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President Obama just made the announcement that the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban will be gone starting January 2010.
The ban was first implemented in 1987 and was signed into law by Congress in 1993, prevented non-US citizens who were HIV-positive from traveling or immigrating to the US unless the Department of Homeland Security granted them a special waiver.
Last summe, Congress finally passed the policy reversal and former President Bush signed it into law, but that change was not finalized before the administration's term ended.
As of January 2010, the ban is gone for good. With the removal of this ban, any travel and immigration restrictions that are tied to a person's HIV status are eliminated.
I am so thrilled and happy to see the US moving one step closer to the elimination of stigma and discrimination towards persons living with HIV!
WOO!
After reading the numerous entries, blogs, opeds, you name it, about CVS locking up condoms--it just occurred to me that condoms are not the only thing they keep under the lock--these condoms are joined by pregnancy tests. How do I know? Thank you, pregnancy scare from a couple months ago.
I was visiting my parents in Chicago when I realized that my period is a couple days late. My boyfriend and I have been very careful with numerous forms of birth control, but like we all know--nothing is 100% effective. Having absolutely no friends in Chicago and having no one to turn to, I decided that the easiest thing to do was to take everything one step at a time and start with a pregnancy test.
Conveniently, there is a CVS directly across the street from where I lived. I walked over there one evening. Gathered all courage I had to walk up to the "family planning" isle and locate the pregnancy tests shelf. And there they were--right next to the condoms. In a glass display case. Lined up perfectly and locked.
It took me a few more minutes to locate a sales representative and explain to her that I needed a pregnancy test and that they were locked. She walked over to the glass display with me, unlocked the door, and proceeded to just stand there as I tried to figure out which box of pregnancy tests to grab. This was my first pregnancy scare, and my first purchase of pregnancy tests, and let me tell you--it is hard enough to grab a box of pregnancy tests when they are right there in front of you. It is even more difficult when you have a sales representative standing two feet away from you. Waiting for you to make a decision.
I hastily grabbed the first box I saw. Paid for them. And walked right out--all while hoping that the tests turn out negative and making a mental note to never return to CVS for any condom or pregnancy test purchases.
Obama's decision to grant some benefits to the same sex parners of federal employees is no olive branch.
I'm sorry--this is getting ridiculous. For how many more years do we have to tip-toe around this issue? I am tired of candidates being afraid to mention and include LGBTQ community in their campaign speeches and furthermore in their actions as office holders.
Obama's lack of mention of the needs and struggles of the LGBTQ community during his campaign trail, until all the controversy tha came up because of his inuguration speaker and because his campaign was forced to mention the community is sickening.
I am so disappointed in how possibly one of the most popular and loved presidents of my lifetime--who has so much power in his hands is so reluctant and afraid to take action on this issue.
Do you think, Obama, that by extending SOME benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees will make the cut? It's sort of like -- throwing a bone to an angry dog--to calm it down for a little bit. But you know what, enough is enough. How about doing something that will truly affect the entire LGBTQ community. How about starting with getting rid of the Defense of Marriage Act--that, let me tell you, prohibits granting health and retirement benefits to same-sex partners. So, how about, we stop tiptoing around this issue and actually DO something that will truly make an impact on the entire community--instead of finding loopholes in this dreadful piece of legislation.
Obama stated that this memorandum is the first step--but what I want to know, what is this "first" step moving towards? So, instead, I propose this--how about coming forward and telling the American people what exactly do you want to accomplish in this movement, because, honestly, I am tired of waiting, and I sure am tired of being "hopeful".
Yesterday, I was catching up with an old friend and she was telling me about this new great guy she met. She, then proceeded to tell me that she is on the pill and that sometimes they have unprotected sex. She asked me if it was ok. My first reaction was to tell her that if used correctly and regularly, the pill is very effective in pregnancy prevention, but my next question was-- you guys got tested, right?
Judging by the silence on the other end--the answer to my question was a very clear "no". That silence was interrupted by her saying--"it's ok, I'm on the pill, I have nothing to worry about". I did not want to alarm her or put a dent on a new, exciting relationship, so I calmly said--well, the pill prevents you from getting pregnant, but there are also STIs you have to worry about.
She thought for a second--and said--"how can I have this conversation with him, he will think I don't trust him".
I can not begin to tell you how many times I heard the "trust" line.
When my cousin was getting married, I asked my mom if she and her husband-to-be got tested, my mom informed me that my cousin is a virgin, so she has nothing to worry about. My next question was--well, what about HIM? My mom's reaction was--she can't ask him to do that, he will think she doesn't trust him!
I heard the same statement from two of my co-workers a few months ago. And let me tell you, it is a trust issue.
I promised myself I wouldn’t get furious with or annoyed by the media’s treatment of his death and his life, but enough is enough. Since I’ve been back with my parents, the O’Reilly Factor has become a part of my nightly routine yet again. And I wonder, each day—after every single time I’m tempted to write good old Bill an angry email—and most of the time I do end up writing him emails—but I still wonder—how does that man sleep at night?
