Justin's HIV Journal: Ebony Magazine's The Real Faces of HIV/AIDS Issue

LOCAL DC HIV ACTIVISTS in Ebony.com (Ebony Mag) (Patrick Ingram, Guy Anthony, Shane B Johnson and I) Way to go and way to represent for Feb. 7th National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

The Real Faces of HIV/AIDS [PHOTOS]

In honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, advocacy journalist Kellee Terrell talked to survivors about what HIV/AIDS has taught them

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PHOTOS:
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To commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day we reached out to those diagnosed with the disease and asked them one question:  What has living with HIV/AIDS taught you?

Here are their amazing and heartfelt responses. —Kellee Terrell

Eric Bartley
Diagnosed: 1981 New York, N.Y.
To embrace the disease and no longer fear it.  HIV stigma ends when I'm proud to be HIV-positive. Finally after living with this chronic illness now for 32 years, I'm proud to be and say, "I’m a Black HIV-positive man!"

Guy Anthony
Diagnosed: 2007 Washington, D.C.
To be selfless in the fight to eradicate stigma. I could be silent, but what good would that do? I hope that my transparency allows for others to see someone who has experienced the same shame, hurt and pain that comes along with having this disease, so they know that they are not alone.

Justin B Terry
Diagnosed: 2006, Washington D.C.
How to be a strong Black man by helping others that can't help themselves or who feel alone. Being open about my status has given me internal strength to reach out to my community by speaking publicly and with my blog “Justin's HIV Journal.”

Michelle Anderson
Diagnosed: 1999 Dallas, Texas
After accepting my diagnosis, HIV taught me how to live out loud in spite of adversity. HIV is a small facet of my life and doesn't have to dictate my life's outcome or devalue my existence!

Sophie Mubvumbi Jayawardene
Diagnosed: 1989 New Zealand
That if you are not seen, spoken to or heard, you are a prisoner. Death is the scariest thing if it is the only thing you think about!

Patrick Ingram
Diagnosed: 2011 Fredericksburg, Va.
Being HIV-positive is continuing to teach me that resilience, patience, and affirmations can get you through difficult life changing events.  Living with HIV has also enlightened me of the need for the Black community to be more engaged and active in the fight to end this epidemic.

Sharon DeCuir
Diagnosed: 2002 Baton Rouge, La.
To love myself, which was the hardest lesson to learn after my diagnosis because I felt so much shame. In time, I became empowered to live openly with HIV, so others can know that for me HIV was only the beginning of living life. This lesson was well learned because today I’m FREE to live!

Elizabeth Fernandez
Diagnosed: 2000 New York, N.Y.
To advocate for my life more than ever before! Since being diagnosed, I have endured a lot of stigma, which has taught me to stand up and fight for myself and people like me. I do this through my work as an HIV educator and an activist. I believe that I live with HIV so that many of you won’t have to.

Reggie Smith
Diagnosed: 1988 Atlanta, GA.
That positive people can be loved and have wonderful sex lives with negative people. Through God's grace, after over 25 years of marriage and protected sex, my wife Dionne remains HIV negative and I remain healthy and alive!

Rusti Miller
Diagnosed 1991 New York, N.Y.
To appreciate what life has to offer and regret nothing. If I died tomorrow all of this would have been worth the fight because today I live out loud for the whole world to see.  I have lived with AIDS for the past 20 years and just staying alive was my day-to-day battle. But in that, I married my best friend who is HIV-negative and we made a beautiful baby from LOVE!

Shane Johnson
Diagnosed: 1998, Washington D.C.
The virtue of forgiveness, especially when forgiving myself. At the time I was diagnosed, I was in the middle of the application process for medical school and was on the MD-PhD track. I was quite depressed for years. It took the better part of 8 - 10 years to move from shame to acceptance, but when I did it was like I had never missed a beat.

Shyronn Jones
Diagnosed: 2001, Atlanta, Ga.
That I will never be alone. Yes, there are those who will slander and stigmatize us, discriminate and criminalize us, BUT there are also so many people who are either affected by or infected with HIV who are waiting with opened arms to provide me with compassion and love.

Monique Moree
Diagnosed: 2005 South Carolina
SELF-DIGNITY and SELF LOVE. When I was first diagnosed, I was pregnant and serving in the U.S. Army. I didn’t know what to do, so I started hating myself and became worried about what others would say. I’ve seen a lot of African-Americans with HIV hide and give up. Thankfully, I learned to love myself for who I am. Then nothing else really mattered!

