This post is made possible by support from the We Can Stop HIV One Conversation at a Time campaign. All opinions are my own.
I’m honored to be talking to you today about HIV awareness, on behalf of the CDC and their One Conversation Campaign.
Growing up, my Mom usually handled all of the ‘big talks’ in our family. You know the ones: puberty, getting your period, the birds & the bees. My Mother was Mexican and she was raised by her Grandmother. If you know anything about Latinos, you know they tend to avoid certain subjects like the plague! Sex was not a topic my Mom was comfortable discussing. When I started dating, I clearly remember her telling me to “Never sit on a boy’s lap- if he tries to get you to, just tell him you’re not that kind of girl!” Yep, that was my Mom!
When the whole HIV/AIDS epidemic started, my Mom didn’t say anything at all to me. All I knew about it was that it was a killer disease that ‘gay men in CA’ were being diagnosed with…and I only knew that much because I always watched the news. I guess she figured since I wasn’t a gay man, it didn’t need to be discussed. Today, we know it’s not just ‘gay men’ that are contracting HIV.
HIV and AIDS affects all communities, including ours. As Hispanics/Latinos, we are the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, and we are also one of the groups most heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS. The rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic women is more than four times that of white women.
More than 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the United States and about 50,000 people become infected each year. As Hispanics/Latinos, we account for 21% of these new HIV infections. Anyone can be affected by HIV regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or marital status, but at some point in life, an estimated 1 in 36 Hispanic/Latino men and 1 in 106 Hispanic/Latina women will be diagnosed with HIV. It’s time to wake up & start talking about this now.
What do YOU know about HIV/AIDS? Learn more about HIV/AIDS, and the impact it has on the Hispanic/Latino community here.
I get it, I know some topics are difficult to discuss, that’s why it’s so important that we start talking about them- NOW! As a Mother, we all want what’s best for our children. In order to do that, we need to banish the stigmas associated with conversations about sex, homosexuality, and drug use. The more we talk about them, the easier it will become. Studies show that talking about HIV/AIDS helps people to know what to do to prevent and treat HIV. This saves lives and protects health. The things to talk about are HIV prevention, HIV testing, & condom use – all of which lower new HIV infections. Young Hispanic/Latinos, ages 13-24, made up 20% of all new HIV infections among youth in 2010. Let’s help lower that number by opening the lines of communication with our loved ones, TODAY, por favor!
Maybe you’re not sure how to get the conversation started… here’s a video to get you thinking about ways to discuss this important topic:
The Sin Vergüenza (Without Shame) web series encourages people to get tested as a routine part of their medical care & to seek HIV medical care should they test positive. This exciting web series introduces you to a dynamic Mexican-American family. Each family member represents a different age group, sexual orientation and marital status. You’ll quickly learn that each person is at risk of getting HIV. After you watch this telenovela, talk to your family and make sure everyone knows everything they need to about HIV prevention.
Let’s do the work that needs to be done to save the lives of our familia & friends!
Si se puede!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkHIV
