AIDS Man

Sex. Why is this word and act thrown around so casually? I’m not trying to preach about saving sex for marriage but why do people, especially young adults and teens, feel sex is a liberating act? Many serious consequences come from sex including HIV, STI’s, pregnancy (which can lead to poverty for many teens), and mental health issues. How do we begin educating you on valuing sex again without sounding like we’re forcing religious views onto people while also educating them on being safe if they decide to have sex?

These thoughts all came after speaking with Lumkile, “AIDS Man”, from the Treatment Action Campaign. He told us to call him AIDS Man because he has no shame in having AIDS and then he shared is story with us. He was tested three different times for HIV and all three times he tested positive but he didn’t believe it until the third time. He figured that he didn’t feel sick so he couldn’t be sick. After the third test he started placing blame on all the women he’d had sex with but quickly realized he could only blame himself because HE got himself drunk and HE didn’t use a condom. He also went through a phase for six months where he locked himself in his apartment and just watched movies because he figured he was going to die soon. He realized he had to accept himself and that he didn’t have to die. His mission now is to convince people who are HIV positive that they don’t have to die and they can in fact live a fulfilling life with HIV.

Lumkile also pointed out that gender based violence is a huge issue. Police will question women to try to shift the blame on the victims of rape with questions like, “Why are you walking around so late? Why are you wearing that outfit?” Rape cases also take a long time for cases to go to Congress. Some cases last up to six years and are delayed up to thirty times. I think this was a great example of the progress that still needs to be taken towards gender quality. Why should a woman be questioned about her behaviors or appearance after she reports rape? I couldn’t help but being in the shoes of one of these women because I would just give up. I would be so hurt that because of my gender it would be assumed that I would be questioned for asking to be raped.

Our night ended by meeting people from the organization These Numbers Have Faces. This organization helps pay for students’ tuition fees at universities but in return they have to do this for their community. This was very inspirational because it was good to hear that these students are not only able to get an education but they are also learning how to give back to their community. This was an encouraging way to end our day! 
And I’m looking forward to food parcels tomorrow!


Thanks for blogging,
Brittany