Did You Know?
In Washington there is a man named Anthony Whitfield. This is a man who back in 1992 tested positive for HIV after a prison rape. The reason that this man is significant is, because he knew that he had been diagnosed with HIV and continued to live a lifestyle of drugs, unprotected sex, and multiple partners. The key to all of this that incarcerated him is that he chose not to tell any of his partners that he was HIV positive. As a matter of fact his mind frame was that if the woman didn’t insist on him wearing a condom then why should he? He blamed the women and expressed that “it has been beaten into my head since fifth grade, the risks of unprotected sex. I never raped anyone. I never took any sex from a woman forcefully. It was always consensual. If you asked me to wear a condom and I didn't want to wear one, you could just say no. By having sex with me without a condom, you're assuming the risk of whatever I have,” (Doig, 2007). After reading this I just couldn’t grasp it. How could someone KNOW they were HIV positive and willingly spread it to someone else? I do agree that the partner should force protection, but Whitfield could have also taken some responsibility and put a condom on himself. There’s no set law about disclosure of HIV status to a person’s sexual partner, but I feel that there should be. I don’t think that there needs to be a law that people have to tell everyone about their status, but if you chose to have sex with someone then that is a serious matter. I understand that people will have casual sex, but changes need to be made when something as serious as an incurable infection is at stake.
Week 7
How is everyone?? I hope you all enjoyed your spring break! So this is week 2 that I am waiting to hear back about my HIV test results. I’m supposed to hear from the counselor on Thursday, and I would be lying if I said there weren’t any nerves at this point. When I first read that we weren’t allowed to do the Oraquick test, I was a little confused. I thought “why would she want us to wait? What difference does it make??” Well I know now. There is that ‘what if’ thought. Of course I practice safe sex and I don’t do drugs, but at the same time what about when I was in high school? I wasn’t as well informed about diseases. I was also young and trusted my first boyfriend, probably more than I should have. Of course 2 years after dating him I discovered that he wasn’t the guy I thought he was. With me finding out who he was as a person, it made me question who he was while we were dating. He was the only one that protection wasn’t consistent, and that was because I didn’t think he could ever do anything to me. At this point I’m happy that I had to go get tested. I brought my close friend and she also was tested and she came back negative. As we were driving home she said “thank you.” She told me that it was a relief to see that she was negative. I can’t wait to have that feeling. I hope all of you enjoy the rest of your week!!
References
Doig, W. (2007, January 22). Truth and Consequences. Retrieved March 17, 2010, from Nerve.com: http://www.nerve.com/dispatches/doig/truthandconsequences/
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Yes, there is in the State of Florida. You must, once you know your status, tell all sex and needle sharing partners. I also understand what he was saying. It is a two way street and women have to learn to protect themselves. Sex is good but it isn't worth your life. If you want the guy to wear a condom, ask him. If he doesn't have one, give him one and if you don't have one to share, don't have sex.
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