Millions of Americans have hepatitis, but most of them do not know they have it & many people with HIV also are coinfected with hepatitis.
For more information, or to find a testing center near you, click here.
How to have sex in an epidemic: 30th anniversary.
Joseph Sonnabend, Physician and AIDS researcher discusses the pamphlets made back in May 1983, first addressing the new, unknown virus that was sweeping the nation (back when it was called LAV).
“Having written the booklet we had copies printed and bound and then did our best to distribute the booklets, even leaving copies in bars.
I rented a mail box on Greenwich Avenue and opened an account for our publishing venture which we called News from the Front.”
Visual AIDS fought early major battles against the virus with its “Day Without Art” and the Red Ribbon. Twenty-five years later, it continues to arm HIV-positive artists.
“Art is our weapon of choice,” says Nelson Santos, VA executive director, quoting the maxim enshrined in its mission statement. “Art still has the power to provoke, maybe make someone question attitudes in a way the policy stuff doesn’t.” The war isn’t over; the army still needs weapons.
To read the feature, click here.
NIH-sponsored scientists have developed a powerful new assay that can screen blood for broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.
Out of the Shadows
During the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) in Washington, DC, last year, Paul Semugoma, MD, gave a passionate speech on behalf of both LGBT and HIV-positive people. Coming out as gay during the speech made it even more memorable.
Here’s POZ’s Q&A with the famous activist on the state of the epidemic, LGBT stigma in Africa and his own experiences coming out.
One Step Closer
Yesterday, two HIV-positive gay men announced they were in the running for elections to their hometown city councils. Austin Head, from Phoenix Arizona & Corey Johnson, from N.Y.C are both LGBT and AIDS activists in their communities who were inspired by their personal experiences to run for office.
Alicia Keys Launches HIV Campaign for U.S. Women
“We can’t act like it’s not happening. We have to make sure we know that we’re all at risk. This is all of our issues, you know. This doesn’t make you bad. … You shouldn’t feel like you’re ashamed. We have to make sure that we are demanding access to being tested. We have to demand access to treatment with dignity.”
Synthetic Compounds From Marijuana Appear to Fight HIV
Cannabinoids, which are the primary active compounds in marijuana, bind to proteins called CB2 receptors on the surface of macrophage immune cells. The CB2 site may play a role in reducing inflammation in the central nervous system, which is a major concern for people living with HIV.
To read more, click here.
Braving Cognitive Decline: Can People With HIV Fight Back?
As HIV-positive people experience cognitive decline at disproportionate rates, scientists have yet to tease apart precisely how the virus may cause such accelerated aging. But experts in the field argue this is no reason to ignore the issue, considering there are still many ways to improve cognitive outlook.
To read more, click here.
Blogging Your HIV
“I would have to say one of the greatest tools to help me live with HIV has been the ability to write and share my experience of how it is to live with this disease… by blogging I found a way to express my feelings and create a community of people who could either identify what I was going through or find knowledge of how it was to live with HIV.
Expressing ourselves has many healthy benefits and leads you to a greater place of wellness and acceptance of your HIV status”
-Aundaray Guess, Poz contributor, on how to start blogging.
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