The End of HIV

My Generation is the first to have grown up with HIV. When I was 5 years old in 1981, the first person was diagnosed with the virus called Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. There are many rumors about the origin of this virus and it's eventually cryptic domination it has held on several ethnic and social communities, but there is no doubt that the HIV virus has taken 30 million lives worldwide to date. That's a MASSIVE amount of people. In honor of World AIDS Day I wanted to do my part to raise awareness among my peers, Blacks and Homosexuals.

We are a nation of 308 million. 224 million are White. 50 million Hispanic. 39 million are Black. 9 million are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender. 1.2 million are living with HIV Caused Diseases.

HIV has plagued the globe for 30 years. This epidemic touches lives on all continents and it permeates all communities. (Red I used permeate for you.) However, the end is in sight. 2010 may have been the year of turning points in the realm of HIV. It is the year that scientists revealed there were segments of the population genetically immune to HIV, is the first year that the global number of new infections did not increase, and it is also the year that an infected patient with leukemia was given a bone marrow transplant and now lives HIV-free...Yeah Yeah I know...great news right? But don't go flinging your condoms off in celebration just yet.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention last year roughly 56 thousand new people were infected with HIV just last year. That is a equal to the population of Greenville, NC. Insane right? HIV is growing at an exponential rate in the Black community. In 2009 44% of all new infections were Black. Black Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) accounted for 73% of those NEW cases. The remaining 30% were women who contracted HIV through Heterosexual sex. Yeah you just read that...HETEROSEXUAL sex. That confirms some of those MSNs haven't been totally open with their Female partners about their sex lives, but what else is new? I pray for people who are in the closet sexually, however I have nothing but contempt for "Down Low Brothers". Their cloaked lifestyle is killing our community, but I'm going to stop before I go of on another tangent...this editorial is about HIV.

The HIV virus is highly concentrated in blood, vaginal fluids, and semen. Unprotected sex and infected needles account for the majority of virus transfer, but we all know there are random unfortunate exceptions. Knowing your status is 90% of the battle. I know that I am HIV-negative because I was last tested in 2010. I remember the very first time I was admitted for an MS exacerbation the Nurse being shocked because I was eager (and relieved) to find out I was still negative. Lesbians can contract HIV if performing cunnilingus on an infected female during the time surrounding her menstruation (pre, during, and post). We all need to wrap it up, grab those condoms and dental dams and protect yourselves.

It is important to KNOW YOUR STATUS. I can't reiterate that enough. Know your status! I still hear that nurse's surprise echoing in my head, "I've NEVER had any one ask before." NEVER? Well I'm glad I was her first, and I hope I wasn't her last. I'm even more thankful that I'm Negative, I don't think my revolting T-cells could handle that too. If you don't know your status, get tested! There is help for you if you are positive. There is life after HIV. There is actual hope for a cure. Maybe not in my lifetime but in the future. Maybe one day we will actually see the end of the HIV.

...Hate It or Love It; Either Way You Felt Something