Justin's HIV Journal: International AIDS Conference 2012 & Capital Pride Hero 2012

Pride is a great event no matter where you are, how big your pride gets, or how many organizations are a part of it.  This was a particular special Capital Pride for me.  I was honored as one of five Capital Pride Heroes Award Recipients.  I was so surprised and happy, when I got that call. 

Also I’m being inducted into the DC AIDS Heroes Exhibit at the International AIDS Conference that is happening in Washington DC July 22^nd-27^th.  I will definitely be there for about two days at the conference because that is all I could afford.  But there is the Gay Men’s Health Summit that I have already registered for and that is separate from the International AIDS Conference, but I will be attending that as well from July 20^th-21^st.  These events for very informative and I suggest everyone attend.  HIV affects and can infect us all. 

Here are the bios written by Metro Weekly’s Will O’Bryan of all the award recipients:

 

Barnett

That gala, the ''Heroes Gala & Silent Auction,'' is Wednesday, May 30, marking the start of Capital Pride, which ends Sunday, June 10, with the Capital Pride Festival. But the celebration of these heroes has already begun.

Barnett, executive director of metro D.C.'s Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), says he learned of the honor about two weeks ago, adding that while the award may be in his name, he ''absolutely'' hopes that it will help with his organization's work.

''It's a huge honor,'' says Barnett. ''My hope it is it will raise awareness of SMYAL's mission.''

Being a hero means, however, that Barnett may have to forgo marching with the SMYAL contingent in the June 9 Capital Pride Parade. Traditionally, a hero rides alone – in a convertible, of course. He has no doubt the SMYAL parade showing, already on track for something big, will be just fine.

''I'll definitely miss being a part of the SMYAL contingent this year, but it's going to be a memorable contingent even if I'm not part of it,'' Barnett promises.

Bell

Bell, whose BOI Marketing & Promotions gives D.C. its annual Capital Queer Prom, says she'll miss hitting the parade with her prom peers, but she certainly won't have time to dwell on it. She'll be too busy helping with an array of women's events during Capital Pride, performing at the festival, and on and on. It's that sort of community involvement, though, that's raised her to hero status.

''I'm completely honored to have this award in that, one, I was nominated, and, two, the board selected me,'' Bell says. ''Every year, I'm completely in shock that people continue to notice the work that I do. It's motivation for me to continue what I'm doing. That other people recognize it is absolutely amazing, truly an honor.''

Platte, founder of the DC Cowboys, plans on running back to the cowboys' rolling parade stage after making it through the route on hero duty, saying the parade is enough fun to warrant two or three rides along the route.

Platte

With the DC Cowboys dance troupe having entertained in the District and well beyond for nearly two decades, Platte knows what he's talking about. He's enjoyed more than his fair share of Capital Pride festivities. That makes it all the more appropriate that the cowboys have scheduled their last appearance for the Capital Pride Festival, adding even more weight to this special honor.

''I'm truly honored to be recognized for all the good work this organization's done,'' Platte says of his cowboys, stressing that the title of Capital Pride Hero isn't really his alone. ''This honor has to be shared with all the dancers, past and present, and the fans.''

Between being named Capital Pride Hero and the DC Cowboys curtain call, Capital Pride will obviously be an emotional time for Platte. ''It's exciting. It's nerve-wracking. It's sad. It's all the emotions tied together,'' he shares.

There's also good reason for Benecke, co-founder of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), to experience an extra jolt of emotion as she rides the parade route, remembering back nearly 20 years when participated with less jubilation, more determination.

Benecke

''I will always remember marching in the Capital Pride Parade in 1993 when DADT was being debated, just before C. Dixon Osburn and I founded SLDN, seeing straight colleagues from law school in the crowd applauding the military veterans group I was marching with,'' says Benecke, an Army veteran, of walking with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America, emphasizing an appreciation of Capital Pride being not just for the LGBT community but for allies as well.

Of course, the award itself is not too shabby.

''The national capital area has been my home for 20 years. D.C. has been a beacon for me,'' she says. ''To have one's community recognize your life's work is deeply gratifying.''

Terry-Smith

Simply being in Benecke's company as a fellow Capital Pride Hero is also gratifying, says Terry-Smith, just starting service with the volunteer Maryland Defense Force, thrilled to be named with a co-founder of SLDN.

The recognition as hero, however, comes not for defending his state, but largely for helping individuals defend themselves from HIV, or better cope with the virus if already infected. While his service to the community has been recognized by The DC Center, DC Leather Pride and others, Terry-Smith says this particular honor tells him his activism has greater impact than he realized.

''When you receive an award, you think, 'Who's giving it to me? How did my work impact that community?''' says Terry-Smith. ''When you get an award like Capital Pride Hero, you realize you're affecting every LGBTQ person in the D.C. area – transgender, leather, bi, lesbian, twink – everybody. I'm really honored to even be considered. I'm so excited about this.''

Justin's HIV Journal Justin Introduces "Just*in Time", His New Advice Co...

Just*in Time: February 2012 -- From A&U Magazine, America's AIDS Magazine

Hi Justin,

I was just wondering what your view was on abstinence? Do you think it's a good thing, possible, or is it unrealistic?

Thanks in advance.

Advertisement
-- gypsykatcher30

Gypsy,

Every time I hear one of my friends say, "I'm going to be abstinent," I think about the reasons why they might say so. There are so many reasons. Some of the people I know decide to because of spiritual reasons, some do it because they are scared of catching HIV or an STI, and others because they suffer from low self-esteem and fear rejection. Listen, if you want to remain abstinent it is okay. I honestly think that anyone who wants to can, but do it for the right reasons.

Do it because you want to and not because you are scared of something. Most of the friends that I have that are abstinent for spiritual reasons usually are able to be abstinent longer than my friends that don't, but that is only my experience. Also abstinence is the only 100 percent way not to be sexually infected with HIV or any other STI. I for one could not do it at all. As some of you know I've been married since August 7, 2009, but before I dated my husband I was single and I thought about abstinence. Honey, if it works for you do it, but as for me I couldn't.

Justin,

I've been seeing a man for about two years now. I've been positive for about five years; my boyfriend is also HIV-positive and he has been infected since 2006. He wants to have unprotected sex. Should I do it? I'm so unsure about this -- please help!

-- Antonio

Antonio,

Listen up and listen up good. Do not do something you are unsure about or something that you are scared of. Go with your gut. I can't tell you what to do but I can only speak of what I would do. I've been with the same man for almost six years and we still have protected sex. Just because you both have HIV doesn't mean that neither one of you are not open to being able to be infected with other STIs. There are things such as hepatitis C, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, etc., that you can catch without using a condom.

But there is another side of the controversial subject that I will try to explain, because my opinion is not the be-all end-all say-so of sex between two HIV-positive people. So, you and your partner have been together and, if you are monogamous, there are some ways that people can get around harming either HIV-positive partner when having unprotected sex, but they are very risky. You need to have a very open and honest conversation with your partner about STIs, drug resistance, and treatment history. With HIV comes being susceptible to other STIs. Be ready to take those infections on just in case you are infected with one of them. Please keep in mind that chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are curable and less harmful if caught and treated early, but there is no cure for hepatitis C or herpes.

Knowing your resistances to any HIV drugs is paramount in this context, too. For example, say you're taking Atripla and you become resistant to Atripla; if you have unprotected sex then there is a chance that your partner might become resistant to his own medication. Past treatment is also important as well. Please discuss all the above with your partner. Thanks ... and as the fabulous Miranda Priestley from the infamous movie The Devil Wears Prada says, "That's all!" :-)

Justin's HIV Journal: Bobby Williams (A Blind Writer) Letter to HIV

A couple of weeks ago I received this e-mail from Bobby William:

"I'd like to ask a favor of you. I like your HIV letter idea, but I can't print it out in Braille. If you don't mind, would you mind reading it for me? If you wish to email me privately, email me on _______".

