Do you think the Glow community needs to learn more about HIV?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer

Based solely on the restaurant post, yes…

Answer

Not just the glow community tbh.

Answer

Absolutely! And I think Glow staff should personally have some sensitivity training, or open up a roundtable discussion with the community about how damaging silencing is just because topics get heated. I was shocked by the amount of ignorant comments on that post, despite including vetted medical information on how it's virtually impossible to contract HIV from food. Arguments ranged from spit, to blood to one person saying diseased people weren't qualified. The glimmer of hope was that in each of those ignorance-driven threads was a warrior speaking truth to power, so it was hurtful to discover it had been moved to a hidden room. Some topics are going to get heated. Others get heated for some form of bigotry and they should be deleted swiftly. But a difference needs to be made between the two in that one is backwards and the other promotes dialog which is the first step to addressing problems and erasing stigma.

Answer

Absolutely. 
Also, I️ noticed on the restaurant thread that a lot of “no” answers were due to anxiety. 
However, I️ want to discuss this:
Is the irrational anxiety that people feel about HIV due simply to the anxiety disorder, or is it a result of the stigma in the first place of HIV? This is something I️ think about a lot because I️ believe that if we didn’t stigmatize those with HIV as being dirty, unclean, sick all the time, dangerous, infectious, etc as a society in the first place that we wouldn’t even have a way to anxiously irrationalize eating at a restaurant where the workers have HIV. If we only spread the correct facts around from the beginning of the illness’ frequent reports, I️ highly doubt that we would even need those types of restaurants, let alone feel any type of anxiety toward them because the threat of becoming sick wouldn’t even be on our radars as we’d have those facts that it’s not as easily transmittable as most people think. Because I️ have an anxiety disorder as well, and I’ve come to realize that a lot of my “irrational” anxiety is actually a result of stigma and misinformation, and isn’t so irrational after all; it actually appears to be conditioned as a response for me. I’d be interested to know if anyone else might think that’s what’s going on with them as well.

Answer

Ignorance is not bliss.

Answer

Well yeah, but what about the people who DO receive all of the facts about HIV but they still feel the same? What more should happen with them?

Answer

If the HIV restaurant post is any indication, I’m going to say yes.

Answer

Oh my god, yes. I wrote a book, my character is HIV-positive. I spent HOURS on medical journals, at the GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis), and talking to people who are HIV-positive. The amount of ignorance out there about HIV and AIDS is so scary. I am a huge advocate for HIV/AIDS research, education and awareness. Based solely on the responses given in the other post, education needs to be higher.

Answer

I think the world population in general needs a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of HIV/AIDS along with thousands of other topics.

Answer

Most folks could use some facts about HIV.. But to answer the question about this specific group, yes.

Do you think the Glow community needs to learn more about HIV?

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey