Justin B. Terry-Smith has been involved in LGBTQ and HIV Activism since 1999. He is an Air Force 9/11 Disabled Vet. Raised in Silver Spring, MD, he now lives in Albuequerque, New Meixco with his husband Phil. He writes an HIV/STI Advice Column for A&U Magazine, is a Contributing writer for thebody.com, a Life Coach and an Adjunct Professor. He has earned his Doctorate in Public Health with a concentration in Infectious Disease and his Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Hi Justin—I heard your dissertation is on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Can you tell me what the side effects of PrEP are? —Robert Justin, What did it feel like when you got HIV? Did you notice your body change? And, if so, did you think it was nothing? Or can you just not tell at all if you are positive? —Aaron Justin answers these questions on A&U Magazine's website please click the link below http://www.aumag.org/2016/11/27/justin-time-november-2016/ or Click here
Greetings from Accra. I cannot stop admiring your online posts and pictures and your positive attitude toward life. This makes me wonder if you are really HIV-positive because you do not fit the popular image of a person living with HIV as melancholy and lonely. Most people here do not disclose and are living in silence because of stigma. This brings me to the question: How did you find out you are positive—of course it was by testing but what led you to go and test for HIV? Did you have symptoms? What were they? How long after your exposure to the virus did you get tested?
These appear to be personal questions. It’s okay if you do not wish to answer any of them. Thanks and regards. Good health and blessings to you.
In the latest edition of A&U Magazine America's AIDS Magazine I talk to a reader about Sexual Empowerment and PrEP. 1st step in #HIV#prevention is sexual health empowerment • JUST*IN TIME by Justin B.Terry-Smith.
Dear Justin—
I hope you
get to read this because I’m in desperate need of an
answer about HIV
prevention.
I actually
met you years ago when you were the speaker at Howard University for Black AIDS
Awareness. I was a freshman then and I didn’t know a lot about HIV. I think the
reason why is because I didn’t know how to accept the fact that I was gay. When
I finally acknowledged it, I thought about your presentation at Howard
University. It scared me because I didn’t want to be HIV-positive. I had a
boyfriend and we had sex only about twenty-five times. He was very abusive
verbally at first and that really took a toll on my self-esteem; then he became
physically abusive and would throw things at me in the house, punching me,
smacking me, etc. I left him and now I have a new boyfriend.
My new
boyfriend is amazing, but he is also HIV-positive. He doesn’t want to use
condoms but he wants me to go on PrEP; I kinda already know what I want to do
but I really wanted to know what you would do in this situation. Do not worry—I’m
not basing my decision on what you say, but I am going to take it into
consideration.
—A
To see my answer to the reader please click on the link below:
GREAT NEWS: Some of the videos from Justin's HIV Journal will be SHOWCASED in the Brooklyn Museum with other HIV Activists Mark S. King, Carol Leigh, Juanita Mohammed, Luna Luis Ortiz Photography, Southern AIDS Living Quilt, James Wentzy and the late Nelson Sullivan (1948-1989) & Ray Navarro (1964-1990) The exhibit will officially open Dec. 1st (World AIDS Day) but there will be a free showing Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 7:00pm–9:00pm in which I will attend and be a part of a discussion panel at the end :-D<3 span=""> Wow I'm going to be showcased in the Brooklyn Museum!! WOW I did it!! NY here I come December 3rd see you there!!
Link for more information https://www.visualaids.org/events/detail/10369
A&U Magazine's Just*in Time HIV Advice Column by Justin B Terry-Smith focuses on
#Serodifferent couples: How do u navigate the conversation about #PrEP & #HIV meds? JUST*IN TIME by @JustinBSmith79 Hope you’re doing well! Got a question you might know the answer to….So I’m negative and on Truvada as PrEP, but my boyfriend finally got on what I thought his doctor prescribed him, Truvada, but instead was Emtriva. Now I’ve done my homework and before I get out of sorts: Is Emtriva equal or effectively the same as Truvada? Just thought you might know more than me, who specializes in sales and not health. Any help would be appreciated. —JCrew
Click on the link below to hear what Justin has to say about it.
