for about a decade.

New Era for Syringe Exchange Programs! No More Abstinence-Only Education!

bgoldman@thebody.com (Bonnie Goldman) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:35:39 GMT

A new era has dawned in HIV/AIDS. For years, public health experts, health care providers and researchers have been pleading with the U.S. government to remove the federal ban on funding for needle exchange programs and to accelerate the growth of these programs across the U.S. They wanted this done for one simple reason: Syringe exchange programs can save lives. They can be an important component in reducing the spread of blood-borne infectious diseases -- including HIV and hepatitis -- among injection drug users.

Living With Two Diseases: HIV and Alcoholism

jimmy.mack@hotmail.com (Jimmy Mack) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:01:58 GMT

I've spoken at length on this blog about the disease of HIV and how it affects me and my life. But I live with another disease that is just as devastating and deadly. It is also a disease that has no cure but can be "managed" with proper treatment. The disease I refer to is also one that I'm sure affects many of the readers of TheBody.com, it is the disease of alcoholism/addiction. This is a disease that I believe I was born with, just like I know I was born gay, and both have shaped by life in a big way.

Men Are Driving the HIV Epidemic

Gary Bell — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:31:04 GMT

A new report published in Healthday News on Jun 29, 2009, has found that almost 15 percent of American adolescents believe that they will die before age 35, a belief that may be strongly linked to unsafe behavior. Greater than one in seven youths have a pessimistic view about their future mortality and are more likely to take risks.

Why the HIV/AIDS Fight Needs More Passionate Voices

bgoldman@thebody.com (Bonnie Goldman) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:35:39 GMT

In less than 45 days, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could lift the HIV travel ban. Currently, HIV-positive non-Americans cannot enter the country legally. In December of 1987, then Senator Jesse Helms added a rider to an agricultural bill, making it illegal for a person with HIV/AIDS to step foot on American soil. The senator's thinking was that the world would flood our shores with tired, hungry, immunocompromised masses yearning to take advantage of our American health care system.

How I Fell in Love With an Illegal Alien

thomasdelorenzo@mac.com (Thomas DeLorenzo) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:27:17 GMT

Adolescent Hopelessness and HIV

Gary Bell — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:31:04 GMT

Obama and HIV

Gary Bell — Tue, 7 Jul 2009 17:31:04 GMT

As with most things it's a good news, bad news scenario. Clearly, Obama is more in tune with the AIDS epidemic than his predecessor. He has proposed a budget increase for domestic HIV prevention and direct services.

Eight Characteristics of Long-Term Survivors of HIV

twilder@thebody.com — Tue, 6 Jul 2009 18:14:36 GMT

Hey everybody. At the beginning of June I volunteered for THRIVE! -- a one-day educational and empowerment workshop in Atlanta for people living with HIV. I love doing this workshop and think that it is a valuable guide for people on living a long life with HIV.

Panama Adventure

River Huston — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:31:04 GMT

Since I found out I was HIV positive, my whole life went into high gear. I had things to do before the final goodbye. Eighteen years passed without a vacation. I work seven days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day on the books, articles, shows, lectures, art and all the details to keep it running. When I am not in the office, I am on the road.

Transition to Hope

Gary Bell — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:31:04 GMT

My name is Gary J. Bell and I am the executive director of BEBASHI (Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health). Founded in 1985, BEBASHI was the country's first AIDS services organization targeting urban minority communities. We offer a continuum of HIV/AIDS/STI prevention and direct care services primarily in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Body Shape and HIV

River Huston — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:59:28 GMT

The first thing I did after I found out I was HIV positive was eat. I decided that if I was going to die, I was going to die fat. Fuck 'em, I thought; let 'em buy an extra large coffin. For the first time in my life, I let myself eat without recrimination.

Surviving HIV

River Huston — Wed, 17 June 2009 03:01:58 GMT

You know how people like Tony Robbins will ask, "What if you had only six months left to live? Are you satisfied with the direction of your life? Are you living your dreams?" After you are diagnosed with HIV, these thoughts often come up as well.

Setting an Example

Jimmy Mack — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:46:58 GMT

As many of you reading this know, I just did an interview on TheBody.com. I have to say that having my profile on The Body was a trip (around the world) as I got e-mails from Turkey, Costa Rica, Australia, Russia and Canada, as well as the U.S. All of them were so positive and supportive.

My Search for Meaning

Mark King — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:01:58 GMT

When I got my first position at an HIV/AIDS organization in 1987, I thought the job would be my last. I was HIV positive, living in Los Angeles and surrounded by fear and dying. How could I possibly be here to type this blog to you now?