Andre Johnson
Diagnosed: 2005, Atlanta, GA
Being diagnosed at the age of 17 with a "chronic illness" is never easy. Yet, being an HIV-positive Black gay man, HIV has taught me the importance of self-care. Nobody else matters when it comes to my health. And part of that is teaching myself about the disease and my medication. In the end, I see that I am no different than anyone else with another illness.

Khafre Kujichagulia Abif
Diagnosed 1999 Atlanta, GA
That I am walking in my God's purpose for my life. As an openly bisexual HIV positive activist, blogger, author and father, my visibility has become a blessing for those who have yet to find their voice. My personal sacrifice is far outweighed by the work as people reach out to me support their journey or the life of a friend or loved one.

Cassandra Whitty
Diagnosed: 2000 Baton Rouge, La.
“Now, I have no issues letting a man know you gotta’ strap it up or we can use a female condom. I never did that when I was negative, which is what put me at risk for HIV in the first place. I try to relay these messages to negative women in hopes to help empower them to take more control of their sex lives.”

Ennis Jackson
Diagnosed: 1989/1990 Oakland, CA
When I die it won’t be because of HIV. I have learned that being in care and taking my meds is keeping me alive and well. I have come to learn and believe that I shall live with HIV and not die from it. It’s been almost 25 years, and I haven’t died yet!

Lynn T. Kidd, M.Ed.
Diagnosed: 1996 Columbus, Ohio
To accept myself, but also recognize that HIV is not ALL of who I am.  Over time, it’s been easier to deal with my diagnosis, love myself more, live somewhat of a normal and healthy life and not allow others to dictate who I should be.

Millicent Y. Foster
Diagnosed: 2002, Baton Rouge, LA.
To be more accepting and cautious of my health. I’ve learned the importance of education and the importance of using condoms to keep myself protected from [other STDs]. Also, it has also taught me that my diagnosis does not define who or what I am. I choose to live positively everyday!

Larry Bryant
Diagnosed: 1986 Brooklyn, NY
Black. Heterosexual. HIV. Words I didn’t hear together in the 1980s --until I was diagnosed HIV positive in 1986 while I was a student athlete at Norfolk State University. Through my 28 years of living with HIV the most enduring lesson is that life is a gift that should be lived out loud.


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Justin B Terry-Smith's Justin's HIV Journal #HAAwards Nomination

Justin B Terry-Smith's Justin's HIV Journal #HAAwards


Nomination
https://awards.wegohealth.com/nominees/justin-1736

Justin's HIV Journal: Justin B Terry-Smith tackles HIV and Aging

Justin's HIV Journal:  Justin B Terry-Smith tackles HIV and Aging


Baltimore Gay life Newspaper


http://issuu.com/baltimoregaylife/docs/gaylife_february2014/18

Justin's HIV Journal: Justin and husband Phil ADOPT son

ADOPTION DAY is finally here.  On January 30^th my husband Dr. Philip Terry-Smith adopted our 17 year old LGBT son.  

When I became HIV positive I thought to myself, “I will never have a child”. I cried so much over this every time I thought about it.  Every time I saw a child with their parent playing, walking hand in hand, giggling, just being a family it hurt, it hurt me to my soul.  

When my husband asked me to marry him, I said yes but I have provisions.  I stated that I would like to have children.  I made a command decision in my life that I would have kids.  I also said that I need a man that would want to have children with me.  My husband (THANK THE GODS) agreed that children would be a part of our future.  

I can honestly say our son has come such a long way being with us.  When he first came to us he was 15 years old he was not what I expected a 15 year old to be.  But then I had to realize I did not raise this child; so I made it my goal to make him a little more refined and to bring more structure and discipline into his life.  He has a story and I’m not the one to tell it.  So I will briefly say that this young man has been through the ringer.  But now that he has a loving and supportive family he is stronger than before.  

