What HIV Gave Me...HIV sharpened my focus. Before my diagnosis, I was fluttering about, spreading my energy thin on things that were beyond my control to change, things that didn’t concern me or...reactions8comments
Community and Coffee...I love being in community. I find that I am more alive, more creative, and truly in my element when I am around people. I’ve been wrestling with this for...reactionscomments
HIV in the South, Part I...Most city dwellers, including myself, have no idea what it is like for someone living in rural middle and southern states in America. There is an overall lack of appreciation...reactions2comments
Kiy'Ziah Vaughn...Kiy'Ziah was previously an advocate on H-i-v.net. As a black transgender womxn current sex-worker, human rights leader, public-speaker, public-figure, pro-politics, organizer, activist, and film-producer working on the documentary POLICING OUR...
What HIV Did To Me...I wasn’t the same. I was diagnosed in my late 20’s at 27 years old, at a time in my life when I should have been enjoying my 6-year-old daughter...reactions10comments
The Winter Blues...It’s winter here in Chicago. Granted, I’m used to it. There is a rhythm to the seasons. In Chicago, we are always adjusting to extremes. Cold winter nights and hot...reactions2comments
Narcan Saved A Life: Opioids and HIV...One weekend, while conducting local free mobile HIV testing, my worst fear came true. A pedestrian near the site overdosed, right in front of my eyes. Luckily, I had received...reactions2comments
Robert Breining...Robert was previously an advocate on H-i-v.net. Robert's goal has always been to connect positive people with one another by offering them a safe space to share openly about HIV...
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About HIV...HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that lives in the blood and infects CD4 cells in the body. It has been estimated that roughly 1.1 million Americans are living...reactionscomments
U = U!...U = U is good news for everyone! Undetectable = Untransmittable! Simply stated, if your HIV viral load is undetectable (> 6 months and <20 copies/ml), you are untransmittable to your...reactions7comments
Going Out of Town...I travel at least once or twice a month and I always do my packing a couple of days before my trip so I won’t forget anything. No matter how...reactions4comments
My Life in Sex Work...My parents kicked me out and threw me into the streets at the age of 13 with HIV. Sex work saved my life. I also acknowledge that sex work comes...reactions9comments
Access and Barriers to HIV Medical Care...Philadelphia is home to many of the best HIV healthcare and HIV-related social services in America! Philadelphia is ranked #15 for best healthcare systems in our country. Large and small...reactions3comments
I Am More Than My Diagnosis: A Year in Review...As this community and our sister communities grow, one universal truth is clear: people are more than just their diagnoses. As 2019 comes to a close and a new year...reactions2comments
What Questions Are Important to Ask Your Doctor?...Going to the doctor is not something most folks look forward too. However, after receiving an HIV diagnosis, going to the doctor becomes a part of our routine to stay...reactions2comments
Talking About Living With HIV...It’s not easy. Talking about your HIV status out loud to anyone is not that easy for everybody and it’s not easy for some people to want to admit that...reactions11comments
Getting Through That Diagnosis...The shock. Finding out that you're diagnosed with HIV can be frightening: you feel lost about which way to turn, who to talk to, who do you tell. Many just...reactions1comment
Using People First Language...People-first language (PFL) also called person-first language is the use of language which puts the person before the diagnosis. People-first language describes what a person has rather than what a...reactionscomments
Youth Power Up for A Stigma-Free Future...Youth Power Up for A Stigma-Free Future was this year’s theme for the 10th Anniversary of the International Conference on Stigma hosted at Howard University on Friday, November 22nd. We...reactionscomments
Preparing to Relocate...Since my HIV diagnosis and during my career as a professional librarian, I moved almost every two years to take a new position with more responsibilities. After my second move...reactions2comments