You Gotta Have Friends

Mark King — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:01:58 GMT

Thirty years ago I was a skinny college freshman at the University of New Orleans who had no idea that a fellow student would become a brother to me. Charles was the first friend I told when I tested HIV positive. The value of his friendship was something I took for granted through years of drug addiction (and as lovers came and went).

My Visit to the Sex Museum

Terri Wilder — Tues, 16 Apr 2009 03:26:19 GMT

I was on my spring break and felt like I should do something "wild" since historically, spring break is the week that college students are supposed to "let loose." Since I am a 41-year-old student and not 18 anymore, I felt like making a visit to the New York City Museum of Sex was about as wild as I was going to get during spring break. So, for the price of $11.50 ($3.00 coupon deducted from the original price), I spent two hours roaming the exhibit halls of the Museum of Sex fantasizing about the life I wish I had.

Treating My Facial Wasting

Mark King — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:01:58 GMT

I've lived with HIV for more than 25 years and I'm grateful for that. But my face belies my good fortune. I've begun developing "the look" of a long-term survivor -- the telltale troughs in my face (facial lipoatrophy) that bear witness to my history of taking HIV medications.

Mark's R-Rated S.E.X. Blog

Mark King — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:01:58 GMT

When I got my nipples pierced about three years ago, I was fresh out of drug rehab and wanted to make a provocative gesture that said "They can take away the meth but I'm still a sexual being, dammit!" Getting solid gold rings only added to the "investment" in my acting out. And, yeah, piercing unlikely places on your body ... hurts.

The Drug Addict Takes A Holiday

Mark King — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:01:58 GMT

As carefully as I manage my HIV meds and doctor appointments, I manage my recovery from crystal meth addiction. "Recovery" means different things to people and those facing addiction find help in various ways -- 12-step programs, therapy, their church or faith -- and I'm not going to promote one or the other. I'll simply say that being vigilant and accepting myself as a crystal meth addict in recovery is vital, and the consequences of ignoring it are more dangerous than even my HIV diagnosis.

HIV Controllers Speak: Our Link to a "Functional Cure" for HIV

Loreen Willenberg — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:17:19 GMT

Not all HIV-positive people are alike in their ability to control HIV. An estimated 1 in 300 HIV-infected persons around the world have a mysterious ability to control their HIV. Their viral loads and CD4 T-cell counts remain in the normal range without their having to take any HIV medications. Researchers call these individuals "long-term non-progressors."

Taking Care of Hal

Mark King — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:01:58 GMT

Years ago I worked as director of an agency for people living with HIV/AIDS, and although the work was satisfying, I was irritated with one principle of the agency: "You don't know what it's like if you are not HIV positive." Really? It seems our caregivers get a pretty good idea.

Oprah Comes Calling

Mark King — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:01:58 GMT

Greetings, all my viral and not-so-viral friends! Yes, I do get flip from time to time, but blame it on my extremely good mood. Because this month my video blog features an actual, for-real phone call from the folks at the Oprah Show. Yes, the Mother of All Gab Fests turned to yours truly for ... what, exactly? Watch the blog and find out!

The Death of an AIDS Organization

Terri Wilder — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:15:40 GMT

My heart is breaking. It is not breaking over a guy rejecting me or not paying attention to me, but from the end of something amazing. I just found out that the HIV/AIDS organization I used to work for is closing.

My Alter Ego: Anita Mann

Mark King — Thu, 2 Oct 2008 16:17:19 GMT

This is one of those weeks when my diseases -- HIV and addiction -- take a back seat to "real life" and the pleasures it can provide. Although, like a noisy passenger, sometimes the back seat is just as intrusive.

My Fabulous Disease

Mark King — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:17:19 GMT

I'm tempted to begin with "I'm Mark, and I'm a drug addict," because so much of my life is caught up in repairing the damage of many years of addiction.

Natural Habitat, or, "Who Said Activism Was Dead?"

Loreen Willenberg — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:17:19 GMT

I spent the first week of August glued to my computer screen watching many hours of webcasts and reading blogs broadcast from the seventeenth International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. Among the many things I learned on those topics was this truth: Activism is alive and well across the globe and our work is far from over.

What Will 2010's Conference Bring?

Heidi Nass — Thu, 8 Aug 2008 16:17:19 GMT

The conference formally ends this afternoon. Today is mostly oral summary reports of all the "tracks" (e.g. prevention, treatment, youth, etc.) and a short closing session.

