#aids stigma

[lgbtq-archives]

𝐀 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 | 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 

[ex-foster]

[sbd-laytall]

The social commentary for this story arc is so magnificently done but also really heartbreaking because of the real stories that would've inspired the creation of this arc.

Action Comics (1938) #638 & 639

[babypenguinz]

observations from someone who went from invisibly to visibly disabled

around a year ago, i noticed i was having a lot of trouble standing in lines and walking for extended periods, i needed to sit down frequently and was experiencing lightheadedness, chest pain, and just generally feeling like shit after the lightest cardio. i suffer from a variety of diagnosed chronic health issues, as well as symptoms still under investigation, but i was nervous that if i started using a mobility aid, people would be more judgmental towards me while i was out and about in public, especially as someone in my early 20's. instead, my experience has been the opposite.

before i started using a cane, people would see me struggling in public, red-faced and exhausted, and look at me like i was nuisance or had done something wrong. cars would honk at me for not crossing the road fast enough, i'd regularly have to jump back from the road after a driver ignored me trying to cross. since i started using a mobility aid, this has turned to doors being held open for me, drivers signalling that i can cross when they have a green light, and being asked if need help by strangers.

while using a mobility aid has helped my stamina and made it easier to get about physically, the social impact has been far more noticeable to me. without a mobility aid, there was a lot of room for strangers to make their own assumptions about me. i could have been drunk, or high, or in withdrawal, things for which it's socially acceptable to judge someone negatively. with a mobility aid, it becomes clear why i'm struggling.

there's a conversation to be had about the perceived helplessness of being visibly disabled, sometimes people can be intrusive or overbearing, but at the same time it comes with an assumption of innocence and virtue that, while potentially patronising, makes it easier to navigate the world without being judged as anti-social.

for anyone who's been struggling with declining physical ability and considering using a mobility aid, i'd highly recommend taking the leap. not only because you deserve the freedom of being able to participate in society, but because people are far more accommodating of your struggles when there's a visual cue that alters how they perceive you. you can always stop using it if you find it doesn't work for you, but you don't know how beneficial it could be until you've tried it for yourself.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation:

MAGA social media influencers are spreading a lie from a “parody” account on X claiming that gay Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is HIV-positive. While nothing substantiates this claim, right-wingers have begun recirculating it to make sexually explicit, homophobic attacks. In response, his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, urged his own social media followers to keep working to elect the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. The lie originated from an October 1 post by the X account Breaking 911. The post simply read, “BREAKING: Pete Buttigieg reveals that he is HIV-positive.” The post didn’t link to or mention any sources. The account’s bio says, “The king of the gays. Parody artist. If you fell for my bait, you owe me eight dollars.” The post has since been reshared from the account at least 795 times and viewed over 1 million times as of Thursday evening. The account has since posted other false headlines, including ones that former President Donald Trump’s wife filed for divorce, the Pope resigned, and that Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was accused of sexual assault. None of these claims are true.

MAGA influencers such as Stew Peters are spreading the homophobic lie that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is “HIV-positive.”

See Also:

The Advocate: Conservatives push harmful lie that Pete Buttigieg is HIV-positive​

[its-been-rose]

Might need to write a George Lives AU Henry x Eugene childhood friends to lovers fic just to feel something

[spicebutchmansion]

beginner guide to autistic stim toys

I too was once scouring the internet just after realizing I was autistic, but turning up what was mainly the blogs of "autism moms". Not exactly was I was looking for since they're weird and actually autistic adults and teens are not their target audience. So if you are finding yourself unsure where to look or what's actually good, I hope you enjoy this list!

funkyfidgetsshop.co.uk - this site has a lot of very reasonably priced and high quality fidgets and sweets. my favorites are their moon & stars stress ball, Needoh nice cube, and textured sensory ring. items listed include ones that are silent & classroom/workplace friendly, and ones that make noise.

tanglecreations.com - a well loved classic, the variety of tangles is very good! I am obsessed with the textured series, hairy tangle, and infinity pearl aqua. visually stunning options as well as lots of different textures and feels for different sensory needs. pretty silent and safe for school or work as well.

harkla.co - the sensory sock they make is widely well reviewed, as well as coming in child and adult sizes. a great addition to a reading nook, as you can cocoon yourself inside if so desired.

us.loopearplugs.com - I definitely recommend these and love the pair I own. with a wide range of noise cancelling/muting ranges and colors to pick from, these are great. I have the quiet loops and appreciate the soft silicone material, this makes it so I can sleep with them in.

[blueboldandbright]

I’m procrastinating by making patches again

[100gayicons]

In 1989, Albert Delègue was ski instructor in Mérilheu, France, when he was spotted by a modeling talent agent. Delègue was intrigued and soon switching careers. He quickly became successful, working for such brands as Versace, Valentino, Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. His contract with Armani was rumored to be worth 5 million francs (nearly $1 million Euros).

His family reported that Albert suffered a serious ski accident in August 1994 that left him paralyzed. In March 1995 he was admitted to the hospital. His family announced he had died on April 14, 1995, as a result of complications due to his accident.

But within a week, the truth had been revealed. Media outlets reported that Delègue’s cause of death was AIDS-related encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). But his family denied it, sticking to their ski accident story.

Delègue’s friend Alain Gossuin, a fellow fashion model, attempted to set the record straight in a television interview:

“His own family wanted to silence the real reason for his death. I had discussed it in a TV show, believing that my intervention would put a spotlight on the magnitude (of the AIDS) scourge.”

Delègue’s family complained to the broadcasting company and Gossuin’s comments about AIDS were edited out.

HIV and AIDS diagnosis come with a stigma, causing some sufferers and their families to hide it or deny it. Regarding the family, homophobia often plays a part.

When my partner of 13 years was diagnosed with AIDS, one of the first things he insisted on was that none of our friends could know. And when he died, he did not want me to tell his family.

I told him I would honor his wishes while he was alive, but after his death, I would need to tell the truth. He died 7 months later. I won’t lie, keeping it a secret was an incredible burden.

On the day he passed away, I wrote a letter to all of our friends and to my partner’s brothers explaining what had happened and why I waited to tell them.

It was such a shame because so many of his friends and members of his family expressed how much they would have wanted to spend him with him in his moment of need.

The Truth should alway take precedence.

[eightfourone]

the idea that CANCER might have been called AIDS but wasnt bc it was like. 2006 does kind of make it make a little more sense

[demonized-infodumps]

I’ve recently gotten told about what could be wrong with me, and one of the things requires using a mobility aid.

My partner is wanting to go ahead and get a mobility aid for me but I’m afraid of how much stigma there is about those already paired on top of us being a system with demonized pds (npd, hpd, & bpd).

I’m afraid that we’ll be going out one day and I’ve already promised to ease their worries that I’ll use it or have it with me as a just in case and someone will see the opportunity to take it from me as a means of “joking.”

And I’m afraid that our chronic pain will flare and will make it to where we can’t walk for minutes to hours on end and be stranded. Or have to be carried through the entire park.

I’m trying to prepare myself for the dirty looks I’ll get or people coming up to me or mocking me while we’re trying to have a fun day, but I know it’ll still be harmful to see in person.

I wish there was less stigmatization and demonization of people using a mobility aid to help them. I wish I didn’t have to have the worry of having it taken from me or being mocked/laughed at just for living. I want to be able to do things.

That and then being babied and told to rest constantly makes me feel completely useless and upset. I can still do things for myself. Just because I’m having to use an aid doesn’t mean I’m instantly just not able to fend for myself.

Though, I appreciate people opening doors for me. That’s a gesture I enjoy having.

.

[leighsartworks216]

There's something about knowing I'm going to need a cane/walker/other mobility aid someday. Both my knees have been hurting almost nonstop for over a week, and today I had to put both compression sleeves I own on just so they can stop hurting. And like, they're not gonna get any better. There's things I can do to make them hurt a little less, but it never lasts long. So I give it maybe a year before I need help getting around. And I'm not worried about that at all, honestly.

[confinesofmy]

weird debate going on rn regarding which is worse: someone indicating they would greatly enjoy participating in a genocide in the future or someone currently participating in a genocide and occasionally saying that 1.) they aren't doing that and 2.) they do not like the genocide :( if that is indeed what's happening :(

[panicinthestudio]

George Michael: Outed trailer, Channel 4, February 27, 2023

George Michael talks about his sexuality, April 10, 1998

George Michael opened up about his sexuality during a 1998 interview with CNN, just days after he was arrested in a Beverly Hills, California, public park where he engaged in a 'lewd act' with an undercover police officer.

CNN

Further reading:

The Independent: George Michael: Outed review – The lack of remorse from those who wrenched star out of the closet is staggering, March 6, 2023

PinkNews: George Michael documentary shows shocking, homophobic treatment of singer – and fans are furious, March 7, 2023

[metz-n-matteo]

Help our friend Shad Cruz (pictured second from the right) raise funds for his AIDS/LifeCycle @aidslifecycle journey. It is a 545 mile cycling trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The donations support life-saving services offered by San Francisco AIDS Foundation @sfaidsfound and the Los Angeles LGBT Center @lalgbtcenter.

Donate here!

[archaeocommunologist]

It is truly amazing that, like clockwork, as soon as someone accuses me of "hiding behind accusations of HIV stigma," someone else will show up in their notes to display some fucking HIV stigma.

This has passed without comment by tributary. Because of course it has. One of her friends has done the old song and dance of soft-justifying HIV stigma by admitting its existence, but then denying that I ever appreciably experienced it and asserting that I'm certainly lying about how much I experienced it. After all, as has been well-established, the best authorities on HIV stigma are low-risk women!

Everything old is new again. Same as it ever was.