Re: HIV epidemic in U.S. worse than previously thought, CDC says

For many of us, especially those who have been doing this work longer than I have, I am in a complicated space with this information, but at the same time I am clear about my perspective on the magnitude of the over-arching issue of HIV/AIDS in our country. At this point, I am not certain that an answer lies in participating in the "blame game" which only distorts the reality of the issue and con volutes the process to a solution further. At this point, I believe that this battle needs to be fought on several different fronts.

Community; it is vitally important that we truly actualize our power in this epidemic, with the knowledge and understanding that the power to effectively change the playing field thus eliminating conventional methods for addressing HIV/AIDS in the communities that are hardest hit by this epidemic. If I can be frank, as a Black Gay Man when I look in to my mirror every morning when I wake......I see........a Black Gay Man. I do in fact have my own set of concerns and experiences, as such, its important that my concerns and experiences are being valued not only through political legislation, but also research, and program model development.

Political Entities; it is very important that you understand that you play a key role in the effective representation of community; and not just your constituent base. As Dr. King once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"; and this is couldn't be truer today than it was when he wrote those words from a jail cell decades ago.

This problem is not going to just "go away". The failure to acknowledge the true impact of this epidemic, in part, contributes to its continued effects on our society today; much like racism and privilege.

In the interim, my hope and prayer is that each and every single one of you seizes the opportunity to love yourself each day more than you did the day before.

I found this piece online and I believe that its so very relevant to this discussion, as well as the plight of our community:

***************************************************************************

Part Of The Process
Feeling Stuck

When we feel stuck in our lives it’s important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again. Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds. Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what’s keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear.

If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest. Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can’t see ourselves, it’s because we don’t want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold.

In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn’t be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what’s going on.