When I was in active addiction, I was having sexual intercourse with men in exchange for drugs. I honestly would have done anything to get my next high. I don’t think I identify as gay or bisexual, it’s just part of the drug world. A lot of people do sex work. Meth...
I got a phone call from a woman I had sex with. She said that she tested positive for syphilis. I was in shock and a bit upset, to be honest. We were friends, and having sex was unplanned. Before we were fully intimate, I asked her if we needed to use a condom. She...
I found out I had HIV, and my whole attitude changed. I was very angry for years. Five years after being diagnosed, I got a primary care doctor, and I’m starting to learn more about HIV. I’m seeing doctors about my disease that I really didn’t understand at the time....
I came to Florida from Los Angeles. I used to work in Beverly Hills as a hairdresser. I had a great life working in Beverly Hills; going to the gym, going to fancy places, getting dressed up nicely. I mean a whole different lifestyle. I moved to Florida to be near my...
I had a friend that turned into more than a friend. We were hanging out a lot by ourselves, and I ended up giving her oral one morning. It obviously wasn’t planned, but the sexual tension had been building, I guess. After that happened, she said that we both needed to...
It was my second week in bootcamp for the United States Navy, in 2017. I got called to the office for a private meeting with the Commander of the bootcamp. When I walked into the room I sat down at a table and the Captain, his medical, legal, and clerical teams were...
In my addiction, I prostituted a lot. I rarely used condoms because I needed the money. When I was withdrawing from drugs, I really didn’t care about protecting myself. I was told that the person I was with at the time had HIV. He was a drug dealer. I was so in my...
My partner at that time was giving blood and I always had given blood before. I was in good health and good spirits. I thought nothing of it. That’s when I found out I had HIV. It was shocking. After my diagnosis, I fell into a dark place. I had contracted HIV through...
I wanted to get tested because I’ve been taking control of my health now that I’m sober. I’ve been focusing on doing everything I can to get and stay healthy. Before going into detox, I had never been tested to my knowledge. While in treatment I was tested twice....
I remember the day as if it was yesterday. I was incarcerated for using drugs, and then found out in jail that I was pregnant and HIV positive. I didn’t know how to feel or what to think. I was in a place all alone with a baby inside me, and I didn’t know anything...