I sent an e-mail saying that I would. Bobby has such a great spirit and I admire his courage. Here is his letter Bobby I hope I did you proud and thank you so much You're story was so touching to me. HUGS

Dear HIV.

People say that eyes are a window into the soul, but what about memories? Don't they count for something as well? I'm blind, gay, and I can remember my life changing all because of you.

I can clearly remember the first time ever truly hearing about you. It was a high school health class and all of us were instructed to do some research on a common STD. I chose you because I wanted to get to know you and to see what kind of damage that you did to people. I didn't know that I'd meet you face to face the next year.

When I met you I was homeless, roaming the streets hoping to find some sort of perishable food. It was late at night and I had just found a nice truck to sleep in and so I curled up with my backpack in the truck bed. Suddenly, I felt the glare of a flashlight on my face, demanding to know why I was in his truck. After some arguing and bickering, he took me into his home, and gave me his couch to sleep on ... the first one I had ever slept on in years. His name, I came to learn, was Brian. Brian took me into his home, and we soon became boyfriends. I didn't know that he was infected with you until my first heated passionate uproar. I wanted to make love to Brian so bad that it literally hurt me that he didn't want to pursue the same actions as I wanted. I didn't understand until he told me that he had you coursing through his body. I now understood what a horrible thing you were. What I didn't understand was why you would do this to a respected African-American teacher who liked to bowl every Tuesday night and have scented candles sitting near his tub every night when we took a soft bath together. I just don't get it at all. Why would you infect someone so pure hearted and strong?

As I grew and became stronger, graduating high school, I watched you work your magic on this 32-year-old man. I watched you eat away at his T cells and his immune system all because of a blood transfusion. Towards the end, I stayed home with him and cared for him. He helped me survive the bitter world and I was trying to help him survive your bitter plight. I lay with him as he vomited, and shook in my arms, unable to fight you off any longer. I didn't know how to handle this at all. I was only 19 at the time. I didn't know how to fight you, but trust me; I did everything that I could. He couldn't teach anymore, and it soon got to be so bad that he was hospitalized.

On his last day ... I held Brian's hand as he faded away from me, his HIV medicine utterly useless to him now. By the tone of the doctors, I was certain he looked as white as a sheet, but I stuck with him as he cried through the nights, as he vomited on my clothes and as he tried to lurch to the bathroom with my help. If you were going to have it your way, I was going to fight you every step of the way. I was going to be with him until the end, and I was. His last hours were of encouragement to me. We lay on his bed, with him in my arms. He kept telling me to never give up and be the best that I could possibly be. I promised him I would, and after I did that, I felt his chest stop moving, and I felt his breath stop hitting me with spurts. It was April 10th, 2010. The day I graduated high school was when Brian died.

Brian was a good person and I took his words to heart. I walked across that stage, and grabbed my diploma all the while with tears gushing down my face. Brian told me to be strong however, so I was. After my graduation, I went to college, and became a writer and a motivational speaker, using the money obtained to donate to HIV research labs and medical teams in the United States. I won't back down and I definitely won't give up. I go to schools and educate them about you, and I'm actively participating in many ways to eradicate you from this earth. I may be blind, but you have not sapped away my sight. I see the people who battle you every day just as Brian did and I see the advances we make to beat you. I'll tell you something here and now. When that first cure is administered, my cane and I will be way out in the front row of onlookers grinning broadly. Soon, you won't be a problem anymore, and I will be there to watch every second of it.

Sincerely,

-- Bobby William

Justin's HIV Journal: Justin gets his degree & is accepted into Gradua...

The one things about having HIV/AIDS is that you really don't think about what you want to accomplish because some of us lose hope, but I'm here to say DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR DREAMS!!!! Just because you have HIV/AIDS doesn't mean you have to slow down. You should keep moving forward, keep living, keep loving and definitely keep laughing.

It took me a while to get my degree, BUT I finally got it. I had my Associates Degree from Axia College in Communications. My family has always put an importance on having a degree, and sometimes I've felt like I've disappointed them. Now I have another reason to make my family proud but more importantly to make me proud. My husband is also the driving force that has helped me get where I am with my education.

So knowing this I had no choice but to go for my Bachelor's Degree. It means a lot to me that I earned this degree. But now that I'm on a roll I will not stop. Graduate School here I come. I plan on going to get my Master's in Public Health from Walden University. My classes start in June and I'm so excited and nervous at the same time.

This was emotional for me because when I was diagnosed getting my education was the last thing I would ever think of doing. BUT you have to stay strong and go for your dreams DO NOT STOP

POZ - POZ Exclusives : Protesters Against Hershey Company Hit Times Square Store - by Cristina Gonzalez and Reed Vreeland

POZ - POZ Exclusives : Protesters Against Hershey Company Hit Times Square Store - by Cristina Gonzalez and Reed Vreeland

Justin's HIV Journal: "Write A Letter to HIV Campaign!!!"

Hello, I'm Justin B. Terry-Smith. I was infected with HIV in 2005 and diagnosed in 2006. I've decided to write a letter expressing my feelings about HIV and I'm asking YOU to join me.

You can be HIV negative or positive; this letter is meant to encourage and empower. If you're infected or affected by HIV, I'm asking that you write a letter and then videotape yourself reading the letter aloud. It helps sometimes to get your feelings out, whether you've been recently diagnosed or have been living with HIV for a long period of time.

I'm asking everyone -- including my fellow bloggers here at TheBody.com and others that don't have a blog -- to join me in this campaign, "My Letter to HIV." Check out my letter and video for an example. If you don't want to make a video you don't have to; a simple letter will suffice. You can also send a picture of yourself. Entries will be posted in a series on this article page.

Send your letters and video links to mylettertohiv@gmail.com.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN EMPOWERING YOURSELVES IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS!

Justin's HIV Journal: Dr. Philip B. Terry-Smith supports Write A Letter ...

What can I say about my husband other than he is the most incredible man I've ever met. He is supporting me and my campaign and also I commend him. It took a lot for him to do this as it would anyone that would express their feelings in such a way. Baby I love you and thank you.

Here is his letter to HIV

Dear HIV,
I know it has been while since I've communicated but I've frankly been at a loss of words. It finally occurred to me the other day why I've been bothered by you. I don't like being rude, but sometimes there is no other way than through directness. You are the type of acquaintance that shows up at a party, often uninvited and doesn't know when to leave. Just as I was coming into my own, accepting my sexuality and firming up my identity, here you come. I was just barely out of high school and basic training, setting out on my own enjoying new found "adult" freedom when you started rearing your ugly head.
Just a few years after coming to grips with my sexual identity... in the aftermath of the vitriol being spewed by Anita Bryant and her hate induced madness in Florida, you hit the scene, at the time called GRID, Gay Related Immune Deficiency....GAY related...sweeping through San Francisco, New York. No known cause and a host of previously unheard of illnesses literally plaguing the very community that I was just becoming comfortable in. Rare cancers, pneumonias that would kill in literally weeks, previously healthy young men, many not much older than I, wasting away became the norm....AIDS. Fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, remorse...all seemed to feed the societal and religious condemnation of me and my kind. It seemed inevitable....get this thing...die of AIDS.....And then you show up to the party, my party, hanging out with my friends and yes...lovers. The rumors of how you were spread started to give way to the reality that you and your devious ways crashed our most intimate of relations. My dislike of you grew even stronger.
I remember the roll call of close and intimate friends who you seemed to have fondness for. Tom, Bob, Richard...the funerals I was asked to officiate for...Carlos, Nick, Rob....the list grew too large and too painful, sadness, loss, anxiety, wonder...when.... That gave way to why hasn't...it seemed inevitable. The frequent tests, the scares simply because one caught a cold or flu, or because one sweat in one's sleep, a previously unseen skin blemish, a loss of weight...all became cause for alarm, cause for anxiety...cause for anger...paranoia, isolation...the expectation for folks who knew I was gay and medical professionals, guessing, suspecting ...constant vigilance. Why didn't you simply leave...you were never welcome in my home or at my party, you were never invited, but crept your way in, closer and closer.... It seemed inevitable...or even miraculous that we did not become closer years ago. Fear gave way to hope as new less lethal medications emerged and it seemed possible for one to live with a chronic, yet manageable disease. Still none-the-less a troublesome condition, but manageable, less debilitating, less life altering...but still troublesome and still a requirement for hyper vigilance. It seemed inevitable. And your proclivity for crashing parties, especially the ones you seem to like now, other young men and women...just coming into their prime, really bothers me, really shows your devious nature....that parasitic quality to prey on the vulnerable like some sick stalker...some sexual predator... just waiting to strike.
So here we are.... some 30 years since you first crashed my party, my cotillion, you're still hanging out...still the nuisance, unwanted, obnoxious, parasitic guest that simply won't leave. Well, in case you forgot, I've shared this with you once before. I don't like you! You are not welcome in my home, my life or my body...but since you seem to not be able to take a hint and seem to not want to go away anytime soon...in the mean time....if you can refrain from stealing anything or anyone else from me...if you promise not to be too much of a pest....perhaps we can co-exist with a peaceful détente.

Justin's HIV Journal: "Write A Letter to HIV Campaign!!!"

Hello, I'm Justin B. Terry-Smith. I was infected with HIV in 2005 and diagnosed in 2006. I've decided to write a letter expressing my feelings about HIV and I'm asking YOU to join me.

You can be HIV negative or positive; this letter is meant to encourage and empower. If you're infected or affected by HIV, I'm asking that you write a letter and then videotape yourself reading the letter aloud. It helps sometimes to get your feelings out, whether you've been recently diagnosed or have been living with HIV for a long period of time.

I'm asking everyone -- including my fellow bloggers here at TheBody.com and others that don't have a blog -- to join me in this campaign, "My Letter to HIV." Check out my letter and video for an example. If you don't want to make a video you don't have to; a simple letter will suffice. You can also send a picture of yourself. Entries will be posted in a series on this article page.

Send your letters and video links to mylettertohiv@gmail.com.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN EMPOWERING YOURSELVES IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS!

Justin's HIV Journal: PROTEST MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL END HIV STIGMA NOW

Justin's HIV Journal: "Write a Letter to HIV" Campaign!

"Write a Letter to HIV" Campaign!

By Justin B. Terry-Smith
From TheBody.com

March 6, 2012
Justin B. Terry-Smith

Hello, I'm Justin B. Terry-Smith. I was infected with HIV in 2005 and diagnosed in 2006. I've decided to write a letter expressing my feelings about HIV and I'm asking YOU to join me.

You can be HIV negative or positive; this letter is meant to encourage and empower. If you're infected or affected by HIV, I'm asking that you write a letter and then videotape yourself reading the letter aloud. It helps sometimes to get your feelings out, whether you've been recently diagnosed or have been living with HIV for a long period of time.

I'm asking EVERYONE-- including my fellow bloggers here at TheBody.com and others that don't have a blog -- to join me in this campaign, "My Letter to HIV." Check out my letter and video for an example. If you don't want to make a video you don't have to; a simple letter will suffice. You can also send a picture of yourself. Entries will be posted in a series on this article page. You can go to YouTube and upload your video there and send us the Embedded or URL Link

Send your letters and video links via e-mail Please be advised that your entry will be on thebody.com's website

Here is an example about what we are doing
http://www.thebody.com/content/66043/dear-hiv-my-letter-to-hiv.html

PLEASE JOIN ME IN EMPOWERING YOURSELVES IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS!