After hearing all he had to say about Dr. Tiller—how he called him a “murderer”, how he repeatedly states that he is guilty of killing thousands of babies…I’ve got a few things to say to O’Reilly and to all other pro-lifers who hold a similar opinion.
Dr. Tiller was a long-term abortionist—not a baby killer, not a murderer, but a doctor. The work he did may seem controversial to some people, but at the end of the day, he acted in accordance with laws and regulations of the state he lived in. He is dead now—has been murdered by a pro-life extremist. Please give him and his family respect they deserve because calling him a murderer and a baby killer has not done and will not do any good to him and his family. So, please stop.
Instead, I call on you to take a step back and reflect on the weight your words have and the effect they may have on someone who is emotionally unstable and who is ready to pull the trigger at any given time.
A few weeks ago I played a word association game with my co-workers in which I was compared to a “firecracker”—pretty to look at, don’t want to be there when I blow up.
I’m letting the firecracker loose on this one.
Dear “guy who pinched my butt on the train today”,
Who do you think you are? How dare you think that it is alright to lay your finger on me.? How dare you think even for a second that it would be somehow acceptable to touch me. How dare you smile at me with that “I’m so smooth” smirk when I turn around horrified after I felt your dirty little hand touch my butt. How dare you ask me “how are you doing sweetheart”.
No, “guy who pinched my butt on the train today”, you messed with the wrong “sweetheart” .
Dear “guy who pinched my butt on the train today”, let me clear up some things for you.
Dear neighbor Obama,
Even though you are currently enjoying a much warmer climate in Hawaii (and believe me I can’t blame you for it is freezing in Chicago) instead of having a snow ball fight with me, I would like to take some time off my Christmas Eve Eve and write you a letter expressing my concerns.
It is still difficult for me to understand how could you , who has been so on point on almost everything you’ve done as President elect, invite an anti-gay theologian to deliver your inaugural invocation. Did you think for a minute that by inviting a gay band would make everything balance? Or by inviting that band would make your decision to invite Reverend Rick Warren suddenly ok? Well, let me tell you, it is not “ok”.
As the World AIDS day came and went I could not help but wonder—What is the next step? And the next step came in the official statement released by the Obama-Biden Transition Team. The statement was brief and simple: it proclaimed the administration’s commitments to development and implementation of a comprehensive National HIVAIDS strategy. This comprehensive strategy will be aimed at reducing HIV infections, increasing access to treatment and care and reducing HIV/AIDS-related health disparities.
Both domestic and international HIV/AIDS policies were addressed with a promise to not only reduce new infections, but also improve treatment throughout the United States—especially among communities of color—the communities, which are disproportionately infected by the pandemic. A commitment was made to reducing stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS and the promotion of open and honest conversations about the epidemic. And finally, a pledge was made to have access to comprehensive age-appropriate sex education for all school age children.
In today’s media—sex is easy. There is this immediate attraction, a comfortable place nearby….a few seconds of foreplay and boom—the most amazing sexual experience—and apart from a few moans that indicate multiple orgasms—everything is done in complete silence.
These portrayals leave me and millions of other sexually active young people bewildered when we are faced with a complete silence when it comes to moments of intimacy. Now, don’t get me wrong—silence is not always bad. In fact, silence is golden in movies, it comes in handy when you’ve got nothing nice to say, or when you have a lot to say, but are still unsure whether you want to say it or not. However, when it comes to sex—there should be no silence.
There is a talk about condoms or other means of contraception, there is a talk about tests and any possible STIs, there is a talk about comfort level, there is a talk about extra lubricant, fun condom colors, condom flavors, dental dams…you name it! But then, the gap happens.
Two weeks later, I still have trouble believing that I was a part of one of the most important events in US history. Regardless of your partisan affiliation, it is hard not to admit to the fact that this is one of the most significant elections for all young people—mainly because of our historic turnouts at the polls. And this just further shows the power Youth movement possesses. I am proud to say that we made our voices heard and we made our voices count and I highly doubt that we will ever be ignored. However, that does not mean that we can stop now. We need to use this opportunity and pursue our dreams, find our niche, be effective advocates—pick any or all! Regardless of how you voted in this election, even I you are like me, and were not able to vote—I call on you to realize the power you have and start your legacy—make your own history.
Pick an issue, find something that pushes your buttons—be it reproductive rights and health justice, environment, energy, LGBTQ issues—anything—and do something!
- write letters
- organize petitions
- write articles
- lobby
- and educate your peers—anything!
Because now everyone knows how much power we really have and now is as best a time as ever to make our voices heard and not be forgotten after the election buzz wears off. Because, let’s face it, by electing the first black president in US history we took a giant step forward, but at the same time with constitutional gay marriage bans in AZ, FL, and CA and bans on adoption for unmarried couples in AR we took four steps back, which means that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done and who is more qualified and able than powerful and inspirational young people of the world?
