What about stigma? As we tweeted yesterday, Act Aware isn’t, and should never be, about judging and othering people who are living with HIV. It should never be about erasure.
Unfortunately for all of us, the majority of mainstream media approaches to HIV issues in the UK are either woefully ill-informed, groaning under the weight of crappily pieced-together assumptions, often even kind of creepily bigoted, or just plain fifteen years out of date. Even with NAT’s helpful press guide freely available. Hooray.
But here’s a thing: if you’re reading this, you’re in luck. For lo, the internet is as full of glory as it is full of shit. And with very little effort on your part it basically becomes your own PERSONAL BULLSHIT ESCAPE TUNNEL. And we’re about to make it even easier.
So here are some World AIDS Day links you might or might not have seen before, which we’ve been reading at BadRep Towers. Beyond Acting Aware and reading myths and facts, are real people. So go and read about them. Make it so!
So, hey. You have all this stuff at your fingertips! Connect. Discover. Find stuff out. What’s the point of being on a feminist pop culture adventure if you don’t, you know, go forth and read? Exactly.
]]>COLD HARD FACTS ON IRRITATINGLY FLIMSY PAPER
ARE YOU READY FOR THE FACTS? Of course you are. Everyone should be ready for facts about HIV transmission and statistics, because it’s ignorance that fuels prejudice, and prejudice that shits on people’s lives.
Fun fact: there’s effective treatments for both HIV and hideous misinformation and ignorance!
…So hug away! :D
Can we stop assuming things about people’s lifestyles, now? Please?
HIV can be spread regardless of anyone’s background or immigration status. And you can’t seek out treatment for free for a virus you don’t know you have. Get yourself screened regularly.
I mean, the fish don’t even get anywhere near your bloodstream. And if they do, YOU HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN HIV TRANSMISSION TO WORRY ABOUT AS YOU ARE PRESUMABLY RECEIVING A SHARK PEDICURE.1
AND THAT’S A WRAP, FOLKS. Pop over to HIVAware for more.
Spread facts, not fear. Wear a ribbon. Get screened.