I need to start having better titles for my entries. Haha. Anyhoo, how are you doing people of TakingITGlobal. I am okay, I've been under the weather, for the past two days. Yeah sore throat and now I have a stuffy nose. No fun =(. Well on Friday I attended the World AIDS Day breakfast on Friday at the Sheraton Hotel (very nice) And I did learn alot, and It was very interesting to actually see people with the Virus standing before, it is an inspiration. This lady, I think her name is Barbara Hall or something made a speech about how people with AIDS face stigma, racism, sexism la-dee-da, and then she generalize the whole black population as 'Old.Black.Poor'. Although I wasn't offended, I did feel she shouldn't of said that seeing she kept on mentioning the word "Racism" 5 million times. With her comment, it really opened my eyes on AIDS and Black people, although all races have their share of AIDS patients. Blacks count for the highest number, that's not good. Although we cannot change the fact that Billons of black people have AIDS. We can prevent another huge outbreak within the next generation. Through EDUCATION. Get tested. USE protection. Talk to your partner. Communication is key!
Yesterday, I was watching this documentary called 'The Down-Low Exposed'. For those who don't know what the "Down-Low" is, it's term used for heterosexual men who have sex with other men behind their wife,girlfriend,fiancee's backs. This is a very serious topic because, we all know when AIDS was first introduced, many people labeled it as the "Gay Disease". So when men have sex with other men, and then go back to their female partners, most likely the female didn't COMMUNICATE with her male partner and ask him about his sexual whereabouts. And since the male is too nervous to confess his other sexuality, he makes love to her as if nothing wrong, and if there is no protection involved. Bam! She has HIV/AIDS.
I am totally against this Down Low scene, if men want to have relations with other men, then do you. But don't let the woman have to take the downfall. It's like double dipping, its nasty, it's wrong and it will eventually make someone sick. If a male does this, he should muster the courage to get himself tested, tell his partners and use protection. Another chilling comment was made and it really made me drop my jaw, the comment was...
"Most or all brothas, have been on the down low"
that is honestly scary. But women, you have to trust your instincts. Ask questions, communicate with him. Get your self tested often. Most women don't do such because they fear their man will leave them, but if thats the only risk, then DO IT! COMMUNICATE WITH HIM AND EDUCATE HIM!
You will save your own life.
And as for the men who engage in this activity, do your thing, I'm not here to judge, but dont be stupid and not tell your girlfriend,wife, etc. She is the woman that devoted herself to you. COMMUNCATION IS KEY!
And as for those who maintain their heterosexuality and are sexually active, use protection.
wowzers, thats alot.
=)
later days,
Racquel
