World AIDS Day Today

[ComplineSanFran]

I’m from San Francisco, and was here during the AIDS epidemic. It was horrible. Thank God, at least here in this city, we are controlling the disease. Not so in the rest of the world. I was at several events today and it was sad to hear the names of those who died not all that long ago. Most Holy Redeemer Church in the Castro has a scroll - an enormous scroll - of the names of their parishioners who died of AIDS. I believe it is read out every December 1st.

I don’t know if you realize it or not, but your Archbishop Quinn was a man of honor and compassion during the 80’s and 90’s. Many of his priests were becoming sick, and we didn’t know what it was for so long. And then when we did, it was hard to understand what to do, except care and love those afflicted. He took care of his priests, even unto death. I have great respect for him. He died this past year, you know, and many in the Catholic LGBT community paid him honor. He was a a holy man and much loved.

Please pray for those who are still living with HIV and those who are resting in God’s embrace.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

I still remember the fear and uncertainty that surrounded its transmissibility. (Could you shake hands? Kiss on the cheek? Get sneezed on?)

I also remember that the top three most likely groups to contract it were Haitians, IV drug abusers and MSMs (Men who have Sex with Men–that’s how the Red Cross listed it on their blood donation intake forms…

 

[CoffeeAndDonuts]

I also remember that the top three most likely groups to contract it were Haitians, IV drug abusers and MSMs (Men who have Sex with Men–that’s how the Red Cross listed it on their blood donation intake forms…

Hemophiliacs as well. One notable and tragic example was in Japan, where a large percentage of hemophiliacs contracted HIV due to their government’s incompetency in handling the importation of plasma for the production of treatment for their condition. The government was informed, like the rest of the world, that blood needed to be tested for HIV (and Japan purchased most of it’s blood from the United States), but the government just didn’t do it, or even stop buying blood from the United States. Part of the problem here was that many IV drug users would sell their plasma. Japanese culture also heavily stigmatized those with HIV, and it was nearly impossible for these hemophiliacs to find work, attend school, or participate in society at all.

I remember coming across this in research and it just made me so very sad. Imagine being a small child with hemophilia, you get HIV because your government doesn’t listen to medical advice, and the rest of your life is just ruined now because you attend school or get a job.

Sorry to shift the narrative from the OP. This event always just touched me though.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

That’s so horrible and sad…