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Sit With ItBy Brandon Lacy Campos May 15, 2010 Right now, I am baking chicken wings, making brown rice, and trying to focus on the amazing amount of love that I have received over the last few days. Last night, I was reminded that God is out there, God is watching, and God forgives us even when we have a hard time forgiving ourselves and when others can't or won't. Here's what happened. I recently met a guy that I think is pretty cool. We've hung out a couple of times, and he is interested in hanging out more. From the gate, I was up front about my HIV status. I let him know that if that would be a barrier to us hanging out, then he should let me know, and we could call it quits before anything happened. His response was very affirming and sweet, and, in the end, it was at his invite that I went with him to an event last night. The three of us that remained went on about our business and stopped into Spice for dinner. Then, about halfway through the dinner, I noticed my friend responding to a text message. Being a little bit nosy, I looked down, and I saw it was from his pal that had vanished and gone home. In it, the text was basically expressing that the person with whom I was hanging out shouldn't be hanging out with me or considering any sort of anything with me due to my HIV status. As you can imagine, particularly after the last couple of days, that hit hard. But, it is a reality that I live with and have lived with for some time now. Our other pal that was with us, basically almost fell out of his chair when he was informed of the contents of the text. I needed a minute to myself, so I got up and went to the bathroom. When I came out, my friend was standing there. He apologized to the woman behind him and then pushed me back into that bathroom. I was like....ooooh snap...I've seen movies that start this way. He basically repeated himself with what he said at the table but more emphatically. He expressed that he would like to have a date. That he has enjoyed hanging out with me. That other people do not determine the decisions he makes. The he sees me and knows that I am HIV positive. And he apologized that I had the experience of seeing the text message. I then asked him to leave so I could cry by myself. I totally did, and then I rejoined the boys. Our other friend that was with us was still mortified and apologized on their mutual friends behalf. I, again, expressed that this is a simple reality of my life at this point and that while it isn't pleasant it is something I have to plan for an expect, and when I don't plan for it, and when I don't own my reality is when I end up in a bad place (the last several days being a perfect example of that). Last night, I truly believe, was God stepping in. It was an object lesson that honesty almost always pays off in rich dividends. It demonstrated that fear can keep good things away or destroy good things that you already have. It was a direct intervention into my own shame spiral by my higher power. Ultimately, it made me realize that if I had been honest a few weeks back, I may have had the same experience, much earlier, without causing anyone any hurt or pain. Hindsight is 20/20, which is good because I am legally blind. I came home and shared all of this with David, and this morning is when I realized that it was more than just a chance experience that it was a God inspired encounter. I am grateful for that, I am grateful for the love I receive, I am grateful for David, and I am grateful for whatever the future may bring. This piece originally appeared in Brandon's blog My Feet Only Walk Forward. Get e-mail notifications every time Brandon's blog is updated.
Comment by: Brandon Lacy Campos
(New York, NY)
Tue., Jun. 8, 2010 at 2:51 pm EDT Roxanne, you are a gem and a blessing. Thank you for your wonderful note and for your open spirit.
Comment by: Roxanne
(southern Africa)
Fri., Jun. 4, 2010 at 9:21 am EDT hell Brandon, after reading this piece im glad someone could see beyond ur HIV status.im an HIV negative female,and im one of those people who would gladly see beyond one's status.for someone not to wanna hang around with you because u are positive its crazy and even shows how misinformed people are. u should never ever feel any different,God has a plan for you....from ur picture i can see u quiet a dish,very cute,i cant imagen anyone not wanting to date you positive or not.believe you me God is using you and a guy like you,will not struggle with making friends let alone meeting someone to love and care for. today u have just made another buddy in me....i'll keep reading ur blogs miles apart u still inspire me,im glad u touching our lives.
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Queer, Poz and Colored: The Essentials  Brandon Lacy Campos Brandon Lacy Campos is a 32-year-old queer, poz, African-American, Afro-Puerto Rican, Ojibwe and Euro (smorgasbord) poet, playwright, blogger, journalist and novelist (that last one is slowly coming along). In 2009, MyLatinoVoice.com named him the #2 queer, Latino blogger to watch. In 2006, the Star Tribune named him a young policy wonk for his political shenanigans. His writing and poetry have appeared in numerous anthologies including, most recently, Mariposas, edited by Emanuel Xavier and published by Floricanto Press. This fall, his work will appear in the academic text Queer Twin Cities, published by the University of Minnesota Press. And, one of these days, Summerfolk Press will be publishing his first solo book of poetry: It Ain't Truth If It Doesn't Hurt. Brandon is hard at work on his first novel, Eden Lost, and he lives in New York City with his partner, artist David Berube, and his boss, Mimzy Lacy Berube de Campos (their dog). It's with heavy hearts that we share that Brandon passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. He was 35 years old. Read memorials by Brandon's friends and colleagues. Subscribe to Brandon's Blog:
Recent Posts:
November 5, 2012 - Why Voting Matters: Barack Obama, I Got You -- A Blog Entry by Brandon Lacy Campos
October 16, 2012 - Volttage: A Dating and Hook Up Site for POZitively Sexy People -- A Blog Entry by Brandon Lacy Campos August 6, 2012 - What Do Justice for People With HIV, the Working Poor, People of Color and Women Have to Do With Christine Quinn? Absolutely Nothing: A Blog Entry by Brandon Lacy Campos June 9, 2012 - Meds Today: A Blog Entry by Brandon Lacy Campos June 6, 2012 - An HIV Nonprogressor Starts Meds; or HIV Sucks: A Blog Entry by Brandon Lacy Campos A Brief Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself. |
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