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Subject: When BLEU goes RED
Time: 2:22:00 PM EST
Author: bvlifehealth
Music: The Best of Chuck Brown
Since everyone else is doin' it, doin' it and doin' it well, hell, let's ALL paint the town RED -- especially given that in three days, we will be commemorating World AIDS Day.
In this tradition, and to pay respect to the 25th Anniversary of AIDS, the most fabulous Bleu Magazine will go Red -- "When Bleu Goes Red" this Friday, Dec. 1, 2006, with actress Joy Bryant on the cover as well as the searing article, "Happy Birthday HIV: 25 Years and Counting" written by Bleu EIC, George Kevin Jordan.
Here's an excerpt of the article, which focuses on modern dancer Delano Jean-Pierre, who found out that he was HIV-positive shortly after an amazing trip to Hawaii:
It was something I thought would never happen to me.
It's also easy to cast judgment and write HIV/AIDS off as an 'us. vs. them' thing. Too often catch phrases like "you should be celibate until marriage" or "it wouldn't happen if you weren't living that lifestyle"or even "just use a condom" are thrown as over simplistic and judgmental reasons for the surge in infections amongst our people. But whenever a moralization is thrown in to justify HIV/AIDS, we are missing the point.
"Issues we (gay men) must contend with are stigma, poverty homophobia, religious condemnation...." Jean-Pierre said. "Now when you add the HIV aspect, that may push an individual further into a shell of denial."
"Being treated as an untouchable by one's family and friends, give the afraid an added reason for them not want to face the reality of HIV/AIDS."
In facing hard truths Jean-Pierre could be considered an expert. After discovering his diagnosis four years ago, the 31-year old went through the tough process of telling the people he loved about his HIV status.
"My friends were the first people I disclosed it to," he said. "If it wasn't for them, I don't know how I would have gotten through it."
Friends were the easy part. Things got deeper as Jean-Pierre faced his family...
(Lack of media attention + diminished perception of risk + late or no detection + dwindling funding = a generation of black gay men dying.)
So get geared up for all of Black Voices' exclusive and in-depth coverage of World AIDS Day, and definitely cop Bleu Mag's Red issue to get the rest of this most-fascinating read.
For more on The Bleu Magazine: Click here
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As an african american woman living with HIV, I can tell you a few things. First, of all you are hesistant to tell ANYBODY, because you really don't know how people will react and YOU don't want your business out there-unless you put it out. When I found out that I was infected 8 years ago, I told my four closest friends. I never told my family. They found out when I was hospitalized from a serious reaction to the medications. Most of my family accepted it and stood with me. However, my only sister could not WAIT to tell the world-even people that I did not know and those that I had only encounterd briefly in my life, about my condition. Needless to say, I have not had any contact with her in years. This is MY disease-therefore, it is MY decision as to who I tell and WHEN I tell it. I would not put a potential partner out there- I know how that feels-someone put me out there. Did not tell me that they were infected- maybe didn't know. But still it is my decision as to who I tell and when.
But you know, what? I have accepted this chronic condition. I can't change it. I don't tolerate people's ignorance (even after ALL this time) about HIV/AIDS. When people slowly began to find out about me, I noticed that some folks didn't want to eat after me, drink after me, touch me, hug me, touch any thing that I had touched. I was 'fended. Then I realized that their issues were their own and I left them alone with their ignorances in tow. I try to school as many as I can. Expecially the young kids who think they are superhuman-because they're young. I tell them to treat Aids like Kryptonite- and put on your suit of armor (condom) to protect yourself. Abstinence or rap it up-each and every time! -
my why can't everyday be nation aids day, it's a everyday threat that we have to live with and is killing more people by the day?
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Magic DOES have H.I.V. He is on drugs to suppress his viral load. Not only does the drugs do that it will keep it so low that it will not show on an H.I.V. Test. But pretty much keep him healthy. Now I'm No doctor so if there is need for correction on what I said please do it. But I'm pretty sure I'm right.
Paint the town red.... I know 3 people who have died from A.I.D.S Talk to you children, your friends.. GET TESTED!!!! Magic Like many others are living Proof that a postive test is anot an death sentence. it call "Living with H.I.V."
Not sure if I can say this...But... BET is running a show talking about H.I.V. AIDS, "living on the down low" I forgot what it's called But if you can watch it. WATCH IT!
Stay safe and buy RED! -
I think AIDS is horrible and I hate to see anyone be its victim, but my heart really goes out to the unsuspecting people who believe they are in monogomous and committed relationships who wake up one day infected because of a careless and cheating partner.
12/13/06 12:04 PM
But you know, what? I have accepted this chronic condition. I can't change it. I don't tolerate people's ignorance (even after ALL this time) about HIV/AIDS. When people slowly began to find out about me, I noticed that some folks didn't want to eat after me, drink after me, touch me, hug me, touch any thing that I had touched. I was 'fended. Then I realized that their issues were their own and I left them alone with their ignorances in tow. I try to school as many as I can. Expecially the young kids who think they are superhuman-because they're young. I tell them to treat Aids like Kryptonite- and put on your suit of armor (condom) to protect yourself. Abstinence or rap it up-each and every time!