The Harry Potter Alliance & Magical Thinking
September 8, 2010
A couple of months ago I posted a request to help The Harry Potter Alliance win a 250k grant from Chase Morgan… and they won! I choose to help them out because they fight for the little guy, advocate for GLBT issues and are just an incredibly awesome and motivated group of do-gooders.
So I was very happy when they pitched in to help get me and Gwenn some votes for the Pepsi Refresh grant, in which my little positoid pecker is currently being knocked in the dirt in terms of our ranking. Pleaaaaaaaaase, vote. Links below. Here’s what I posted over on the Harry Potter Alliance web site, it’s an introduction and explains why winning this grant is so important to me.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
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Hello! My name is Shawn. The kind folks at the Harry Potter Alliance have graciously posted my bid to educate 50,000 teenagers in all 50 states about sexual health through the Pepsi Refresh Project. So I thought it would be a good idea to tell you a little bit about myself, and why I think the HPA rules.
My friend, Andrew Slack, told me about the HPA. I was inspired to spread the word via my Poz Magazine blog when the HPA
was in the running for the Chase Morgan grant, and was thrilled when you guys pulled off the victory because I knew the money would go to many great causes that I believe in. I met Andrew years ago when we were both attending a college speaking conference, he as a member of a comedy troupe (The Late Night Players) and me as one half of an HIV/sexual health educating duo (with my wife partner, Gwenn). We all became friends, and years later Andrew told me about the work that he was doing with the HPA, how a group of people inspired by the Harry Potter books banded together to create magic in real life… off the pages, and off the big screen…
Where it counts.
I’m no stranger to real life magic, and I’ve needed a lot of it.
The reason why I educate about safer sex and HIV prevention is because I was diagnosed with HIV when I was 11 years old, having been infected through tainted blood products used to treat my hemophilia. I was the victim of discrimination as a result, and was even kicked out of my 6th grade class when my status became known. When I was diagnosed with HIV in 1987, effective medications for the virus were about a decade away… my parents were told that I probably had two years to live. My imagination and the ability to distract myself with it is probably one of the ways I was able to survive. Now, at age 35, I still carry around those same qualities- that part of me was frozen at my diagnosis. In some ways, that aspect of my diagnosis was a gift.
Since the age of 20, when I opened up about my HIV status, my life’s mission has been clear: do my best to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections while giving those who are already living with an STI hope that they can find love… that they can cope and have a life filled with meaning and joy. You know, some modern day magic.
It is possible. When minds and hearts are open, and we look out for the best interests of others, realizing that we too will benefit from their sense of happiness and health, then anything can happen. I know this from my own journey, and I love to share that sense of peace with others.
So, if you have a little magic dust left in your wands, it would be much appreciated if you could vote for me and Gwenn in the Pepsi Refresh Project. You can vote every day, via online vote (Facebook has a Pepsi Refresh application that is very convenient) and also via text. Our goal is ambitious, it would be a lot of work but I know we could reach a lot of people. We are trailing in the votes, so every click counts. To learn more about us, you can visit our website, Shawn and Gwenn We are also on http://facebook.com/shawnandgwenn
WAYS TO VOTE DAILY: (you can vote twice daily, once online and once via text)
On the Pepsi Refresh site: http://refresheverything.com/shawnandgwenn
Via text message: text 102299 to PEPSI (73774)
Sign up for Shawn and Gwenn’s daily email reminder:
http://ymlp.com/signup.php?id=guswjbygmgm
VOTING ENDS on SEPTEMBER 30!
THE BLOG. NOT THE VIRUS.
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life in photos
I am frightened by ceilings. A terrible phobia to have.
Today's assortment of treats: tea for Gwenn, a mocha for me and a cookie to share.
My buddy Sharanya preparing my mocha with just an extra dash of love.
Hanging on wall in our guest bedroom. Couldn't agree more!
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!