I am deeply honored
and proud to say that Healthline Media has named Justin’s HIV Journal one of
the best HIV & STD blogs of 2016. I
was surprised when I received this e-mail (copied and pasted below) from
Healthline Media LLC. This is amazing to
me and I’m so glad that speaking out about something so passionate is giving to
the common good of making awareness and education on HIV and other STI
paramount. It has been a little over 10
years that I’ve lived with HIV. Justin’s
HIV Journal is not alone in being one Healthline’s best HIV & STD blogs of
2016. Here is the list of the top 18
2016 winners Blog.AIDS.gov, The Body: HIV/AIDS Blog Central, HIV/AIDS Advice
from Verywell, HCV Advocate, Hep B Blog, HIV and ID Observations, HIV Negative
Spouses, I’m Still Josh, Living in the Bonus Round, A Marine and HIV, My
Fabulous Disease, My Journey with AIDS…. and More!, POZ’s Blog, Poz Life of
Patrick, Shawn and Gwenn, The STD Project, and The Well Project. I’m humbled as well, because the other blogs
named above are so amazing and informative.
The Letter from Healthline Media
Hi Justin,
Congratulations! Your blog has made Healthline's list of the Best HIV/STD Blogs
of 2016! Healthline's editors selected each winner based on their reach to
educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high
quality information. We created a badge to help you publicize your achievement,
and I encourage you to embed the badge on your site and share your 2016 status
with your followers.
Thanks for providing a great resource to the HIV/STD community. I will be happy
to answer any questions and assist you with embedding the badge on your site.
King Regards,
Nicole Lascurain [ Assistant Marketing Manager ]
Healthline Media, Inc. www.healthline.com – @healthline – @HealthlineAdLab
HIV is a horrible disease but one thing that I realize, at
least in my opinion, is that spirituality does help with stress and
release. Being stressed with HIV is
never a good thing, it only allows the HIV to hit your body, mind and soul
harder than before.
In my journey living with HIV I converted from Christianity
to Paganism. Paganism is older than
Christianity and I felt very comfortable with my decision. But I also had to understand that in my
family heritage I’m originally supposed to be Jewish. So this is how it going a long time ago one
of my Great Great Great Grandmother on my mother’s side was intimate with a
Jewish man. From the very beginning it
was taboo. At that time there was no way
a black woman and Jewish man could ever be together on a permanent basis, it
was illegal. Her descendants married
Christian men, took on the role of being Christian, and raised their children
that way. That is the story of my family
that I was told. I was also told that
the last name of the Jewish man was Sasportas.
The name Sasportas can be found in a lot of places from the black slave
owners book to leading slave revolts in the Caribbean.
All in all, I should’ve been raised Jewish
but was not. I consider myself
Judeo-Pagan, which means to me that I really should look at Kabbalah and no I
don’t mean the commercialization that many celebrities have done but an
authentic practice of Kabbalah. From the
Kabbalah Center Kabbalah is an ancient wisdom that reveals how the universe and
life work. On a literal level, the word Kabbalah means “to receive.” It's the
study of how to receive fulfillment in our lives. I continue to observe and celebrate Jewish
holidays and customs, and believe me this is not easy because there are so
many. The Hebrew name that I go by is
Yadin and I’ve joined a Jude-Pagan study group and after I complete my
doctorate program I will start Hebrew school.
You may understand this but I believe that being spiritually aware in
one’s own right can bring fulfillment in your life and the lives of
others. The only thing I ask is not to
put one’s religion on anyone else and respect anyone’s decision to pray as they
wish.
Now I feel a bit better because of my new found spirituality. Having the support of my family, friends and
readers really means a lot to me.
Other Jews out there may not accept me because I didn’t go
through certain channels the traditional way, but that is on them if they would
like to take that in.
It has been 10 years since I’ve been diagnosed with HIV. I’ve changed HIV medications twice and my
body seems to like the latest one far better than the other two regimens I was
on. I seem to have been dealing with
things that have come along with being infected with HIV rather well. Physically I didn’t expect to get Rosacea but
I’m keeping it under control by trying to avoiding things that I really like to
eat and drink. I did break out into
hives on my arms one time and it was intolerable to the point where I was
screaming in pain but that went away when I took an inflammatory.
Since having HIV is have earned an Associate’s in
Communications, a Bachelor’s in Political Science, a Master’s in Public Health
and now I’m in school to get my Doctorate in Public Health. During those 10 years I’ve gotten married and
have two sons by adoption, Lundyn and Tavis.
All in all, I’m happy and I’m doing well. 10 years down and as many years as it takes
to find a cure to go.
#HIV vs. #AIDS a reader writes in w/ concern The latest JUST*IN TIME by #JustinTerrySmith To see June Advise column from A&U Magazine please click on the link below bit.ly/28JKQLh
In Orlando Florida about
2am on 6/12/2016 a gunman entered the (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender)
LGBT club called the Pulse and opened fire killing approximately 50
patrons. Just hours after the mass
shooting Texas Lt Gov. Dan Patrick an avid anti-LGBT campaigner sent out a tweet
saying,"Do not be deceived: God cannot be
mocked. A man reaps what he sows." just hours after a mass shooting, which
is from the Bible and found in Galatians 6:7.
Representatives for the lieutenant governor said the post were
prescheduled and that Patrick and other statewide officials usually share Bible
verses on social media on Sunday mornings.
The tweet was deleted around 11:00 a.m. Sunday. The Texas' Democratic
Party responded by calling on Patrick to apologize immediately.Patrick
campaign spokesman Allen Blakemore strongly denied the tweet was in any way
related to the Orlando shooting and that Patrick was currently out of the
country.
Whether accident or not,
why has it taken this long to get an apology from him? What is the hold
up? You are a major _ _ _ hole, no
doubt.
This is in response to the expected HIV infections in the Black Gay population that I saw in one of your posts. It cited stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that fifty percent Black men will [likely] test positive as will thirty percent of Hispancis. My question is: Are we doing the right outreach in light of this prediction and, if not, what should we be doing?
- Bob Doyle
To see Justin B Terry-Smith' answer to Bob's question click on the link below
Justin B Terry-Smith's explains in his HIV advice column Just*in Time in A&U: America's AIDS Magazine why We should NOT stigmatize people who choose to utilize #PrEP.
Question:
Justin—
We have been friends (on Facebook) for a while and we met [as fellow members of] the leather community when you were Mr. Maryland Leather 2010. However, I would appreciate it if you keep my identity secret, seeing as how we are both well known in the leather community as well.
Well, I noticed that there is a spike in syphilis cases among gay men, especially in the leather community. Do you think that has anything to do with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)? My next question is about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). In your opinion do you think that PEP gives people permission to have sex with others and then go get the pill the next morning? —Old Guard Leather DADDY
For the first time Scientist have now seen its first case of
an individual contracting the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) while being
compliant with taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) daily. The HIV strain that they were exposed to is
supposedly a multi-drug resistant strain.
In other words, the strain of HIV that the person who was taking PrEP,
is resistant to many levels of HIV medications.
So this doesn’t surprise me because the strain is HIV drug resistant because
PrEP is 92% effective in preventing HIV transmission, so it isn’t 100% but
neither is using a condom.
Unfortunately,
the only thing that is 100% effective is abstinence and that is farfetched to
try to even preach that message. PrEP has
been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since July 16, 2012. I would say 4 years of no HIV infections for
those that are compliant with taking PrEP is a huge step for public health in eradicating
the threat of HIV transmission.
A 43-year-old man who has sex with men (MSM) who had been
taking PrEP 24 months before his HIV test provided a positive result. The researchers gave him a blood spot test in
order to determine whether or not he had stayed compliant to PrEP, which it was
inferred that the patient was compliant.
Test also concluded that his HIV medication resistant strain that he was
infected by was indeed from only 1 person and not because of mutation of
another strain of HIV after transmission.
The patient is now being put on Tivicay (dolutegravir), Prezcobix
(darunavir/cobicistat), and Edurant (rilpivirine), and continues to have an
undetectable viral load.
Prep (Truvada) is made up of two medications tenofovir and emtricitabine. In the world right now if someone is infected
with HIV they usually either have resistance to tenofovir or emtricitabine. But they usually almost never have resistance
to both tenofovir and emtricitabine at the same time.
The data was made public knowledge at the 2016 Conference on
Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston by HIV Specialist
Dr. David Knox
I was on Facebook when I first heard of and saw the
HIV Smart Campaign and became very curious about what was its meaning. As many HIV campaigns have become a part of
social media this HIV campaign is the first of its kind that I’ve seen since
PrEP was created. I attended photoshoots
in Baltimore and in Washington DC, both with good turn outs. The pictures are meant to be shared on all
social media including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This campaign raises awareness on how we
mentally see people with HIV and HIV itself.
While the mission is that people think smarter (hence the glasses) about
HIV, it reduces HIV stigma at the same time.
It also makes not only the target population of gay men and MSM but the
general population think about the benefits of PrEP and PEP. Working with photographer Ryan Colford was
amazing and he is amazing.
HIV Smart was created by founder and President Ryan
Colford, “to dispel ignorance because of all the disinformation still being
circulated to the public in an age of technology.
Real facts need to be known, and should be shared.”
HIV Smartis a newly developed nonprofit organization that focuses
on education about preventative methods (PrEP/PEP), education about risk
behaviors, advocating HIV testing and the importance of knowing your status.HIV Smartalso creates awareness about the
serious link between people living with HIV and depression, and last but
definitely not least, places an emphasis on fighting stigma. The heart ofHIV
Smartcampaign is
a social media photo campaign. We encourage everyone to use their pictures
across all forms of social media from Facebook to Instagram to Twitter. The
recognizable imagery will help to raise awareness through increased visibility
and foster real intelligent conversations relaying true facts and dispelling
myths. These conversations will cover the challenges associated with the virus
and stress the importance of treating all people with dignity and compassion.
Our goals are to create multiple photo events in
each of the 50 states with a large focus on the top 5 states with the highest
transmission rates (New York, Florida, California, Georgia, and Texas). We hope
that each photo event will help educate everyone regardless of status, create
more public awareness that it’s only disease, and reinforce that shame of any
sort should never be associated with HIV. He developed the idea of forming the organization, corresponding
website, and blending it with his talents as a photographer by adding a social
media photo campaign.
In Washington DC the HIV Smart Campaign was
hosted by Mr.
DC Eagle 2016
Being HIV positive I near thought I would have any children at all. We adopted another son when he was 17. I can’t believe I
couldn’t mention before but I believe it was because of legalities. But he is ours. He just turned 18 and wants to learn how to
drive. He had made friends with our
other son when they went to high school together. Well his name is Tavis and he found his way
to our house one day with bags in hand.
We took to him immediately and welcomed him with open arms into our
family. He is gay just like our first
son. Speaking of our first son he has
flown the coup and is now making a way for himself in the real world. It felt like just yesterday I was getting
calls every day from his high school, BUT we nipped that in the bud fairly
quickly. He matured has a boyfriend and
is making his way in the world. All I
can do is hope he becomes a good man, which I’m positive he will. BUT I will say this no two is enough. My husband and I have decided that we are
getting our tubes tides and that’s that.
LOL Anyways we are a happy family and things are going well. LOVE YOU GUYS and COMMENT DOWN BELOW.
One of my favorite places as of right now is Puerto
Rico. I was there because I am currently
in school for my Doctorate in Public Health at Walden University. I had a choice between Puerto Rico or
Tampa. Of course I choose Puerto
Rico. I took my husband Philip and left
the kids at home. We need some time for
a vacation. Honestly when I was diagnosed
with HIV I didn’t expect to live this long or be in school for a Doctoral
degree and I have one more year left. My
husband has really been my rock and inspiration.
