Living With AIDS:
HIV-Positive Teens Tell Their Stories
by Denise Dowling
by Denise Dowling
"It won't give you X-ray vision, but it will make you a hero tonight," proclaims the subway ad showing a picture of a rubber. Then there's the continuing subway saga of the Spanish characters who are having sex; the mousey one who wants to go slow versus her friend, the stereotypical hot mama dressed for speed.
So why are 85 percent of sexually active teens not using condoms? They ride the subways, don't they? They learn about AIDS in school, right? It's the same old problem; no one wants to talk about teens having sex. The students I interviewed were receiving AIDS education in health class, but said that being told the statistics of AIDS cases has no meaning. They need to see teens with AIDS, hear their stories, to realize, 'Hey, that could be me.'
That's why a group like YouthWave exists. Members of YouthWave are HIV-positive young adults. They tour the country, visiting schools and telling their stories. Their presentation is so effective that students are racing out the door to get tested by the end. They have to run faster than their teachers, who are even more scared they might be HIV-positive.
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