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:

Don’t forget that Head & Hands is hosting a free anonymous HIV screening clinic for youth 12-25 Today, December 1st between 5-9:30 pm. Check out http://www.senseproject.org/2009/11/know-your-status-savoir-cest-pouvoir/ for more info.

So, why do we make bad decisions when we’re naked? Well, I don’t think that even the most reputable social and natural scientists in the world would be able to provide a clear answer to this question or be able to agree on one. And, I happen to think that human beings are pretty complex when it comes to their behaviours and practices so the answer to this question might always remain an unsolvable mystery. This means that the only thing we can do is learn about what constitutes risky behaviours and practices that might put us in harms way and of course, educate others.

Throughout the month of November, the Sense Project posted a series of myth busting questions and answers, opinion polls, videos and other related content in the hopes of clarifying certain misconceptions about HIV/AIDS while pointing to prevention strategies. We began by illustrating that HIV/AIDS affects us here, in Canada. After that, we addressed the infamous “mosquito bite” myth, confirming that mosquitoes cannot, in fact, transmit HIV. This was followed by a controversial poll which inquired into the possibility that we live in a post-AIDS world. It was inspired by a very interesting talk I attended given by epidemiologist, journalist and author of The Wisdom of Whores, Elizabeth Pisani. Afterward, issues pertaining to HIV stigma were discussed with the help of provocative videos created by other awesome organizations such as AIDES and COCQ-SIDA. Then, we tackled particular sexual acts such as anal and vaginal intercourse in the hopes of illustrating that safe sex always needs to happen, regardless of the ways you choose to have it and/or your sexual orientation. Evidently, this provided the perfect introduction to a discussion on the ways in which HIV is transmitted and the different stages of HIV infection.

And, today is World AIDS Day which means that the Sense Project’s e-blitz has come to an end. Though, we hope that the month of November along with our regular programming has provided you with the opportunity to learn more about HIV/AIDS and well, we hope that we’ve better equipped you to fight against prejudice and practice safe sex.

So, please take a moment to reflect - to think about the millions of people worldwide who have died and/or who continue to be affected by HIV and AIDS. But, also, show your support.

Be fair, be aware and BE SAFE.

Cheers!!!

Chopstix

Check out this video and see my response in the following post!

If both partners are HIV positive, they no longer need to practice safe sex. TRUE or FALSE? 

FALSE.

When both partners are HIV positive, they need to practice safe sex to protect themselves from contracting each other’s strain of HIV - a strain that could possibly be more aggressive and resistant to antiretroviral drugs.