We stayed in a cute hotel named the Coral Princess,
not far from the Beach in Condado (Santurce).
Condado (Santurce) is a great place.
It has the population of a little over 6,000 and has a big gay community
It was just an amazing beautiful area.
We also went Boquerón, Cabo Rojo which was amazing. Boquerón is a beach village located in the
city of Cabo Rojo. The village is one of
the main tourist attractions in the southwestern part of the island, which has
an awesome gay community. The population
there is about 5,000. We saw the salt
beaches there and walked along the beach.
We then went to Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Viejo San Juan or Old
San Juan it was so festive and beautiful.
One of my favorite places was El Yunque National Forest. It was my first time being in a Rain Forest
it was absolutely a wondrous time, I felt like a little boy in a candy
store. When then stayed at the Sheraton
in San Juan at the end of our trip.
HIV should not dictate where you can’t go but you can
let it take you to places you’ve never been.
I was so distraught 10 years ago when I was diagnosed, but I turned
around and got back on my feet. I now I know
that I can still go places I can still enjoy life.
The Food and Drug Administration has lifted its ban on blood donations from gay men. The ban has been in place for 32 years. So yeah we can give blood now. Thank you to the FDA. BUT there is a stipulation. To give blood to the FDA you must be abstinent for one year prior to giving blood. Hmmmmmmmm no sex for a year……nope sorry not me. The abstinent rule is also in place in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. The ban was put into place during the early years of the AIDS crisis. With medicine and science making strides activist and medical group see the ban as unjustifiable.
Charlie Sheen
announced he is HIV positive. During the
interview with Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today” shows, saying that he wanted to put
a stop “to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks.”
He had paid
millions to keep people quiet and has faced lawsuits from previous
partners. Sheen said that he will not be
paying anyone any more money after today because he has disclosed publically. The news had already received this story the
day before his disclosure.
The 50 year
old actor admits to hiring prostitutes and extensive drug use, which was made
public by tabloids and newspapers.
This story
proves that HIV is not a gay or black issue.
HIV is a global public health issue.
By disclosing on his own I hope this gives him empowerment and
inspiration to help others in the future with their HIV diagnosis. Currently Sheen is on a four pill a day HIV
medication regimen and is currently undetectable.
When asked
whether he would stop drinking, Mr. Sheen said that “perhaps the freedom of
today may lead to that as well.”
My hopes for
Sheen is that he lives a long healthy life and to let him know that now you are
a part of community that can empower you to be the best Charlie Sheen you can
be. I back Charlie Sheen.
On the Oprah:
Where Are The Now? 39 years old former child star of the show Who's the Boss? Danny Pintauro, came out
this past weekend as HIV positive. It
turns out that Pintauro has been living with HIV for 12 years. One the show Who’s the Boss? Pintauro
played the role of Johnathan. When
Pintauro was 17 he came out as gay while attending Stanford University. A tabloid forced him to come out because they
were going to run with the story about his sexuality whether he liked it or
not. Pintauro stated this about the
forced outing, "I missed the opportunity to be a beacon of light for gay
kids who were going through what I was going through because I was outed; it
wasn't by choice,” This time Pintauro is
coming out as HIV positive and wanted to do it when he was ready. When learning about his HIV status Pintauro
said this, "You've spent so much time terrified that you're going to get
it," he says, "and then you have it, and you don't have to be
terrified anymore."
Pintauro is now happily married to Wil Tabares. The
couple married in 2014.
2015 marked the beginning of a new era in the evolution of HIV. Of the estimated 1.2 million Americans with HIV, one-thirdare over 50 years old; within 2015, half of the total HIV-positive population will be over 50 years old.[i]
The exhibit, curated in collaboration with Walgreens and The Graying of AIDS, focuses on the challenges and triumphs of this aging HIV community through captivating portraits and insightful testimonials.
The Well Beyond HIV art exhibit will be on public display September 10th an 11th from 11am-6pm at the Carnegie Library – Literary Hall, 801 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 – We encourage you to stop by if you have a chance.
If interested we ask that you also encourage your followers to:
