HIV

1 07, 2020

Doin’ It On the Regular

By |2020-07-01T10:55:41-04:00July 1st, 2020|Categories: blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

     If you’re HIV-poz, what’s essential to achieving viral suppression?      The answer:  adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.  This faithfulness and fidelity about taking your HIV meds on the regular put you on the righteous road toward becoming undetectable.  And that, my friends, is the ultimate destination—to NOT transmit the virus to your sexual partners.      Unfortunately, however, social factors are undermining [...]

25 03, 2018

The HIV/Syphilis Connection

By |2018-03-25T07:59:28-04:00March 25th, 2018|Categories: blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

     Conclusive data now bear out that among men who have sex with men (MSM), those infected with HIV have a much higher syphilis diagnosis rate than those who are HIV-negative.  This disparity varies widely between states, which could be as a result in part by more frequent testing among MSM living with the virus.  Or, the disparity could be minimized by more sexual contacts [...]

16 08, 2017

The “Undetectability” Of It All, Part Two

By |2017-08-16T00:46:28-04:00August 16th, 2017|Categories: blog|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

     This past March, I penned “The Undetectability Of It All,” for Wyattevans.com.  The article stated that the AIDS United Public Policy Committee declared that it has “strongly affirmed the conclusive evidence proving that people living with HIV who have achieved a sustained, undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to sexual partners.  This evidence-based declaration reinforces AIDS United’s programmatic, policy and advocacy work to expand access to antiretroviral medications to [...]

15 03, 2017

The “Undetectability” Of It All

By |2017-03-15T16:59:07-04:00March 15th, 2017|Categories: blog|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

     For years, I’ve been reporting and writing about HIV/AIDS.  When I’ve asked individuals the question, “Would you be sexually intimate with someone who’s undetectable?,”  I’ve gotten some rather blunt and curt responses.   Here are three:     “Uh-uh.”     “But doesn’t pre-cum contain the virus?”     “Nah…I’ll think I’ll pass!”      However, the 44-member AIDS United Public Policy Committee—the largest and longest-running [...]

23 10, 2016

Structural Inequality Fuels HIV in Black MSM

By |2016-10-23T10:00:19-04:00October 23rd, 2016|Categories: blog|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

   A brand new—and perhaps controversial—study has uncovered that economic insecurity, housing instability and stigma largely shape the sexual relationships of many African-American men who have sex with men (MSM).  According to this study, these structural inequalities influence the kinds of relationships and sexual behaviors that men have.      It’s a fact that the bulk of HIV prevention interventions and studies focus [...]

1 09, 2016

One Step Closer To The Cure

By |2016-09-01T10:00:41-04:00September 1st, 2016|Categories: blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

     Outstanding news! Just recently, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) was awarded a contract from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help advance the development of potential AIDS vaccines.     IAVI is a global, non-profit, public-private partnership that works to accelerate the development of vaccines to prevent HIV and AIDS. The Initiative researches and develops vaccine candidates, conducts policy [...]

24 07, 2016

One Million Dollars in Prevention

By |2016-07-24T10:00:40-04:00July 24th, 2016|Categories: blog|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

     Last year, I wrote an article for Wyattevans.com entitled, “The Quiet Invader within Native Americans.”  In it, I reported the unfortunate and harsh reality that HIV testing, treatment and care are not reaching Native Americans the same way as they are other U. S. citizens.      Fortunately though, much-needed assistance is on the way.  According to The Associated Press, The Indian Health [...]

4 06, 2016

Conversations With The Duchess 2

By |2016-06-04T09:00:24-04:00June 4th, 2016|Categories: guest|Tags: , , |1 Comment

"I Am a Survivor!" Guest Writer:  Carlton R. Smith      For my second column, I was trying to think of a theme that would be of compelling interest to my new readership.       Then, I had an epiphany:  how about sharing my story, my journey of being a longtime HIV survivor.     As of March of this year, I quietly celebrate 30 years of living [...]

24 05, 2016

Sex In Prison, Part One

By |2016-05-24T19:15:11-04:00May 24th, 2016|Categories: blog|Tags: , , , , |4 Comments

     It’s an unfortunate fact that Black men—vastly over represented within our prison system—make up a high percentage of HIV-positive inmates. And according to the study, “Incarcerated Black Men Report Sex in Prison, Posing Challenges for HIV Prevention and Treatment,” these males pose an infection risk not only to other inmates—but to members of their communities once they are released.  The study was [...]

17 05, 2016

HIV Crim: A Dangerous Global Phenom

By |2016-05-17T15:00:54-04:00May 17th, 2016|Categories: blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

     What does the word phenom mean?  Well, as the shortened form of phenomenon, it refers to “a person or thing of outstanding abilities or qualities.”     However, when applied to HIV criminalization, it takes on an entirely different understanding or subtext, which is ominous…and dangerous.  You see, a new report by the HIV Justice Network and the Global Network of People [...]

11 05, 2016

Just How Many “Undetectables” Are There?

By |2016-05-11T10:00:38-04:00May 11th, 2016|Categories: blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

     Get a load of this encouraging new development:  recent research has indicated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may have overstated the size of the U.S. HIV population, while significantly underestimating the share that has a fully suppressed viral load (undetectable).  Researchers utilized HIV lab reporting to estimate prevalence of the disease in New York City and 19 [...]

21 03, 2016

Jamal Hailey:  Being a Frontline Soldier in the War on HIV is Personal, Part Three

By |2016-03-21T17:54:43-04:00March 21st, 2016|Categories: blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

     HIV expert and activist JAMAL HAILEY has his own personal stake in the war on HIV he’s helping to wage: he’s had family die from the disease.     In Part Three of my exclusive Huffington Post Queer Voices interview with Jamal, he provides us with exceptional insight into exactly why he’s so dedicated and committed to the struggle against HIV.  It’s a [...]

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