Mexico City's Beautiful Heart

Heidi Nass — Mon, 7 Aug 2008 16:17:19 GMT

I've been to plenty of meetings for which the routine is this: get on a plane, arrive in place X, get in a waiting car that arrives at hotel Y, go to the meeting, get back in the car when the meeting is done, get back on the plane, arrive home.

Making HIV Trials Work for Women and Adolescent Girls

Heidi Nass — Mon, 6 Aug 2008 16:17:19 GMT

So, I'm starting to get the conference fatigue that happens at these kinds of intense, overwhelming meetings. I'm a little surprised I can still see straight, as it feels like my eyes have rolled back into my head.

Reflections From the International Women's March

Heidi Nass — Mon, 6 Aug 2008 16:17:19 GMT

The other day I wrote about my struggle with what it means to "represent" my "community." There's at least 33 million people (more than 16 million women) living with HIV/AIDS in the world, there's well more than a million in the U.S. -- if I, as an American woman living with HIV, stand up to give "the community perspective," what does that mean?

Conversations With a Cab Driver; An "Edgy" Conference Atmosphere

Heidi Nass — Mon, 4 Aug 2008 16:17:19 GMT

Mexico City is a place of complicated and myriad modes of transportation. The way taxis work here is that they are stationed in various places around the city. This means that the same five guys are waiting outside our hotel every morning.

Badge Troubles, "Youth Power"

Heidi Nass — Sun, 3 Aug 2008 16:17:19 GMT

So, here's the thing -- just because the UN is internationally recognized and respected doesn't mean it's going to have a perfect system for, let's say, conference badge pick-up. I spent the better part of the morning trying to get into the conference, with my badge at a hotel across town -- a little town called Mexico City with 20 million people and traffic jams that are legendary.

Greetings From Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico

Heidi Nass — Sat, 2 Aug 2008 16:17:19 GMT

Greetings from Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico. Mexico City is the site of AIDS 2008, the 17th international AIDS conference ever held and the first one to take place in Latin America. It is also my first one, so I am very excited, a little anxious and altogether delighted to be here.

Standing My Ground With Latex

Terri Wilder — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:17:19 GMT

Dating sucks. I hate it and wish I didn't have to participate in it. I realize that no one is forcing me to date, but does it have to be so complicated? Can't we just go out, like each other, find each other attractive, have great safer sex, get tested, get married, have kids, live happily ever after and avoid the BS that comes with dating?

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) Does Delhi

Jim Pickett — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:17:19 GMT

As chair of IRMA, you may say I have a certain booty bias in my perceptions -- and I won't argue. But let me say, I think our burgeoning advocacy network really took the Microbicides 2008 conference in New Delhi this past February by storm.

Hour of Destiny

Loreen Willenberg — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:17:19 GMT

There are rare times in life when all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The launch of this Blog occurs at such a moment for me, and I am grateful to Bonnie Goldman and The Body for inviting me to share it with you.

Where Is the Martin Luther King Jr. of HIV?

Terri Wilder — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:17:19 GMT

World AIDS Day has come and gone. The theme for World AIDS Day 2007 was "leadership." The commentary on the World AIDS Day webpage noted that this theme can be "as flexible as possible to accommodate a range of campaigning needs." Isn't this type of "flexible" attitude around HIVpart of the problem and the reason that we don't have the resources to get rid of this epidemic!

Coping With a Friend's Diagnosis -- and a Race-Blind Virus

Terri Wilder — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

March 10th was National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Out of curiosity, I went to the awareness day website to see what events were going on -- what posters they had available, fact sheets, etc. I was shocked! The poster actually had a white female on it, but ... there were no fact sheets on white women and HIV.

Remembering a Great HIV Advocate

Terri Wilder — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT

It has been well over a year since my friend Dan Dunable died. We think he died on October 4th ... but we are really not sure ... we don't know, we are guessing. What we do know is that he was dead when we found him on Wednesday, October 4, 2006.

How We Talk About HIV

Terri Wilder — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about how we come to believe what we believe or why some people think what they think?

An HIV Fighter Tells Her Personal Story

Terri Wilder — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Hi. My name is Terri Wilder. I am a person ... a weird, opinionated, compassionate person who has worked in HIV for 18 years. I didn't start out in the field because I was personally affected. That came later. I started in the field because I was walking through the School of Social Work at the University of Georgia and found a brochure ... one brochure, announcing an AIDS-related workshop.