Sense Project

Image via iusy.org

I feel grateful to be spending this World AIDS Day here at the Head & Hands medical clinic, greeting youth who have come in for our first-ever rapid HIV testing night. We’ve seen 20 youth so far, using new-to-us technology that allows people to get their results on the spot - for the scientifically curious, you can check out this video to see how it works! Anyway, it has been a privilege to help provide this service to young people who’ve braved the rain to get tested and take care of their health. More power to them.

Today I’m also thinking about our collective responsibility to fight the fear and silence that still surrounds HIV and AIDS in our communities. Here in Quebec, and Canada more generally, access to treatment and care for those living with HIV has improved dramatically, and a positive diagnosis shouldn’t read like a death sentence. Still, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to live with this virus. People living with HIV face rejection, discrimination, blame, and pressure to disclose their status to all kinds of different people - from sexual partners to insurance agents.

Yes, we need to prevent the spread of the virus. Yes, we need to promote testing. Yes, we need to demand better prevention and education programs that empower people to take charge on their own sexual health. But we also need to fight fear. Everyone deserves a healthy sex life. Everyone deserves privacy, support, and care when they need it.

Here’s a great article over on Colorlines that is worth checking out: I am HIV Positive and I Don’t Blame Anyone - Including Myself

And I still love this video, produced last year: