Happy Holidays and New Year (Last Post of 2011!)
December 21, 2011
A very happy holiday to you, and a happy December if you’re an atheist. Whatever you dig, I’m just too tickled that you check in on me from time to time here on this blog. Lately I haven’t been the updating machine that I was in January when I did the “Blog Post a Day” New Year’s resolution but…
Wait- has it been a year already?
If you’re wondering what I’ve been up to, well, not too much. Chilling out. Enjoying life. I guess that isn’t isn’t much in the grand scheme of things. I believe in guardian angels, and that mine have worked over time since the day I was born. And a day doesn’t go by in which I do not silently, or vocally, give thanks to this.
I hope you are enjoying your life; if not, then hang in there and begin the small, medium and large steps to making that happen. Whether you’ve ever been given a life-threatening diagnosis or not, life is ultimately too short not to find peace while we are tooling around here.
Happy holidays,
Shawn
Ryan White Would Have Turned 40 Today
December 6, 2011
Ryan White, the AIDS educator who rose to prominence after his public battle to attend public school in the 1980′s, passed to spirit at age 18 in 1990, years before treatments were successful. Had he lived, he would have turned 40 years old today.
We all owe this ageless icon a big thanks for all the awareness he raised in his short time with us. Ryan, you are not forgotten. (Here’s my Poz article, “Remember Ryan White”, from Sept 2010.)
Positively Yours,
Shawn
HIV Positive Student Denied by Private Boarding School
December 5, 2011
The Milton Hershey School, a private boarding school that provides an educational opportunity for disadvantaged teenagers, has denied a potential student based solely on his HIV status. A lawsuit has been filed, and the story was given legs due to the lawsuit’s timing- which was filed last week the day before World AIDS Day.
CNN picked up the story and interviewed the boy’s lawyer.
The school released a statement explaining that they have to be concerned with the health of the rest of their students, explaining that sexual activity does occur on their premises and that 1,800 students would be put at risk. On Twitter and on Facebook, former students of Milton Hershey are coming to the school’s defense. It’s much like home team sports fans, who’s only loyalty to a team is the fact they were born in the city the team plays out of. Some of the former students responses are so short-sighted: that the school can’t be wrong because they learned there. The most laughable thing I saw on Twitter was someone posting that everyone is stupid to be up in arms about the school’s decision, to the effect of, “It’s not just a school- students have to LIVE there!”
It’s not risky. This student is not a threat. The school’s concern speaks volumes about their lack of sexual education on the premises. There is a fear of teenage behavior that is quite revealing, it’s almost as if they are saying that teens are out of control and it’s just too risky to have someone with HIV around. It’s very sad. Of course I can relate to the boy because of my own experience of being denied schooling because of my HIV status. Even though his identity is anonymous at this point, the story is out there and I hope it’s not too traumatizing for him.
My hope is that the Milton Hershey School accepts the science of the situation and changes their position. It would be a great learning experience for an institution that has provided such for so many. It’s not too late- they could not only educate their current students about sexual health in the process, but also educate their former students on the virtues of compassion and the reality that we are all capable of making errors in judgement.
And correcting them.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
LIFE IN PHOTOS
Shit got whack at da coffee shop today.
One of my #Halo friends is a vicious monster who will attack the moment you turn your back to him. Every Team Slayer match is basically 3 on 5 with him involved. The game should have trials for war crimes as a game mode.
Yesterday the neighbor's cat paid us a visit. His name is Hobbes, and it was our first meeting. He is very friendly.
I know what you all want, and it isn't pasty European Heavyweight champions... it's me drinking iced mochas. Behold.
Speaking About Sexual Health
Since 2000, Shawn and Gwenn have been speaking about sexual health together, sharing their personal story and empowering others to be safe. If you are interested in having them speak at your event, fill out the Contact Us form.
Check out Shawn's music and buy his book, My Pet Virus, which is now available on Kindle!
It will be the funniest book you've ever read about someone having AIDS... guaranteed!