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I'm a positive, alcoholic female in NC. Since I got out of a treatment facility for alcohol,i've been stalked, followed, and spyed upon in my own home under survelliance, against my knowledge and will.Of course noone in my family believes me, so I've had to live with this for almost 2 yrs. I've tryed moving to a new place three different times, now at my sons apt. Still no relief from these people, called police, and people always say the samething, I dont know anything. How do I make this stop?
Great letter Alex. I admire your courage when you came out to your dad. I've been poz since there was a test for it. I was in the Navy and living in New York City in 1981 - before and during the initial hysteria. The worst stigma that I witnessed were from my family. I was looked on as dirty and should have known better. I was judged by HIV and queer and not by my true self. I didn't get along with my dad either but four years ago, he died a peaceful death in my arms. Stigmatism hurts.
I am in a small rural town. I am the only HIV positive person that I know in this town; however, I have made my HIV status known by working with some statewide projects in order to help reduce the stigma faced by people who are living with AIDS. This has caused me to receive some negative feedback from ignorant cowards; however, I am hoping that it is also helping people who are living with AIDS
The problem I have coming out is that I worked within the AIDS field for years, and it is a culture shock I believe for a lot of private groups to assume one has AIDS, where the disability people say I not sick enough to have AIDS. The fighting stigma can be done in pieces without comingout, but coming out comes at a price with AIDS, and sometimes it can back fierier and one can be in a ditch for a moment in truth. I have learned that stigma is deep root in some communities, and courage is needed.
I've lived in some major cities where disclosing one's HIV status wasn't that big of a deal. Now, living in small town in the Deep South, it could be a tragic mistake. Recently, two newly diagnosed people here found out the hard way they should have kept personal information to themselves - one was fired from her job, another kicked out of housing. Discrimination is real, and to suggest that everyone come merrily screaming out of the HIV closet is simply unrealistic and bad advice.
Ernie. I don't think about what hetero HIV people go thru because nobody seems to want to write about it. Thank you for putting it out there. Maybe somebody body will pick up on it and write about it.
I always have spoken against the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. I joined the Ryan White Planning Council of Greater Hartford (CT)to do just that but found myself confronted and put down by uninfected individuals who were just trying to hold onto their jobs that were subsidized by this federally funded program. I felt so awful that after time it was more stress being on the council than leading my own life and trying to be healthy. I can't tell you how disappointed I was and am.
Jan
I can appreciate the stigma that gay men experience but there are not enough articles on single white woman who have HIV/AIDS who also are in hiding. The stigma that we experience are totally different. We don't tell for fear of judgement from everyone. I can't tell you how many doctors have asked me with a negative tone how I contracted this disease. I'm a middle aged attractive woman and don't look like the "TYPE" This makes me so upset because there are many woman like me who won't get tested
December 28, 2013 • Ft. Lauderdale