Phil, my son and I went to court and we have legally made him ours.  He will forever be ours and I wouldn’t want it any other way

Justin's HIV Journal: Justin B. Terry-Smith on Spill Da Tea with Shi Queeta Lee

Justin B Terry-Smith-HIV, Diamond Alexis Blue-Legal Blindness, Ryan Dillon- Epilepsy, Tamika Felder- Cervical Cancer, SaVanna Wanzer- Community Activist

Just*in Time (HIV Advice Column): Thrush, HIV Strains, and Who Infected me with HIV

Just*in Time (HIV Advice Column): Thrush, HIV Strains, and Who Infected me with HIV

Hey Justin,

I was date raped and I had experienced what is called oral thrush. I got tested for HIV when I had thrush and the test came out negative. I think it’s a rare strain of thrush. I can’t get diagnosed with HIV, and I’m very depressed and don’t know how often to check my immune system for HIV. I just want closure.

—Conrad

Photo by Don Harris © Don Harris Photographics, LLC. All rights reserved

 

First things first, I’m very sorry about what happened to you. Let me just say that I can empathize with you, when it comes to the subject of rape. I have my own experience with rape and the first thing I recommend is to get past the fact that it actually happened and it is not your fault. I don’t know the details of the crime that happened to you, but it’s a start. Now for some of our readers who do not know what thrush is, let me explain. According to the CDC, thrush, or oropharyngeal/esophageal candidiasis is a type of fungus that lives in the mouth/throat/tongue. It looks like white patches, almost like the canker sores that you get throughout your mouth. Thrush usually does not happen in healthy adults. Individuals that are diagnosed with thrush usually have associated health issues, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, organ transplantation, diabetes, corticosteroid use, dentures and/or broad-spectrum antibiotic use. To prevent thrush, you must maintain good oral hygiene and use mouthwash. Now, Conrad, back to you. Before I was HIV-positive, I got tested every three months. Even though you are scared of getting tested and being HIV-positive you need to know. The earlier you know, the better you can take care of yourself. Whether the diagnosis is positive or negative you need to know. If you go through life running from everything you are scared of, you will be running for the rest of your life. The first step is to get tested, and then figure out whether you have something to worry about. And, hey, if it’s a positive HIV test you still might not have anything to worry about. Just live life to the fullest. Thank you so much for writing in—I hope this helps.

Justin,
Hi, there. I finally got to watch your “Who infected me with HIV?” video and I was wondering if there’s a way to test for which strain you have and compare it to the two guys, one of whom may have infected you? Or does HIV mutate too much to do that? Just a thought, I hope you’re doing well! Muah!
—Gina B.

Let me explain to some of my readers what Gina means by the “Who infected me with HIV?” video. Recently I found out that the person, whom I had thought infected me with HIV, may have not been the person who infected me with HIV. Someone with whom I had sexual intercourse at that same time reminded me of a sexual encounter we had with each other where no condom was used. In response to this discovery, I had to share my feelings. I did a video on YouTube in response to my feelings, entitled “Justin’s HIV Journal: Who infected me with HIV?” to share my thoughts about this particular subject matter. There is no test to tell you when you were infected with HIV. I’ve researched this and have yet to find any such test. But there is a way to find out which strain of HIV you have. The test that you might be thinking of is called the genotype test for HIV. This should be administered to everyone who tests positive for HIV. The reason why is because this test will tell the doctor and patient what medication they might need to be on. For example, some HIV strains are resistant to some HIV medications. Doctors will have to look at the genotype test of the HIV-positive patient to determine which HIV medications will work with that strain of HIV. Not all HIV medications will work with all strains of the virus. I hope I was able to answer your question. I’m doing well, along with my husband and son. Thank you for asking. XOXOX

◊
Justin B. Terry-Smith has been fighting the good fight since 1999. He’s garnered recognition and awards for his work, but he’s more concerned about looking for new ways to transform society for the better than resting on his laurels. He started up in gay rights and HIV activism in 2005, published an HIV-themed children’s book, I Have A Secret (Creative House Press) in 2011, and created his own award-winning video blog called, “Justin’s HIV Journal”: justinshivjournal.blogspot.com. Now, with this column, Justin has found a way to give voice to the issues that people write to him about. Visit his main Web site at www.justinbsmith.com. He welcomes your questions at jsmithco98@hotmail.com.

Justin's HIV Journal: Justin Stops Drinking Alcohol & Health Improves

I believe everyone who knows me knows that I like to relax and have a good time.  When I was “having a good time”, most of that time I could’ve been seen with an alcohol beverage in my hand. 

In August I wanted to try something new; not only for me, but for my husband and my son.  My health is not the greatest when dealing with HIV, but I know I have the tools to make it better. 

