It Is Not the End……… ***Advocacy- The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, an idea, or a policy. *** Youth and young adults living with HIV 1. a) b) 2. 3.
Why many HIV positive youth don’t disclose or talk about their health status. Fear of being secluded from others Lack of support. Intervention between HIV positive youth and their families. The stigma and phobia that surrounds HIV
People with HIV/AIDS suffer from Depression Seclusion Mental Health issues Self destructiveness Objective: Provide tips and ideas of dealing with isolation, fear, and mental health issues. Hear from HIV positive youth who are continuing to live their lives. Strategies on how to talk to potential partners about HIV status. + Concerns: -do our HIV positive youth know where to go and get insurance? -how to apply for medicade? -how do you lobby to change the HIV guidelines? “In order to win the fight against HIV, you must first learn everything you can about the virus to gain the upper hand. It’s like going back to school. You’ve got to eat, live and breathe HIV. You’ll need to immerse yourself in your studies. You’ll want to learn enough so that you can work with your healthcare provider to design a treatment program- one that you can live with, that you can adhere to, and that works for you. If you are not currently receiving care, accessing treatment and services is half the battle.” -Jeff Berry Interim Editor Nov/Dec 2004 issue Stigma- a sign of social unacceptability. The shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable. Shame, disgrace, dishonor, humiliation. -Encarta World Dictionary
Why? I feel that many young people don’t come out and talk about their HIV status when they are positive is because they are afraid of what people might think about them or how they might be treated. Many of our youth have already been turned away by their family because of their homosexuality so their friends are all they have. Not everyone is supportive or have the knowledge of HIV so we tend to fear what we do not understand. The mere thought of being in this world alone AND positive can be very scary. People aren’t comfortable disclosing their status because the stigma and discrimination from our peers and loved ones. Youth that have been tested as positive have to go through a stage of acceptance, not from other people but rather from their selves. Regardless of amount of support groups that are out there, if we are only talking about prevention and advocating safer sex we have the potential to skip over or bypass the HIV positive population.
Opening Statement: I’m quite sure that many of us have lost a friend or loved one to HIV/AIDS related symptoms and have said, “I never even knew.” I pose the question to you, “Why didn’t you know?” Most GLBTQ youth do not come from gay families and often have not disclosed their sexuality to their relatives out of fear of hurting them or being rejected. They are alone in their suffering in a way matched by few victims of any such disaster in human history. Many HIV positive youth have a hard time sharing their health status with friends, lovers, and family because of the fear of seclusion. We should not over look the fact that for most it’s hard enough for them to accept it on their own. Many think their life is over and that they will be rejected or turned away from their peers and society. Regrettably this is not entirely incorrect. It is very easy to watch the news, read the paper, or for that matter go to any youth-based organization and you will see the rapid increase of our homeless youth, many of which have tested positive. Sadly to say, America is slowly but steadily losing it’s youth to the HIV epidemic at an alarming rate. Many youth, after finding out that they are positive, are either afraid or embarrassed to see a health care provider or maintain periodic visits and checkups. The thought of hearing that one’s t-cell count has dropped, a viral load increase, or even that perhaps medication is needed can be devastating to some of our youth. Without the proper guidance and support, many of our youth become frightened and try to ignore their health issues. They don’t go to the doctor, they don’t get regular check-ups and blood work done, and they don’t address or even think about the fact that they are HIV positive. This has the potential to be a greater health risk then going out and having unprotected sex. In the end, lives that could’ve possibly been saved by some of the medicines that are currently available are lost, lives that didn’t have the time to flourish and prosper. Large members of our GLBTQ youth can not turn to their families for support. Many who have tested positive rely on the public or friends if their family rejects them, and most minority youth can find strength and comfort in the arms and hearts of friends- at least some of whom usually experience the same pain-if society oppresses or demeans them. But this is not always the case. Many of our youth don’t have anyone to talk to or look to for support so they fall victim to the streets often becoming drug dealers or hustlers so that they can at least keep some food in their stomach.
How do you deal with the fear of HIV? 1. Education- groups, the news, the web, communication 2. Participate in medical studies- vaccine research trials 3. Understanding that HIV is not a death sentence 4. Lower your risk to a personal level of acceptance. Strategies on how to talk to potential partners about HIV status 1. “It’s been like 3 months and I want to go and get tested. Where did you go?” 2. “When was the last time you got tested? You want to talk about it?” 3. “What prevention message got you to go and get tested?” 4. “Do you know how real this whole epidemic is? Do you know how easy it is to catch HIV? Have you ever been tested?” What can we do in our support groups/meetings to make people feel safe about talking about their HIV status? You have to create a safe-space where participants can feel comfortable with sharing. You have to stress the importance of confidentiality and “what is said here stays here”. It always helps to have one person step up to the plate and take the first step. New group members will begin to feel comfortable when they see that they will not be judged or looked upon differently because of their views, ideas, and opinions. You must ensure that there is a high degree of trust in the group. It is also important that the group’s facilitator maintain a high standard of ethics and professionalism to help maintain the safety of the group. He/she must also be an example of what the group stands for. Facilitators should have extensive training in facilitative leadership, conflict resolution, and group management. What do you want people to gain from this workshop? I want people to leave this workshop feeling that they are not alone. I want them to know that if they are positive it is not the end of their life. HIV is not a death sentence nor is it a form of punishment. I would like them to know that there are support groups and facilities geared essentially just for them (youth). I want people to leave this workshop feeling that they are not alone. I want them to know that if they are positive it is not the end of their life. HIV is not a death sentence nor is it a form of punishment. I would like them to know that there are support groups and facilities geared essentially just for them (youth). The stigma and phobia that surrounds HIV. Many GLBTQ youth of color face additional challenges and stigma of race and sexual orientation. GLBTQ youth of color seldom receive support regarding sexual orientation or transgender identity. Indeed, ethnic communities often perceive gay, lesbian, and bisexual orientation or transgender identity as a rejection of ethnic heritage. Unlike racial stereotypes that family and ethnic community positively reframe, many ethnic minority communities strongly reinforce negative cultural perceptions of homosexual orientation. Thus, stigma places these young people at greater risk for substance use, violence, and risky sexual behaviors. - By Kayla Jackson, MPA, Director, HIV/STI Prevention Programs, Advocates for Youth
Intervention between family and youth What has happened to our society where you go to a place of worship but you are taught to hate yourself and be ashamed of what you are? I am not trying to talk bad about any religious affiliations or groups but there is a serious problem occurring in some of our religious establishments. I was brought up in a church where religion taught me homosexuality is immoral and defamation in the eyes of my Savior, instead of “Come as you are.” Many of our youth have strayed away from the church because of these reasons. Through church I was taught to condemn those that fall outside the pre-established guidelines that various religions have established. I don’t believe that self hate is the intentional outcome, but, it is an outcome. Regrettably for some GLBTQ youth the church has become the last refuge in the time of desperation. These churches should be looked at to bridge the gap between HIV positive youth and their families instead of a catalyst for the division. Many parents don’t know how to deal with the facts that their child(ren) are sexually active, homosexual, and now HIV positive. Thru the eyes of the church parents may see their child(ren) as an abomination, a failure on their parenting, or some form of punishment for their past misdeeds. When parents have these feelings they become visible to the child(ren) and through the parents actions the youth may feel compelled to leave home. Once the child(ren) leave home they become estranged from their families losing contact for months and even years. Many youth have indicated that they would love to rekindle relationships with their families but do not know where to begin. In the same token parents would genuinely like to do the same but neither side is equipped with the skill set needed. The role of the church should be to provide those skill sets and bring those families together. *open group for discussion*