My Story The following text is from a story I shared during community development events to cultivate a donorship for the nonprofit organization where I once worked. I hope that by reading this deeply personal account, you will empathize the unique situation in which those living with HIV find themselves; especially, considering the power of fear and stigma, shame, and self-denial to steal the hearts and minds of all of us when we first learn of an HIV diagnosis. In imagining the emotionality and contextuality of my story, brainstorm ways to show your support as an ally of stigma-reduction and HIV decriminalization; and then write a letter from your own perspective to legislators before this Monday's (2/1/20) Virginia Senate hearing. If you are reading this past the time to advocate for Senate Bill 1138, then consider ways in which you have (re)produced HIV-related stigma in the world and how you might unlearn those ideas and ideals as a function of your solidarity with ...
Writings in Anthropology & Public Health