HIV/AIDS Blog Central: Perspectives From the HIV/AIDS Community

Yesterday, the National Institute of Health released results from the trials of three antiretroviral-based strategies intended to prevent HIV infection among women in Africa. The results were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Atlanta. In spite of high hopes, the strategies did not prove to be effective in preventing HIV transmission. The trials were a part of the the Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic (VOICE) study, which was launched in 2009.

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I have been raising the 'battle-cry' about the church's response to HIV for so long, and it just makes my heart sing when I read about congregations testing and getting tested. It makes me so happy to know that someone has actually taken the time to look into their communities and recognize an issue that needs to be addressed. It can be gun control, hunger, the children, education, whatever! Just do SOMETHING, besides 'gathering the assembly' and sitting in the pews!

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So we've made it to March already! Where has the time gone? I know for me this year has been non-stop health issues. I've been trying simply to keep my head above water. Honestly, today I can say that I'm starting to feel a lot better!

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The U.S. Women and PrEP Working Group, a coalition of more than 50 women from leading AIDS and women's health organizations, today called on US government agencies to coordinate a national agenda that will quickly and accurately answer questions about how the antiretroviral (ARV) drug Truvada can best be made available as an HIV prevention option for women at risk of HIV infection.

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I'm somewhat of an "AIDS denialist." For all that I have researched, read, studied and learned, I have a hard time accepting what I've "unlearned." At the same time, the passing of a close cousin and Christine Maggiore has forced me to ask myself, "If I were HIV-positive, would I have the strength of my convictions to live the life I advocate, like Christine, or would I take the path that most people take?" My mind rejects conventional wisdom on HIV and the use of HIV medications, but I don't think I would take the "holistic" route, either. I just don't understand why there can't be an alternative clinical option. Let me know what your thoughts are. Thanks!

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It has been about four weeks since I gave birth to my beautiful angel. Her name is Matasha and she is just a cutie baby girl. I wanted to give as much information as possible on what happened before delivery, during delivery, and after.

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I am vewy, vewy tired. The end of the church year is hella busy, with what seems like a month full of church services. The first week in December I went to speak in Minneapolis for a World AIDS event, came back and the season was off and running!

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As a child, whenever you were outside playing and fell off your bike, or fell down as you were running down the block... chances are you ran inside crying, where your mom or dad would say: "What happened?" "Where does it hurt?" Chances are, a little antiseptic a band-aid and a hug (and a little nudge) to get back out there and play is enough to dry your tears and do exactly that: "Get back in the game".

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The turning point could be traced to August of 1998. It was the month that, for the first time in well over a decade, the Bay Area Reporter did not have a single AIDS obituary submitted for publication. The promise of protease inhibitor medications had been realized, and it felt for many that our long community nightmare was coming to a close.

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I woke up this morning to a Tweet that made my freaking day. I was lying in bed thanking God for another day and when I was done, I took an assessment of my body; Pelvic Pain -- Yes, Neck Pain -- Yes, Tingling in my Feet -- Yes.

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