HIV/AIDS

The Positive Women network really opened my eyes to a whole different segment of HIV positive women who are not really talked about or mentioned in much advocacy that I conduct in the District of Columbia. We talk soo much about MSM and their behaviors and prevention efforts but until I arrived at this forum this population of women has never come up in any of my advocacy efforts and it's not just young women it's older women that comprise most of this group.

I met some interesting and very powerful women from Chicago, Baltimore, and New York who have inspired me and armed with with valuable tools to advocate and go out in the community and fight for human rights, supportive services, as well as HIV treatment research since you have women who  are not even genetically made up like men taking the same dosage of medication and treatment. I really enjoyed these women and their life and energy and I hope the work doesn't stop here but we continue on.

Calvin Gerald

http://calvinreality.blogspot.com

Today was the first day of sessions for the HIV Research Catalyst Forum. It must be said the most rewarding part of the day was seeing the diversity of advocates for improving the research for those infected/affected with HIV/AIDS. It is a reminder the faces of HIV/AIDS cannot be reduced to a label, a target population, a lifestyle. Everyone has a voice and everyone matters.

To write all that I learned today would fill several pages of a blog. Therefore, I will just give a brief perspective. My takeaway from the day is that it epitomized the foundation of research, not accepting the facts as given. But asking the question that really move the focus from quantity of HIV (how many prevention services have been delivered, how much longer people are living with HIV/AIDS, how many new meds are being made available) to quality of life and care. Are prevention programs reaching to those who need it most? More importantly, are the programs effective. Have we explored all the factors that impact someone living with HIV/AIDS and developed solutions for them. What unforeseen consequences has living longer with HIV/AIDS brought about and how will it be addressed. And how do the achievements of the current administration (i.e. the health care reform bill) made the lives of PLWHA better? What did it not achieved? Though many of the questions did not have immediate or obvious answers, there was one question that has been answered on this first day? Who will be the ones finding the solutions? All of us who are here. For these research challenges provide us with the opportunity to advocate for our friends, our peers and our communities to see that they are overcome.

Hello everyone in blogland this is my first blog posting ever! Im always on facebook or twitter telling all of my business like a star! welll a lil bit about myself. First and Foremost I want to thank the HIV Research Catalyst Forum for choosing me to recieve a full scholarship to attend the forum that is truly a blessing since over 2,000 people applied for scholarships. I guess that I am apart of the crem le crem of tired ole queens of HIV advocacy and prevention & treatment. I am 36 years old I am a long term survivor of living with AIDS since 1994. I have done numerous HIV volunteer efforts and some paid peer mentorship positions. My advocacy debut started in 1994 at Childrens Hospital in LA, CA thanks to my best friend and doctor Marvin Belzer!!!!! Thanks my man you instilled in me the courage to be whom I am today! I have won and recieved many accolades for my tireless efforts to win the war on finding a cure and advocating for the unheard and unseen.  I am a single openly gay male living on the jersey shore and I am very  excited about returning to be more or balamore as the locals call it for some new ideas, new friendships, and new beginings to winning the WAR on combating a diease that is still taking lives today! I look forward in meeting all of you and the ones that are willing to hear my rants on this blog!!! see ya!