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hivliving:
“ “tw: q slur, serophobia, death mention, violence mention
please do not reblog if you are anti-lgbt, it makes me uncomfortable
”
what is HIV and how does it work?
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. specifically it targets the...

tw: q slur, serophobia, death mention, violence mention
please do not reblog if you are anti-lgbt, it makes me uncomfortable
what is HIV and how does it work?
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. specifically it targets the body’s t-lymphocyte cells, also known as CD4 cells because of the proteins found in their membranes. CD4 cells are extremely important in signaling other immune cells to attack infectious particles, so when HIV viruses infect and kill them in large numbers it profoundly disrupts a person’s immune system function as a whole.
there are three stages of HIV:
acute infection: within 2-4 weeks after infection, the virus begins to replicate very rapidly. in most people this results in extreme flu-like symptoms, although others might be asymptomatic.
clinical latency: lasts on average 8-12 years without treatment, although in some cases it can progress must faster. during this period the virus continues to replicate but at very low levels. usually no or few symptoms.
AIDS: an phase and diagnosis that occurs when CD4 counts fall below 200 cells/mm3, meaning the immune system is very vulnerable to opportunistic infections. a person will also be diagnosed with AIDS regardless of their CD4 count if they display one or more opportunistic infection.
how can HIV be transmitted?
direct contact with certain bodily fluids [blood, (pre)cum, vaginal secretions, or breast milk] that contains HIV. to break that down into specific activities which can result in transmittance: anal sex, vaginal sex, sharing sex toys or needles. childbirth and breastfeeding can also result in HIV infection but in developed countries it is usually possible to receive medications which prevent this.
can be HIV be transmitted via kissing?
nope. no cases have ever been reported.
can HIV be transmitted via oral sex?
it’s technically possible if you have open sores or wounds in your mouth but unlikely because of the enzymes found in saliva that are inhospitable to HIV. very few cases have ever been reported.
what is serophobia?
a system of oppression which affects HIV+ people. it often overlaps with racism &/or transmisogyny &/or whorephobia &/or homophobia. it manifests via criminalization, employment discrimination, dating stigma, physical violence, abuse based on one’s HIV status, etc.
what does it mean to be undetectable?
when someone describes themselves as undetectable, it means the number of viruses in their blood is so low that it doesn’t appear on blood tests. transmitting HIV while undetectable is very unlikely but theoretically not impossible.
what is an opportunistic infection?
an opportunistic infection, often abbreviated OI, is an infection that takes advantage of an opportunity not normally available in a fully functioning immune system [examples: PCP, TB, toxoplasmosis]. as a whole OI’s are the most common cause of death for people with AIDS.
how is healthcare different for HIV+ people?
many healthcare professionals, especially ones not specialising in infectious diseases, are extremely ignorant about HIV. they might use blame-centric language or express discomfort in treating an HIV+ patient despite the lack of any risks. they might be reluctant to ascribe a legitimate health problem to anything besides HIV. they might reveal a patient’s HIV status to their partner or family believing it in their best interest. on a more systemic level, medications that manage HIV are extremely expensive and in some places completely unavailable, making management of HIV difficult or impossible.
why does HIV/AIDS still matter in the LGBT community?
not only is HIV/AIDS inseparable from the LGBT community’s history, but it is also inseparable from its present and future. some of the most vulnerable intersectional identities within the LGBT community continue to be devastated by HIV- i.e. people of colour &/or trans people &/or sex workers &/or drug users. while many are aware of south and central africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, you might be surprised to learn that many urban centers in the united states [examples: miami, dc, baltimore, atlanta, new orleans] have seen similar upward trends of infection, some even qualifying as true epidemics. LGBT and especially LGBT HIV+ people are still blamed for the spread of HIV/AIDS, dehumanised as vectors of disease instead of people worthy of respect.
do you have any basic HIV/AIDS-related film or book recs?
And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts
AIDS Sutra edited by Negar Akhavi
Queer Nation Manifesto
United in Anger: A History of ACT UP
How to Survive a Plague
1982 - 1992 News Clips On HIV/AIDS (The First Ten Years)
When AIDS Was Funny