Last night my youngest sister and I had drinks at one of my best friend's (my old roommate from back in the day) house. I mentioned the video again, and how scary the thought of one tiny mistake costing you your life. My friend and I told my sister about how back in the day we had our little bachelorette pad and it was three of us living there, with guys coming in and out whenever we wanted. Back then we were free. I had the best room in the house, with sheer curtains surrounding my bed and this huge vase filled with every kind of condom you could think of (different colors, brands, flavors, etc.) to add to the whole "playa" decor, but also for protection to and for anyone who came to visit us. And even though we were aware of the Aids scare, it never occurred to us that anyone would purposely try to infect other's just out of spite. We practiced safe sex...but is any sex really a hundred percent safe?
What about one-night-stands? What about times when you "think" you know someone and you feel safe, and just go for it without condom use? How many times have you actually said to someone, "before we have sex without protection, let's go get tested." And not just for HIV, but for any STD's in general.
Bacterial Infections are one of the most common STD's that women get that unless both partners are treated, it could just continue to be just passed on and on between the two of them, and onto any new sexual partners they may engage with.
If something as common as a bacterial infection could be such a huge issue, what does that say about HIV/AIDS(something just as common, unfortunately, but not as detectable)? Most women who get bacterial infections only get treated themselves because if they don't, they'll continue to have a smelly discharge that will be noticeable by other's, but since the men don't show symptoms, they seldom will even tell the men because they are embarrassed. How many people don't advise other's that they have a STD because they are too embarrassed? How many people won't go get tested because they are too scared to know if they have something? How many times statistically have condoms broken or slipped off during the act? Yes, the guy in the video is guilty, of knowingly passing on the HIV/AIDS virus, but the women who were infected were also guilty of not playing it safe.
Aids was first identified in the USA in 1981. At the end of 2006, it was estimated that 448,871 people in the USA were infected by the HIV/AIDS virus. As of 2008, it is estimated that there are over one million victims of this disease, and that each year the numbers will increase by 40,000 people. This is in the USA alone-there are higher numbers if you look worldwide. According to the UNTIL THERE'S A CURE website at http://www.until.org:
* An estimated one million people are currently living with HIV in the United States, with approximately 40,000 new infections occurring each year.
* 70 percent of these new infections occur in men and 30 percent occur in women.
* By race, 54 percent of the new infections in the United States occur among African Americans, and 64 percent of the new infections in women occur in African American women.
* 75 percent of the new infections in women are heterosexually transmitted.
* Half of all new infections in the United States occur in people 25 years of age or younger.
This world is too screwed up for ANYONE to be too afraid, lazy, embarrassed, full of pride, secretive, private, or any other reason not to get tested. Check out this dude's video, and then ask yourself, "Could I have been at risk at any point of my life, even in my current relationship?" There's a 20 minute HIV screening that is FREE in most cities, and it can even be anonymous if you wish. I've got my little HIV/AIDS NEGATIVE card with me, and even have a pic of the cards saved in my phone to show anyone and everyone that will listen to this message: GET TESTED. Remember, it only takes on time to lose a lifetime.
Here's The Q & A:
1. Have you EVER had unprotected sex with a partner you haven't seen STD test results for?
2. Have you ever knowingly had unprotected sex with someone without having yourself STD tested?
3. Would you have a problem suggesting to a partner that you BOTH need to be tested prior to having sex (unprotected OR protected)?
4.We know the man in the video is guilty, but were the infected women also guilty of not playing it safe?
That's the Q's...what are the A's??? Let me hear ya!
Copyright ©2008 Attica Lundy
