millenial poz
New beginnings
Do chapters ever really close? Some people probably keep the door cracked open —just in case — while others bind it shut under lock and key. For myself, I’m closing a very momentous chapter of my l...
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Closing one chapter, and opening another
This will be my final column about HIV for Philadelphia Gay News. As I wrote this column, something clicked. I realized that I’ve done all I can do. I didn’t want to talk statistics or politics — j...
1 month ago | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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Go public with your status
I’m asking all the readers of this column to perform a charitable act for someone they’ve never met — for all those individuals fearfully closeted because of his/her HIV status. Call it inter-socia...
2 months ago | 1 1 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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The psychological sanctuary of poz folk
Last week, I received a “thank you” note that became the inspiration for this article. The writer of the note explained that, in his experience, some friends wear “kid gloves” around their out poz...
3 months ago | 1 1 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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The calling of poz folk
Lately, coincidence — or perhaps just being the mouthy broad I am — has brought me together with many new and veteran poz folk. After we’ve shared our stories and commiserated on issues surrounding...
4 months ago | 1 1 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend
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Threesomes, sero-discordancy and values
Entertaining the idea of a threesome, foursome or more-some when you’re in a sero-discordant relationship can be tricky and, well, disheartening: While your partner hasn’t any “bad news” to disclos...
5 months ago | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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Balancing transmission risks with quality of life
Before I composed this column, my mother had a little “come to Jesus meeting” with me over the phone. After reading my last column, she worried that I might be divulging too much information and/or...
6 months ago | 2 2 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend
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Dating and disclosure, part 2
“Well, I just think that even if we always use a condom, those compounded, infinitesimal risks will eventually result in me getting infected. So I think we should stop seeing each other.” This was...
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Dating and disclosure, part 1
Many poz folk refer to disclosing their status as a second “coming out.” While coming out as homosexual was hard enough, coming out as HIV-poz feels just as hard — if not harder — in some senses. I...
8 months ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Parents’ role in stopping HIV
When I told my youngest sister about my diagnosis (“I tested positive for HIV”), she sleepily responded, “Oh. Is that bad? What does that mean?” I was nonplussed. But I knew her reaction wasn’t in...
9 months ago | 1 1 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend
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