So I decided to stop drinking.  Let me say that it has not been easy to do but I wanted to see if it actually affected my health.

I didn’t go see my doctor for 4 months.  The last time I saw my doctor it was in July and my T-Cell count was in the 300’s.  Now that I stopped drinking my T-Cell count went up into the 400’s.  I hope that this number climbs for me. 

Most of the HIV positive people know want this number to go as high as it possibly can.  Some are higher than 400 some remain lower.  But you cannot worry too much about the numbers of other HIV positive people, worry about yourself and your own numbers.  People are used to boasting about their numbers and that’s okay.

Then I looked at beers and wines that were non-alcoholic.  So now I’m okay with have O’Douls, even though it sometimes upsets my stomach.    So then I switched to St. Pauli N.A. which also has a Amber flavor that I liked a lot.  When drinking wine I’ve learned to stick with Fre Wines.  I will leave the links at the end of this entry to make sure you can check it out. 

But now that I’ve stopped drinking I’ve had to analyze what I can do to stay in a social setting and be okay with everyone around me drinking.  I started drinking non-alcoholic wines, beers and even champagne; and for me I started to like it.  I like the fact that I was leveled headed when leaving a public setting, could interact with friends, not get drunk, and not have a hangover the next day.

When you are HIV positive, you have to work hard to stay healthy. Drinking less alcohol—or not drinking at all—can help you fight HIV disease and improve your health. Quitting drinking or cutting down on drinking is just one part of leading a healthy lifestyle.

·         Can make you forget to take your HIV medicines on time or not care about taking them at all.

·         Hurts your liver, especially if you also have hepatitis C.

·         Can weaken your immune system so that it does not fight HIV as well.

·         Affects your judgment so you may not practice safe sex.

·         Increases the risk of side effects from HIV medicines and other medicines.

·         Changes how some prescription drugs work in your body and can make them less effective.

For many people, drinking is a response to life’s problems and pressures. If you drink too much alcohol to deal with depression or the stress of living with HIV, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Some of the facts that are stated in this journal entry can be found in the brochure.  Alcohol and HIV A mix you can avoid. 

O’Doul’s

http://www.odouls.com/

St. Pauli N.A.

http://www.stpauligirl.com/na.php

Fre Wines

http://www.frewines.com/

Justin's HIV Journal: Logo TV segment HIV + Me, Ongina Ryan and Justin B Terry-Smith

This segment was done in 2010 on the Logo TV Network online. Ongina Ryan was on Season 1 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She hosted the show where she interviewed HIV positive gay men, including friend and activist Robert Breining. It was so fun I thought I would share it. I was able to e-mail one of the producers of Logo that was able to get this series for me. The reason why its legal to post this is because it was an limited online series that was later taken down. But I had such a great time at the shoot. My friend Damian was with me the whole way in support. After the shoot was over he gave me a tour of NY and it was great fun I loved it. On RuPaul's Drag race after the MAC Cosmetics Challenge which benefited in the fight against HIV/AIDS Ongina Ryan began to cry. She then admitted to being HIV positive for the last 2 years and that it meant so much to her when she won the MAC Cosmetics Challenge. This was on NATIONAL TELEVISION. When I saw that I thought to myself what a brave soul and when I was given the e-mail that I would be working with her I was so excited. I did NOT want this chance of meeting her to get away from me. She was beautiful and such a professional. She also commented on how nice my leather pants were lol ANYWAYS enjoy the segment.

Addis Beza #LinkUp

Addis Beza #LinkUp

International HIV/AIDS Alliance

Prepared by Battenhall, 22 November 2013

Addis Beza: Helping Prevent HIV Through Dance

Today's young people are the first generation that has never known a world without HIV and AIDS. In Ethiopia, where more than half of the population is under the age of 24, cultural attitudes among the older generation towards sexual health issues are making it difficult for young people to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe.

But one enterprising group of youngsters in Addis Ababa, the BEZA Anti-AIDS youth group, are determined to use their combined talents for music and dance to get messages about HIV prevention across to the public and their peers. Members of the youth group, all aged between 15 and 20, have founded a dance troupe called Addis Beza, meaning “to live for others”. The troupe perform regularly in popular public spots around Addis Ababa, using the occasion to hand out information leaflets and to encourage people to get tested for HIV free of charge so that they know their status and can be treated accordingly.

INSERT VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTLcXRhkkw8&feature=youtu.be

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The mobile testing clinics are organised by the Organization for Social Services for AIDS (OSSA), Ethiopia’s largest NGO working on HIV, and attract up to a thousand people over the course of five days. If somebody is found to be HIV positive, they are then referred on to a local health facility for access to treatment, care and support.

At the youth club centre, as well as training long hours to learn dance moves, members take it in turns to offer a drop in counselling service for young people and to give out free condoms. Habtegoregies Hailu, better known as Habte, is the club’s chairman, and is determined to help them navigate through their teenage years.

The troupe practising their dance moves

Photo credit: duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

“We’re going to save ourselves first, and then become a shelter for others who need protection,” he says. “This is the start not the end for us, helping protect young people from HIV.”

The Youth Group’s Debates

The club’s regular debate session is always well attended by members and this month’s topic - what is the right age to start having sex – drew quite a crowd. At these debates, opinion is often fiercely divided, but everybody gets the chance to express their view.

Club chairman Habte’s offering sees him open up the floor to personal opinion and thought. “How much control we do we have over ourselves, over our bodies? Marriage is not necessarily a timetable for having sex. It’s ok to experience, but we must be careful. It’s ok to jump in and enjoy life but do we take responsibility for our actions? Enjoy life but go and get information on how to enjoy it responsibly and carefully.”

Charismatic troupe leader Samson, 17, had this to say: “We have to have sex, we strongly have to. Because the Bible says to be reproductive – so we have to fulfil God’s word and use our body.  What is it for otherwise?”

Wendimagegne is more hesitant: “I’m waiting until marriage, because otherwise we won’t be able to handle the consequences. We’re not knowledgeable enough at 16.”

Samson and his story

Samson is typical of the kind of young person that the club aims to attract. Now a model student taking an evening class in hotel management, he was once branded a troublemaker and had a history of petty stealing. Brought up by his grandmother, his father died when he was a baby and he has no real knowledge of his mother. Remembering when he was younger, he says: “We got into fights with gangs from other villages and had problems with the police.”

Samson standing in front of a mobile HIV-testing clinic

Photo credit: duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

“I feel I have benefitted greatly from joining Addis Beza,” he continues. “The main benefit is a change in my life. Although I joined for the dance troupe, I’ve learnt lots of things. I did not have self-awareness until now and it has helped me to teach other people what I have learned. There is a big difference between the old me and the new me.”

Samson has seen first hand the tragedy that HIV can hold for young people if they do not have the knowledge they need to understand how to manage the virus. His friend Abel took his own life on discovering that he was positive, too frightened to reveal his diagnosis to his family for fear of being rejected.

“If you catch HIV it means that everyone will discriminate against you,” Samson says.  “People will think that you can’t live with anyone, that it is an alien disease. [Before joining the youth group] the opinion I had is that it’s not even possible to eat together.  Our families used to say that it's a punishment from God.”

“I did not have any knowledge and didn't know its methods of transmission, but I have learned to practise safe sex, when I should start having sex, what I need to do after sex if a woman gets pregnant.”

With young people aged 15-24 accounting for 40% of new HIV infections globally, Samson and his fellow dancers are playing their part as duty bearing citizens. “I want to make Ethiopian culture known to the world,” he says proudly.  “Here we say that we want to be the light for others.”

The troupe performing in the piazza

Photo credit: duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Link Up

Ethiopia is one of five countries currently being targeted by the Alliance and its partners through Link Up, an initiative that aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of more than one million young people living with and affected by HIV.

Over the course of the next three years, Link Up will reach more than one million young people aged 15-24 by implementing tailored HIV and sexual and reproductive health interventions to increase uptake and access to services and reduce unintended pregnancies, new HIV infections and HIV-related maternal mortality. In Ethiopia the initiative aims to reach 140,000 young people to improve their sexual health.

What can you do to help?

Show your support to Addis Beza, the Link Up programme and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance by:

1.    Sharing the dance troupe’s story (Click to Tweet) (Share on Facebook) #LinkUp

2.    Keeping up to date with the work being carried out through Link Up at www.link-up.org

3.    Follow the International HIV/AIDS Alliance on Twitter @theaidsalliance and on Facebook

Thank you for taking the time to read about Addis BEZA today. It means a lot to everyone involved in this project.

@theaidsalliance.