Sitting in a comfortable, air-conditioned office and speaking with someone I’ve known for years did very little to distract me from the white strip of felt sitting just feet away and soaking in a clear solution. I knew if that white strip changed color, my life would change dramatically – I would be “reactive,” or in other words, HIV-positive.
While a positive test is not a death sentence, awaiting the results of an HIV test is terrifying. No matter how many times I get tested or how low-risk I think I may be, waiting for the results can be gut-wrenching and I can understand why people would avoid that stress. I know people who have to get their nerve up to simply walk into an office or a mobile testing unit to submit to the test. I am one of those people – it’s a tough thing to do.
But I also understand the importance of knowing your status. And I’m grateful for all of the services available to our community to protect ourselves and those we love. And those organizations are all in full fundraising mode in Central and West Florida. Fundraisers, parties and events are happening nearly every weekend now through the end of the year.
The AIDS Service Association of Pinellas, Metro Tampa Bay, Hope & Help and The Center in Orlando are invaluable in their contributions to combating infection rates and educating the community.
But the education provided to us is only as powerful as what we do with it. And unfortunately, we’re not doing enough.
According to a study released in HIV Plus Magazine, Orlando and Tampa Bay highlight substantial growth in the prevalence of HIV. The increase is so large that infection rates in both cities now rival urban areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. For the first time, every state in the country reported cases of HIV.
Florida is now the fifth state in which HIV is the most prevalent, surpassing California by one position.
That same study says that 600 of every 100,000 people in Florida are living with HIV.
Too often, we look at statistics like this and shrug it off, thinking either “It won’t happen to me” or “If it happens to me, there are medications to keep me alive.” That is especially true of the under-30 segment of the LGBT population.
But what many fail to realize is that while HIV-positive diagnosis is not the death sentence it was in the 1980s, it is a life-changing piece of news. There’s an added responsibility to keep yourself healthy and to let potential partners know your status.
AIDS Walk Tampa Bay wrapped on Sept. 7, and raised nearly $175,000 for HIV clients in the region. AIDS Walk Orlando raised $150,000 in May. On Sept. 14, Metro Tampa Bay will hold its first-ever Gala in Tampa featuring HIV advocates Jack Mackenroth and Karen Williams. And on Oct. 26, the outrageous Headdress Ball will raise hundreds of thousands for Hope & Help in Orlando.
I tried to keep myself distracted on the recent sunny Wednesday afternoon I was tested, but my eyes kept moving back to the testing vile and my mind tried to prepare itself for a potential positive result. If it reacted, how would I tell people? How would my friends react? Would my daily routine be interrupted for the rest of my life?
It’s human nature to be pessimistic, especially in medical situations. We prepare ourselves for the worst as we hope for the best.
As we move forward through the last quarter of 2013, I encourage you to get tested. If you’re reading this “Editor’s Desk” within a physical copy of Watermark, you are probably within 30 minutes of an organization that can do a rapid HIV test free of charge.
If you test positive, there are programs that can immediately help you to remain healthy and teach you the life skills you need to stay that way. I was told recently that while the testing process is intimidating, if you test negative, you never have to worry about testing positive again because you can always practice safe sex.
Isn’t the luxury of that peace of mind well worth 20 minutes of stress?
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