HIV and AIDS isn't a laughing matter though. As someone who has worked with HIV positive people and different HIV/AIDS organizations for well over 14 years, and I've also been personally affected by HIV in many different ways (I lost a family member to HIV related illness and some close friends to it as well), I have a number of friends who are living with it. Here's the thing: It's never been associated as a gay black male thing, it's been associated as a gay disease and that has been the case for well over 30 years. The thing is that a person's behavior doesn't determine the reasoning for them getting HIV, all it takes is ONE time with ONE individual, and your life will be changed forever. The key for anyone that is HIV positive is to continue to live life in a healthy, positive manner. That's why a lot of people go into counseling/therapy to assist with dealing with it. I'm tired of the stigma and the jokes attached to HIV/AIDS. It's time for people to grow up and gain common sense regarding this issue or any issue with any medical condition because it's not a laughing matter at all. This is the reasons why people are afraid to be frank and share things with others because especially on sites like this, everything's a fucking joke. When it's truly not. I'm speaking from real-life experiences. Just be mindful of that next time you decide to laugh or post a letter or decide to make a joke regarding HIV or any type of medical condition. HIV is now a manageable condition that can be controlled with medication as long as a person is very adamant about their treatment.
