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September 8, 2021
With the knowledge that U=U, it's time to de-medicalize our sex lives and reclaim our right to a pleasurable, consensual, enjoyable sexuality and intimacy.
September 8, 2021
I broke my virginity at the age of 21, and by the time I was 23, I had contracted HIV. Memories are still fresh of the day I lost my virginity. I went home shoulders high and all smiley, I felt I had finally become a woman...
September 3, 2021
I’m sharing my journey to motherhood, because it is important to know that in the healthcare system, sometimes, we have to fight for what we want. I was diagnosed with HIV four years ago. I have known for a very long time I wanted to be a mum...
August 16, 2021
Childhood trauma is not something that you wake up, snap a finger, then it’s all gone. These are scenes that stay with you all your life and cause some permanent damage even in adulthood. Growing up in a violent home, I must admit, caused some damage, and its funny how when you’re a child it doesn’t really bother you until you start getting a clear understanding of things; then you realize how bad the situation was, and for my case, is...
August 8, 2021
How do you define a perfect body? Is it curvaceous with a flat tummy? Or is it slender with well-proportioned body parts? I am sure you have a vivid picture of what a perfect body should look like.
August 2, 2021
“Doreen, you are HIV positive and you will start new medication called antiretrovirals (ARVs), that you will take for the rest of your life”. These were my doctor’s words in April 2005. You would think this disclosure was supposed to change my life, my ambitions and expectations, but instead it made me excited because...
June 10, 2021
As a 10 year old, I was sorry for everything, "Moraa, you left the kitchen door open!" "Sorry." Moraa, why are clothes not folded yet?" " Sorry." Did you get milk from Nyagothie's that I pay for?" " Sorry…sorry… sorry...." A litany of apologies for my clumsy, messy, forgetful self who spilled evidence of such all over the house.
June 4, 2021
Finding unconditional love is hard unless it's a match from heaven, that I believe. It gets even harder when you're positive. One needs a lot of courage and strength...
May 31, 2021
The first time I had my period I wasn't sure what to do. I only knew how to wear a pad because always guys had visited our school and taught us how to. In my head I thought it would be easy as they explained it, but experiencing it was something different...
May 20, 2021
The wide and existing misconception that LBQ Women do not face significant HIV-related health threats is misleading. Lesbians, Bisexuals and Queer women are overlooked in HIV research and prevention strategies and programs because of the failure to recognise and appreciate that women’s social and behavioural complexities are not epidemiologically the same.
April 14, 2021
It's been a while since I have written something. I wasn’t sure what to write, or what inspired me lately enough to write about. In trying to get to the heart of what I wanted to write, I thought first about HIV and aging. As a springboard if you will.
March 22, 2021
For the longest time I loved a man and I thought he loved me back for me. I cared, I cried, I shared, -- in short, I gave everything and every part of me, thinking I was his beginning and his end...
December 28, 2020
I got some great news this Fall! The news that a shot has been approved to deliver HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy) in the United States. A shot that could keep my viral load at undetectable for two months at a time. I am very excited...
December 28, 2020
It’s been a while since I have written anything. Like nearly everyone else on the planet, my year has been monopolized by COVID-19. My creative energy has felt drained. It’s been a mentally challenging year. I know that it has been harder for many others. I’m aware of my privilege. My family and I are healthy, good financially, and we live in Canada. I am thankful. Still, I am struggling. It’s been a year of giving up things...
December 15, 2020
I am not sure that I would love to go back ten years ago. For so many reasons, I am glad with the progress in HIV treatment, but still not glad with how much remains to be done. Ten years ago, at a time almost like this, I was starting my antiretroviral journey; and for the most part of it, it was the start of the toughest and most confusing journey for me...
December 9, 2020
It’s been almost three months since my move to New Orleans and thankfully as I expected, it feels so right being here. It’s said by some that New Orleans has her own kind of Spirit and her own ways of doing things. She calls to those she wants here for her own reasons...
August 19, 2020
I am moving to New Orleans!!! I’ve been preparing to relocate to New Orleans from my current residency in Seattle, WA for a few years now. You may be asking yourself as you read this, why New Orleans and especially why during a pandemic?
August 2, 2020
In a global pandemic that demands physical distancing, no hugging or touching, how do we stay connected? Spiritually, mentally, physically and sexually.
August 2, 2020
2020 has certainly been a year that will go down in history. It has brought smiles, sadness, and solitude for many people around the globe. For a person living with HIV, these emotions may be a regular feature of everyday life. For some it may be one more than another, while others paint their smiles on with lipstick and perform for their social circle.
July 26, 2020
When you kicked in, anxiety became a widespread disease, especially among us young people living with HIV. For some reason, there was no correct information about you, and I was trying to figure out where I stood in terms of vulnerability to contracting coronavirus.
May 14, 2020
Learning to love yourself after a broken relationship, a rape, a life changing occurrence is often a very difficult thing to do. Getting over the shock, the loss and the changes that happen is probably the hardest step in the healing process.
May 2, 2020
She is a case manager for Women’s Health, Community Relations & Communications Representative at ViiV Healthcare and helped run the Life and Love with HIV blog. Read her interview by Poz Planet...
April 25, 2020
I sincerely believe that I wouldn’t be here or the growing person that I am today if it wasn’t for the vast and beautiful sisterhood that I’ve had the honor of being a part of in the last decade.
April 23, 2020
In this time of isolation, it’s nice to retreat into fun and fantasy…
I would love to hear your responses to this question: If I could have sex one more time, what would it look like? That’s it - one more time - but only one. Just to clarify, I mean the last time ever.
April 18, 2020
Every morning I had a habit of waking up energized for the day, dressing up, and ensuring that I looked and felt good - not only about myself, but about the day I had to face. But many times I stood in the mirror and took forever to convince myself that I actually looked good...
March 26, 2020
In today’s world, women are encouraged to be the best version of themselves and quite rightly so. Women are told to speak up and have a voice, equal rights and never settle. The gravity of these points is enormous.
March 25, 2020
I am polyamorous. I can fall in love with and enjoy sexuality with more than one person, at the same time. I think love is something to be shared, experienced, and not limited. That jealously is a reaction to unhappiness within myself. Jealously comes from comparing myself to others. For me, polyamory is both a spiritual practice and a turn-on. Sexuality and spiritually are linked and ultimately about accepting love and connection.
February 28, 2020
He told me he loved me.
I said I do.
WE walked beside each other, he held me up
I do
I was wrong
February 9, 2020
No one ever told you that you had to date someone in order to feel complete at some point. You just feel the need of having someone, especially when you have someone that you’re attracted to.
January 8, 2020
This is about the emotional blindside, that point in a relationship where you get comfortable, (sloppy even), let your guard down, with your entire planning system beginning and ending with the other person- and then BOOM!