Discrimination

There are no

race, religion, birth, age, colour, time, weakness, strength, morals

Immune from the effects of AIDS.

There is a certain

misconception, trepidation, entrapment, misjudgment, mentality, confusion, contradiction

Towards the concept of AIDS.

There is an atmosphere of

fear, despair, uneasiness, hatred, scorn, malaise, resentment, repulsion, ill ease

Toward those afflicted with AIDS

There is little

pity, sympathy, love, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, grief , regret

Towards those departed from AIDS

There is only

Judgment, prejudice, stereotype, irrationality, bigotry, statistics, selfishness

When we think of AIDS.

There’s little humanity.

There’s too much discrimination.

But he didn’t

It all began in the search of a little merriment after work
He ought to have gone home…
But he didn’t.

There, in the pub, he met a lady so irresistible and fine
They had a night of passion without protection.
He knew he should…
But he didn’t.

Five years passed, his body already a wreck
Racking with cough, feverish bouts and extreme weight loss
A different man so fragile, so weak
Such symptoms signaling danger, he should see a doctor…
But he didn’t.

The merciless disease destroying his life and dreams
Such is the fate AIDS would bring
He wishes to see his kids all grown up,
Wanting to experience memories in years to come,
Or living for just one more day…
But he didn’t.

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Comments: I wrote this poem based on the Merill Glass’ “But You Didn’t”. Through this poem, the author hopes to tell the readers that a person’s health status cannot be told by his or her looks. HIV- infected people can appear healthy and attractive, showing no signs of infection. Practice safer sex by using protection, such as condoms, to reduce chances of getting Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV. Best of all, abstain from casual sex altogether and stay faithful to one partner. Lastly, if symptoms appear, do not hesitate to see a doctor. Current medications can significantly slow the progression of the disease, thus prolonging the lives of HIV patients, and even allowing them to return to good health.

Should I, or Should I not?

It is a question every teen asks himself/herself. Should I kiss my partner? Should I let him touch my body? Should I have sex with her? Should I wait till marriage?

Lets forget, for a moment, about protection, STDs, pregnancy and all that. The question you should ask yourself is, if there were no consequences, would you have sex with him or her? If not, what is stopping you? If so, why?

Using whatever answer you have just gotten, then think of the consequences. Evaluate whether you can handle the consequences of either action. Then take steps to protect yourself, if necessary. If you can live with this decision, and you are not putting yourself or anyone else in danger, then it is the right choice.

It is your decision, and no one else’s.

What I want

What I asked not

To have

Is what one of many gave me.

What I ask now

To have

Is what does not exist.

What do I want?

A chance

To make my life right.

You may think I’m ranting,

Well I wouldn’t contend with that.

But may I pose a question?

Then you might understand.

How would you feel today

If you walked up to someone

And they all shun away.

I know I have AIDS,

Something others do not.

But is a valid reason to

Make me disappear?

Story of my life

The story of life

Searching for a right

But I keep avoiding me.

I know there’s no way

No matter how hard I try,

But I don’t this only.

They say I must be strong,

Just hanging by the thread

But they don’t understand.

What I go through,

While many more they know,

Those who aren’t don’t feel a thing.

They know I’m different and

It kills me inside,

How did that virus grow?

Because I’m dying

I don’t want to have it anymore

I don’t want to the reason why

My lover can’t live no more,

My family fears to share their food.

I don’t want to live like this anymore

I don’t look at people and sigh

How they don’t me to touch them anymore.

How I am no longer their friend.

All I want to be,

Is someone else.

Tattoo

This is a guest article by Sharon Ling, which was published in 1st Youth AIDS Seminar Magazine, in 2006.

No sign of fear or pain tainted the man’s features as a slim sewing needle danced on his back, and the crude black ink melted into the pincushion of open wounds. Moments later, the inmate rose, a tattooed scorpion proudly displayed, indicating his newfound status as a member of the gang. He prowled the enclosed compound proudly, knowing full well that the tattoo would gain him respect from the other gangsters during his stay in prison.

ABCs… Without the C

There is a battle raging out there. No, it is not a war against terrorism, nor quests for liberation in any number of conflicted countries. This war takes on a far more benign form, and requires no bloodshed. This is the war over the hearts and minds of teenagers, between the conservative/religious faction, and the liberal faction, over everything from gay issues to Intelligent Design versus Darwinism, to sex education.

Launch!

With this blog post, we are taking the first step on the journey to revolutionising the way we deal with HIV and youth. This is the first post in our efforts to reach out to apathetic youth of today, in moving beyond dry sex education classes.

This internet journal aims to fill the gap that exists, with youths unable to seek information anonymously on matters related to sex and sexuality. We aim to provide a constant flow of information necessary to protect yourself, and thought-provoking articles on this controversial issue.

HIV and youth is a thorny issue today, weighed down by immense political and sociological issues. Much as people would like to pretend it does not happen, it does. Much as people would like to pretend abstinence is the cure for all this, it does not work in practice, and it would be foolish to continue burying our head in the sand and continue pursuing ineffective programs for the sake of political correctness.

AFA Youth Outreach Programme is a bold new initiative, led by Indu and Sarah, to push the boundaries of political correctness and social limits, to find innovative ways to rectify an age-old problem. This internet journal is part of the online component of the multi-pronged approach to making safer sex a lifestyle choice. Our other programs are as follows:

1. Grassroots outreach to at-risk youths through distribution of condoms at youth hang outs

2. Online outreach in forums and internet spaces, and through strategically placed safe-sex adverts

3. Information collection through surveys on teens

4. Talks/workshops conducted at regular intervals to educate teens on safer sex

If you wish to contact us, in relation to participating, volunteering or enquiring about our programs, please send an email to youth.outreach@afa.org.sg. You can also direct your personal questions on sex and sexuality to that address. We will do our best to answer all emails.

Be Aware, Be Safe