Do you know YOUR status?

Just wanted to bump this thread and say..

I know my status!

"I do the round-about AIDS test. I ask my friend Brian if he knows anyone who has AIDS. When he says no, I say 'COOL'... cuz you know me." -Mitch Hedberg

No, No... bad role model. Go get tested for real people.

I think this is a great thread and thanks to all who are responding intelligently and passionately!

I learned a looooong time ago that getting tested displays a respect and caring not only for yourself but for others. Because of that, everytime I switch "partners" (and because of who I am, it is not frequently) I have insisted we both be tested for..well, whatever, first. You can get anonymous testing for other STD's as well. Local Planned Parenthood's and Family Clinics can help with that.
Or you can get into an accident, have them screen your blood and the insurance company will never know about the devious plan to avert their monitors and be tested! Mwahahahahaha!

Testing is a show of dedication to me, of caring enough about the other person to talk about it and follow through.

I know my status! ... And that of my partner!

Good thread Lightening. I don't know my status, and I know i really should go and find out.

I would like to post on this (sorry didn't read all messages, I am at work) that if anyone hasn't seen it, watch

Kids (by Larry Clark)

it's a great film and it really touched a nerve with myself and all the people i have subsequently shown in to. Having seen that film i've not had unprotected sex since. If anyone out there hasn't seen it, watch it.

Hex

Thanks for the tip, Kazer! Hear that, UK folks? Get tested!

Ok Lightning, you (and my new girlfriend too I suppose) inspired me to go get tested a couple days ago.

result in this morning: Negative!

< vanize does happy dance even though he knew there was no cause for concern all along because he is super paranoid about stuff like that >

Yay!!!!

Ok, who's the new girl?

er... I'll PM you about that one.

great thread.

i need to get tested *hope my parents don't find this thread*

i had a one night stand after a rave last month, and i've been wanting to get checked, but my mom's a nurse, my dad works for a doctor's office, and everyone knows me in this town. guess i'll have to ferry off to reno monday.

What part of "free and anonymous" is confusing you, Thor?

Go to www.hivtest.org and find a spot. If your parents find out you got tested, you can have the counselor you saw fired.

Oh, I know MY status!



(Bumpety-bump bump!)

i've never seen "kids" but i've heard alot about it, i'm not sure if it's my thing but after watching bumfights 1 &2 and the exicution video i doubt it will shock me, it may open ,my eyes to new things though

Gah.. it seems that everyone in my life is telling me to go get tested..

*makes appointment*

*Bump*
I know MY status!

I figure if I bump this every time I get tested, a bunch of other people will get tested, too. Can't hurt.

I had a depressing thought. At a large gay rave, like the White Party, someone will contract HIV at or after the party. That night, some healthy, strong young man will go out to have a good time and become a lifelong patient with a chronic disease that can be devastating.

I just find that so sad.

Take care of yourselves, everyone. Be safe!

Well ain't that a downer of a thought? Damn.

Still neg and very happy about it!

Great plan Doc!

I know MY status!!



I was sitting in on a sexual health clinic, and this poor 20ish yr old guy was coming to terms with his +ve diagnosis. He'd known for 6 months... and his partner came to the clinic with him.

And he hadn't had sex since the diagnosis...

And at first I thought "well, that's good of him.. I guess it shows he really cares" until the doctor told me about a couple, one +ve, one -ve, who have been together for 20 years using condoms and the -ve has stayed safe.

I don't know how the boy is going now... I think it's sad that there's the huge stigma and now, even though his partner is willing, he is too scared.

20 years living with HIV is damned amazing and shows alot of depth of relationship. Perhaps that couple had no condom failures or the -ve was "immune". Perhaps they were simply lucky.
Maybe the other +ve guy has had enough condom failures to not want to risk it. There has been a number of people who appear to be immune to HIV even after repeated exposures. Prostitues in Gambia and Thailand with regular (weekly) unprotected exposure have not developed HIV over up to 5 years in the study done.

One thing about HOP is it often makes me go off and read stuff and keep learning.
From the epidemic's start, black people have been disproportionately likely to test positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. African American men, women and children now account for 51 percent of new HIV diagnoses -- up from 25 percent in 1985 -- and 55 percent of people dying nationally of AIDS, although they make up 13 percent of the U.S. population. HIV is the leading killer of African Americans ages 25 to 44 from 1990 through 2000 rest of the article

It seems the Gay scene reacted very quickly and get testing and treatment and the incidence of infection has reduced dramatically. This hasnt happened in all communities. To raise again the same issue I have raised before HIV is becoming a problem in our idigenous people with similar issue to Afro Americans. For a struggling culture with huge problems with health aready HIv is a nightmare.