Comments on: A Young Spin on an Old Tale: Youth and HIV/AIDS http://www.antillean.org/2009/04/15/a-young-spin-on-an-old-tale-youth-and-hivaids/ Socially responsible news and commentary from the Caribbean region and the wider Americas Mon, 17 May 2010 12:20:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: <img src="http://www.antillean.org/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/us.png" alt="United States" /> Charlsea <small id="gs_author_location">from Colorado, United States</small> http://www.antillean.org/2009/04/15/a-young-spin-on-an-old-tale-youth-and-hivaids/comment-page-1/#comment-988 United States Charlsea from Colorado, United States Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:02:19 +0000 http://blog.bajandream.org/?p=1984#comment-988 Marcus ~ Sorry it has taken me a bit to comment back. As a matter of fact, I'm from Texas were homosexuality is still fairly taboo. I think that most people have become more tolerant through continued exposure on TV and other forms of media. That doesn't mean however that they are more accepting. It is seen as a 'Hollywood' issue and not something affects daily life. Changing a taboo is extremely hard to do - especially in older generations. Most taboos that have been disposed of come through a more enlightened or more tolerant younger generation. By providing some of things discussed in my article - health care centers that respect privacy and provide care to any race or sexual orientation - we can continue to educate the young people. The change has to be made by influencing them and providing them opportunities to make those changes. As I said, I have no 'answers' to the issue at hand. Only suggestions and hope that articles like this will stimulate more discussions. Thanks for the comments! Marcus ~ Sorry it has taken me a bit to comment back. As a matter of fact, I’m from Texas were homosexuality is still fairly taboo. I think that most people have become more tolerant through continued exposure on TV and other forms of media. That doesn’t mean however that they are more accepting. It is seen as a ‘Hollywood’ issue and not something affects daily life.

Changing a taboo is extremely hard to do – especially in older generations. Most taboos that have been disposed of come through a more enlightened or more tolerant younger generation. By providing some of things discussed in my article – health care centers that respect privacy and provide care to any race or sexual orientation – we can continue to educate the young people. The change has to be made by influencing them and providing them opportunities to make those changes.

As I said, I have no ‘answers’ to the issue at hand. Only suggestions and hope that articles like this will stimulate more discussions. Thanks for the comments!

]]> By: <img src="http://www.antillean.org/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/us.png" alt="United States" /> Dee <small id="gs_author_location">from Texas, United States</small> http://www.antillean.org/2009/04/15/a-young-spin-on-an-old-tale-youth-and-hivaids/comment-page-1/#comment-816 United States Dee from Texas, United States Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:51:43 +0000 http://blog.bajandream.org/?p=1984#comment-816 The article was good. Looks like you did some homework. The article was good. Looks like you did some homework.

]]> By: <img src="http://www.antillean.org/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/bb.png" alt="Barbados" /> Marcus <small id="gs_author_location">from Saint Michael, Barbados</small> http://www.antillean.org/2009/04/15/a-young-spin-on-an-old-tale-youth-and-hivaids/comment-page-1/#comment-802 Barbados Marcus from Saint Michael, Barbados Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:49:00 +0000 http://blog.bajandream.org/?p=1984#comment-802 in barbados, and the caribbean, it's all about virility, looking like the alpha man - the hard seed. youtube "daggering" and see what i mean. that is compounded by the bisexuals, the downlow men and the "i'm not really gay i just have sex with men for money" guys, although i heard a rumour that the highest incidence of hiv/aids here is among straight men - how they prove who's straight or not, i have no clue. you mentioned gayness being taboo - i see you're from san francisco and it's pretty normal there, but how'd you propose that the issue be solved here? in barbados, and the caribbean, it’s all about virility, looking like the alpha man – the hard seed. youtube “daggering” and see what i mean.

that is compounded by the bisexuals, the downlow men and the “i’m not really gay i just have sex with men for money” guys, although i heard a rumour that the highest incidence of hiv/aids here is among straight men – how they prove who’s straight or not, i have no clue.

you mentioned gayness being taboo – i see you’re from san francisco and it’s pretty normal there, but how’d you propose that the issue be solved here?

]]> By: <img src="http://www.antillean.org/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/us.png" alt="United States" /> Linda Hicks <small id="gs_author_location">from Texas, United States</small> http://www.antillean.org/2009/04/15/a-young-spin-on-an-old-tale-youth-and-hivaids/comment-page-1/#comment-794 United States Linda Hicks from Texas, United States Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:31:05 +0000 http://blog.bajandream.org/?p=1984#comment-794 I remember first hearing about HIV/AIDS when I was the principal of Tulia High School in Tulia, Texas. As an administrator, we started getting information about this disease early in the 1990's.When we first heard about this disease, I remember saying, "Oh that will never happen in Tulia." Well it wasn't too long after that;a student that I had taught in fourth grade died of AIDS. By 1993, the school staff had been informed about HIV/AIDS through numerous staff developemnt methods and teachers and staff were charged with enlightening the students. A person with HIV/AIDS came to the school and talked to the students in an assembly. After the assembly, there was lots of interest and questions about the disease. I remember one boy,asking me if you could get AIDS by kissing someone. One teacher did not even want to shake hands with this person for fear he would contaminate him. Education about HIV/AIDS was part of the curriculum in health and home economics classes. The students became well informed, but like anything else; they did not believe it would happen to them or anyone they knew. Good luck to you Charlsea, you have your work cut out for you. I remember first hearing about HIV/AIDS when I was the principal of Tulia High School in Tulia, Texas. As an administrator, we started getting information about this disease early in the 1990’s.When we first heard about this disease, I remember saying, “Oh that will never happen in Tulia.” Well it wasn’t too long after that;a student that I had taught in fourth grade died of AIDS. By 1993, the school staff had been informed about HIV/AIDS through numerous staff developemnt methods and teachers and staff were charged with enlightening the students. A person with HIV/AIDS came to the school and talked to the students in an assembly. After the assembly, there was lots of interest and questions about the disease. I remember one boy,asking me if you could get AIDS by kissing someone. One teacher did not even want to shake hands with this person for fear he would contaminate him. Education about HIV/AIDS was part of the curriculum in health and home economics classes. The students became well informed, but like anything else; they did not believe it would happen to them or anyone they knew. Good luck to you Charlsea, you have your work cut out for you.

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