The stats presented at the Office of National AIDS Policy’s National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day meeting were nothing new: minority women showed higher numbers of HIV infection; the most common transmission route was heterosexual contact; and women’s risk to HIV were multi-layered (socio-economic, education, lifestyle, etc).

Unfortunately, another common thing at these gatherings (but more unfortunate here since this was the Office of National AIDS Policy…!) is the lack of youth numbers/inclusion even within this high-risk group. One of the panel discussions was on effective strategies for prevention, which did include a young female HIV+ panelist. But even then the small amount of time spent talking about youth was more about disclose of HIV status to friends/partners and ‘transitioning’ out of pediatric care…no real help on engaging, educating, or testing high-risk negative teen girls.

Fortunately, the last panel discussion saved the day! Basically acknowledging any recent success in getting the word out on prevention is via social media/marketing, which is great (and cost-effective) way to target big numbers of teens and young adults.

To me this really spoke to the success witnessed the weekend before at Mama’s Hip Hop Kitchen, a free concert in the Bronx which included 14 all-women acts…it’s local, free, empowering, educational, AND free HIV testing was offered on-site with additional incentives to boot. Through heavy pushing and cross-posting via Facebook, the MHHK website, Twitter, and Fusicology the event had an amazing turnout of over 1,000!



Finding creative ways to draw people to something that’s subtly educational and informational but (more importantly, of course) fun and entertaining is one of the most effective ways to make an impact with today’s youth.

There is so much to keep up with recently regarding issues within the sexual/reproductive health sphere, and there are some not so sensationalized stories that get lost in the shuffle. No worries! Here’s the 3min Rundown, a quick synopsis on some smaller headlines…



Check these out if you want more info: on Cuomo’s vow to legalize gay marriage in New York, a year’s supply to avoid unwanted pregnancies, read up on Miss Tricia Fraser’s demand for an apology, (find the original story on the anti-abortion/anti-black baby billboard here), or Why Monogamy Matters backed by “Premarital Sex in America.”

My parents have been together for 30 years(!) and it’s so adorable seeing how much closer they’ve gotten now that we’re all out of the house. …During the weekends when my dad’s in town they’re inseparable. Running errands together, laughing and joking, talking about people from church, and even roughhousing. It’s cute to see that in old people :] …especially since they have been in each others’ lives for so long already. Beyond their willingness to compromise for peace (my mom has admitted she’s a reformed shopaholic and it’s common to catch my father cooking AND doing laundry)—they really enjoy each other’s company.

I think what makes a relationship really work is friendship. You have to actually like each other beyond the sexual attraction to endure the tough test of time.

So as I spend another V-Day single (but I do have a date tonight—thank you very much!) I’m completely comfortable with it. It beats wasting time/energy/emotion into a relationship unfounded in something deeper. I want my next one [relationship] to be my last. I want maturity, quality and a best friend… Will I find it in the guy tonight? Maybe not… but I am still hopeful.



Happy Valentine’s Day! Have fun & be safe :)

The most interesting part of the "March for Life" Rally, organized from the National Mall to the US Supreme Court, was checking out who came out. Which were either parents/grandparents (lots of couples) or pre-teen youth (possibly school field trip… is that why the rally was held on Monday the 24^th instead of Saturday the 22^nd—the true anniversary of Roe V Wade?). The icing on the cake was this interview with Kelly Clinger, celebrity spokesperson for Silent No More.



I enjoyed this event much more than I thought I would. Seeing the turn out, hearing the speakers, and talking with those fervently anti-choice helped remind me why I am open-mindedly Pro-Choice.