Mr. Justin B. Terry-Smith
Author of children's HIV book "I Have A Secret"
Creator of Justin's HIV Journal & Write A Letter To HIV Campaign
http://www.justinbsmith.com

Justin's HIV Journal: HIV Positive Zimbabwe Woman Laced Child's Porridge with Menstrual Blood !!!!

HIV Positive Zimbabwe Woman Laced Child’s Porridge with Menstrual Blood

SO THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST DISGUSTING STORIES I’VE EVER HEARD

A 17 year old maid, Pelagia Mureya from Zimbabwe was caught lacing a baby’s porridge with her menstrual blood. WTF that in itself is probably one of the most degusting things I’ve ever hear on the news. The 17 years old maid is also confirmed to be HIV –positive.

According to sources at the MSN the maid had repeated this act several times before. So Mureya would cook the porridge and put her menstrual blood in it then give it to the 4 year old child to eat. But one time the parent actually noticed a spot of blood in the porridge and asked Mureya about it. Mureya claimed to be ignorant about the whole act. The parent became suspicious and took the maid and the blood spotted porridge to the hospital. Blood tests were taken from both the spot of blood and Mureya. The hospital then confirmed that the spot of blood did match Mureya’s blood. The parent of the 4 year old quickly pressed charges against the Mureya.

Authorities arrested Mureya and she has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, if she is on good behavior she could be released in 8 years.

HIV Criminalization is wrong, but this woman intentionally wanted to spread HIV. There is a difference between the two. There are laws in place now in several different states that d not specifically go into detail much of what is involved when spreading the HIV virus. For example if one man with HIV bites someone who does not have HIV chances are that they will not spread the virus unless there is a laceration in the person mouth and the person who is being bite’s skin is broken and bleeding. In some states the person who not only go to jail for assault which they should BUT they might go to jail for trying to spread the HIV virus, even if self defense was the intention and NOT trying to spread the HIV virus.

Justin's HIV Journal: Gay Marriage PASSES in MARYLAND How can a Majority vote on Civil Rights of a Minority?

After a long battle it was sign by the House, the Senate and now Governor Martin O’Malley will sign it into law.   Since the Attorney General Doug Gansler of Maryland stated in 2010 that same-sex marriage will be recognized; the LGBT community from my home state traveled to other states such as Massachusetts, New York, Washington DC etc to get married just so they can travel back to Maryland so their marriage will be recognized. SO the day has FINALLY COME to Maryland.  SAME-SEX MARRIAGE is now law in my hometown state of Maryland.  

My husband and I got married in Provincetown Massachusetts on August 7^th, 2009.  When Gansler announced that Maryland recognize same-sex marriage, the marriage between my husband and I was automatically recognized.  

But now that same-sex marriage is legal in Maryland opponents are trying to drum up 56000 signatures so that the voters themselves can vote on same-sex marriage.  Here is the main problem with that.  A majority should never have the right to vote on a minority’s civil right; that is unethical and unconstitutional.  

When looking at polls about 71% of White and only 41% of Black Maryland voters support same-sex marriage. Why is that?  

Well a lot of Black Marylanders think that there is no correlation between the Black Civil Rights Movement and the Gay Civil Rights Movement, I’m here to say there is.  There are differences but there is a correlation to the point where you can say the majority of a population is oppressing the rights of a minority.  Hasn’t anyone heard of Bayard Rustin and his role in the Black Civil Rights Movement?  

Also Baltimore County delegate Emmett Burns (D) was quoted as saying, “Gays and Lesbians have never been discriminated like I have been discriminated”.  Burns himself a black Marylander seems a little clueless to the fact that there are black gay people in his state, let alone his district.  

WAIT A MINUTE… I’m BLACK AND GAY Mr. Burns I think that I’ve been discriminated against more than you have.  By you making such a statement you isolated and ostracize Gay Black people DID YOU KNOW THAT?

If the referendum is stopped or if it goes through and Marylanders vote for same-sex marriage, my husband Dr. Philip B. Terry-Smith will have a private ceremony.