The National Baptist Convention USA, the largest black religious organization in the country, is focusing on HIV at its annual conference for the first time this year. Events at this week’s St. Louis meeting include HIV workshops, testing and a health fair that will be open to the over 45,000 delegates and to the public as well.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I think that it's OK to be angry. I am sometimes—it's natural—we are HIV positive. but I always try to not let myself stay there too long. Let yourself feel you are human. You should not beat yourself up about being angry."