PTBOCanada Featured Post: PARN's Live.Out.Loud Fundraising Walk At Millennium Park
/[UPDATE: Organizers would like to thank the community for an amazing event this year! They couldn't do it without your support.]
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Live.Out.Loud., PARN’s new-look fundraising walk in support of people living with HIV and HIV prevention, is happening on September 27th at Millennium Park in Peterborough.
Live.Out.Loud. is our opportunity to take to the streets and send a strong message to our community: HIV matters. It’s about the progress we have made. Unfortunately, Live.Out.Loud. is also about reflecting on the challenges that prevent too many of the 1,400 people living with HIV in Peterborough and the Four Counties from truly “living out loud.”
Dab is a frequent guest at PARN’s annual Walk
These stories below were shared by people living with HIV in our region to highlight the factors that contribute to making the decision to Live.Out.Loud.
Kika McPherson's Story
“I was 20 years old and pregnant when I was diagnosed with HIV. I moved to Peterborough to give birth and have stayed here ever since. After being here for a couple years, I started chatting online with this guy who seemed too good to be true. I disclosed my status to him in an instant message and expected to never hear from him again. He actually thought I was just trying to get rid of him, but when I confirmed that I am living with HIV, he said he still wanted to meet. We have been together ever since and have had two girls together. All three of my daughters were born HIV-free.
Over the years I have become an advocate for myself and others living with HIV. I attend international, national and provincial conferences and events where I am very open about my HIV status.
However, I can’t be public about it in my own community.
We worry that my partner will lose his job if his employers find out I am living with HIV. This happens all too often. The stigma that surrounds HIV makes it almost impossible at times to live as who I truly am. I know that being open about my status is the best way to fight the myths and misinformation that help create and perpetuate stigma. Especially when it comes to my daughters; I have the power and ability to show people that women living with HIV can have HIV-free children, that we don’t have to give up our hopes and dreams because of this virus.
I have been public about this, literally around the world. But in my home town, there is too much risk. I have to be very careful in who I disclose to.”
This memorial at the PARN office is in remembrance and recognition of loved ones who have passed away due to HIV/AIDS
Anne's Story
"My husband and I hope to live a more authentic life, but that can be very difficult. We are fortunate that many of our close friends and most of our family are aware and accepting of Patrick's HIV status, but we also feel that Patrick's family would not be comfortable with anyone or everyone knowing. There is still so much stigma in our community and unfortunately this stigma was embedded into Patrick as a child.
His parents brought him up to keep his HIV very private. When Patrick was diagnosed, even his family physician told him to stay quiet. At age 12, he went to elementary school and told a few friends. The news travelled fast. Teachers, parents and principals got involved. It was not a good situation.
Fear is the main reason for keeping HIV status private. Now that we are parents ourselves, it is a matter of protecting our children from similar traumatic childhood incidents to what Patrick went through. Our children are at a young age and we have not gone into too many details with them at this point. I want to preserve their innocence from uneducated comments. Even our own family members and friends make harsh comments in a joking manner. People just do not think before speaking."
Bob Leahy: Learn more about Bob by visiting here.
