Activism/Advocacy
The Asian American Reply to Pandemic-Era Racism Must Be Cross-Racial Solidarity
Violence against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants has surged in response to COVID-19. Anti-Chinese rhetoric and racist misinformation spews from the top leaders of the U.S. as Asian communities are vilified as scapegoats for Trump?s ?Chinese virus.? Racial health inequities, leading to disproportionate deaths in communities of color, intensify with each passing day. All of this is occurring amid a backdrop of pre-existing structurally racist policies fueling and deepening public health crises, including the state-sanctioned police violence which continues to terrorize and Black lives every day, with the recent examples being the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.
Patient/Provider Dynamics: Experience from Both Sides
My name is Brianne “Brie like the cheese” Taylor and I am a mother of one and passionate about the health and wellbeing of pregnant mothers. I love supporting women in birth. I want to live in a world filled with equality and love, books that come bundled with extra dark chocolate, and a force field around my keyboard that repels trans fats and sticky-fingered toddlers. I am currently a Program Manager for University of California Preterm Birth Initiative and I have over 29 years of experience being a rock star Black woman. I am a mom who simply wants to affect change in our world.
Wilma’s Story
When I was pregnant with my last son, I wasn’t technically homeless, but I wouldn’t go home because I didn’t want to be around my mom or my daughter who was 15 at the time and my other son who was 15 months, while I was on drugs. I got mad at my son’s father, and I wouldn’t go home, so I literally walked all the way to UCSF. I got out of the car, and my water broke. That’s when I started walking.
NLM 2018-2019
In September 2018, HIVE began a partnership with the National Library of Medicine aimed at improving online access to evidence-based, inclusive sexual and reproductive health information for people affected by HIV and the providers who care for them.
“I am an AIDS Patient”: Kimberly Glanz’s journey through the disability courts
Kimberly Glanz’s detailed experience as an AIDS patient attempting to access disability benefits in Ohio while struggling with her health.
Do Not Quit ARVs at the Pastor’s Healing Declaration
Please understand, that living spiritual does not render useless the need to have a healthy physical life. You do not need only to hear a man of God declare ‘you are healed of HIV’ and be able to stop taking ARVs.
What HIV means to ME! Havoc Into Victory
I arrived at the clinic with my two youngest children. Sitting in the waiting area everything appeared to move in slow motion. A barrage of thoughts swirled through my head. My nerves were all over the place. Finally I heard my name called. I immediately snapped back into reality. The walk down the hallway to the office room was as though I was walking to death’s chair. The nurse walked in and said Ms.Thomas, “I’m not going to beat around the bush. Your HIV test came back positive.” In that moment, my heart dropped in my stomach. I felt numb all over. Her words were final.
“Someone I Love Has HIV”
The more we talk about it, uplift each other, educate and support one another, the closer we get to ending the virus! No one should have to suffer in silence. If I could talk to anyone dealing with a similar situation, I would want them to know, ?You are not alone, we can battle this together.?
Participating in PrEP Research
I have learned so much about my body and what it means to me to be able to protect it. I have learned what it is to exercise my right, and that of other women, to be on PrEP.
Life After Diagnosis
Through sharing my story, I want to reduce the stigma in our lives and show others that there is truly life after HIV diagnosis. I also want to teach others how to advocate for themselves when it comes to protection, stigma, and healthcare.
We Can’t Give Up
My husband and I had an appointment due to a referral from my medical provider. We were eager to go because San Francisco General has one of the best programs in place for people struggling with HIV and AIDS. My husband is HIV positive and I am HIV negative. I recently started PrEP using Truvada because we are trying to have a baby.
Heterosexual Finding a Space
While to my knowledge, there are still little to no support groups for heterosexual people living with HIV, I have learned to focus on the Human of HIV. I aim to create the space to reflect just that.
Heterosexual POZ
My Name is Michael Zalnasky. My friends call me Zee. My grandsons call me PaPa. My Daughter, well she calls me Dad. And I am Heterosexual HIV POZ.
To be Young, Queer, Pro-Heaux and PrEPpy
It was great to feel like I didn’t have to limit myself in certain ways when escorting, and it made me feel truly empowered to be taking the reins of my own destiny. I’ve been PrEPpy for over a year now, and, though stigma is still there, I still take it upon myself to talk about the benefits of taking PrEP while in the Sex Work field, and take the stigma out of both.
April 10: National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day promises LGBTQ youth that our history matters, and that we deserve the right to education, preventative resources, treatment, and care. #NYHAAD
D.C. Celebrates National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
NWGHAAD is an annual, nationwide observance that sheds light on the impact of HIV among women and girls. This is the 12th year the OWH, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is leading the observance.
I’m HIV+ and I Care about Trans Rights
I want to do the right thing to. I’m only a kid and I can’t vote yet. But I can do other things. I have a mind and a voice. I can use it to help other people, just like I was helped. I want to be treated with respect and to have rights, and I want other people to have them too. We all deserve them.
Being a Black Queer Woman and Sex Education Advocate
I love who I am. I feel as though I have begun to feel out many deep canals of my intersectionality recently, and it has honestly excited me for the future of my love life and journey with self-care.
PrEP Education in Jail
As a former sex worker, I know how it feels to be judged and be subjected to people’s opinions and unwanted advice.
HIVE at the NMAC HIV PrEP Summit: Amplifying All Women’s Voices:
At the PrEP for Women dinner we launched the curated web page with women-centric PrEP resources, a crowd-sourced effort from allies across the U.S. Palm cards promoted the web page (we have extra; reach out if you want some to share locally!) and provided opportunities to bring women into the mainstream PrEP Summit conversations. We also screened the newly released #20DaystoStart PrEP for Women video from Project Inform. The video was celebrated with thunderous applause.
HIV: Not the Problem
Now comes the snag, we are having difficulty due to the fact that Donna needs fertility medications to help us have a baby. Our insurance does not cover it; the most we could afford was a visit to a fertility doctor, to buy treatment for about 9 months, plus two follow up visits. So far we?ve had no success.
On the Path to RAHMA
Drip. Drip. I could hear the sound of the saline dripping from the IV as I stood at the door. His back was turned towards me and the room was dark. The shades were drawn and I asked myself, ?Is he sleeping??
Safer Injection Facilities?San Francisco Should Take the Initiative
Harm reduction describes a philosophy and approach that encompasses a wide range of policies that promote public health and well-being, while decreasing the negative consequences that can occur as a result of natural human behaviors?primarily those relating to sexual and substance use behaviors.
Beyond Compassion: Caring for Women with a History of Trauma
Twelve locally and nationally esteemed speakers shared their expertise in their respective fields, presenting on topics including: trauma-informed care for women; disclosure, criminalization and stigma for women living with HIV; reducing anxiety and pain during gynecological exams; and healing rituals and practices for service providers.
Proud to Be on PrEP
That moment, that whole night really, wouldn?t have happened if I wasn?t on PrEP, and it?s largely why I continue to be on it. #APIHAAD
Why We Need to be Talking About Sex in High Schools
As a representative of my school?s LGBT community, mainly through the platform of the GSA club, I have struggled with how to bring up the topic of HIV/AIDS with my peers.
PleasePrEPMe.org: Overview and Lessons Learned
PleasePrEPMe.org, an initiative of HIVE, is a location-based, searchable California PrEP Provider Directory formally launched in November 2015 followed by the release of the Spanish version in January 2016. #PleasePrEPMe
HIVE + MHPPPI = #HIVLoveWins: The Making of the Chicago Video Series
HIVE (the San Francisco-based hub of positive sexual and reproductive health) and the AIDS Foundation Chicago?s (AFC) Midwest HIV Pregnancy Prevention and Planning Initiative (MHPPPI) co-created a video series about HIV-affected individuals and couples and reproductive health intentions – real life vignettes of #HIVLoveWins stories.
Becca Schwartz: HIVE’s Special Sauce
Rebecca Schwartz, LCSW, HIVE’s “special sauce” is interviewed by her former client, Caroline Watson, to honor Becca on World Social Work Day 2016.
Levison: State’s funding cut to Planned Parenthood for HIV prevention will be tragic for Texas
Dr. Judy Levison’s response to the Texas Department of State Health Services decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood.