Briefly - CD8 T cells - The Body

a Day wITh hIV In amerICa
Taking Their besT shoT
WheTher you’re PosITIVe
or negative, we all live with
HIV. That’s the point raised
by a Day with HIV in america, Positively
AwAre’s photo essay project aimed at
confronting the stigma of HIV. Dozens of
images were submitted from across the
U.S.—and from Canada—as people took
snapshots to a capture a moment of their
lives on Sept. 21 to mark A Day with HIV,
now in its second year.
Some people took a simple self-portrait.
Others used the photo opportunity
to make a point or tell a story. In New York,
HIV/AIDS educator Jack Mackenroth spent
A Day with HIV wearing a t-shirt emblazoned
with the word Positive.
“It was an interesting experience to
see how I felt and how others reacted,”
Mackenroth said. “I believe that visibility is
the key to fighting the stigma of HIV. I had
the photo taken by a complete stranger in a
very public place on purpose to force them
to question the word and what it meant.”
In Orlando, at a national convention
of her church, the Rev. Andrena Ingram
wore a shirt that said, HIV Positive. There
were 2,000 attendees for lunch. “As I
walked through the crowd, eyes saw me,
then glanced away,” said the HIV-positive
pastor from Philadelphia.
More than one person used their picture
to publicly reveal their status. “Today,
I hope that I can challenge stigma and the
isolating, silencing attitudes. By being an
example, I can start to erode misconceptions
and dismantle stigma,” said Susanna.
Others spoke in more quiet voices, but
the moments they shared were no less
powerful: A young man celebrating his first
birthday since discovering he is HIV-positive.
An HIV-positive, single mother wishing her
son good night. A 26-year survivor injecting
himself with insulin to fight the diabetes
brought on by his HIV. Two friends—one
positive, the other, negative—sharing a kiss.
Compelling moments in everyday lives.
That’s what a day with HIV is.
Photo submissions will be posted to the
project’s website, www.adaywithhiv.com.
—Rick Guasco
9:15 am, ausTIn, Tx | The staff of the Wright House Wellness Center, an AIDS service
organization: “We are a diverse group of people brought together by our passion to
serve people living with HIV and those at-risk. We love our work and value each other.”
7:44 am, washIngTon, D.C. | Cyber
activist Justin B Terry-Smith, HIV-positive
since 2005, fights HIV with his children’s
book, I Have a Secret, his video blog
Justin’s HIV Journal, justinshivjournal.
blogspot.com, and by taking his HIV meds.
6:00 am, VanCouVer, BrITIsh
ColumBIa, CanaDa | Donald Smith,
training for the Ironman Hawaii.
P O s i t i V E lyAwA R E . C O M N O V E M B E R + D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | 25