A Girl Like Me Contributors

At the age of 22, after being in a monogamous relationship, I was diagnosed with AIDS. Being a college student at Sam Houston State University, looking forward to pledging my favorite sorority, enjoying college life and obtaining a degree were no...

Hello, my name is... Ieshia Scott. There are several dots NOT because I didn't want to use my name but because I was hesitant due to the many people who are NOT prepared for this day. There are many people who know I've been advocating and doing my...

I'm a 54 year old single Mom and Grandmother. I am newly diagnosed April of 2016. I am a psychology student. I run a charity that helps runaways and young people - women aging out of foster care. I am a cancer survivor. But above all I am a survivor...

My name is Jae, I am 39 years old and have been HIV+ for 18 years. I am a wife, mother to 3 boys, an employee, and full-time student. I live in Southern California, USA. I work in the medical field, the city I work in I come in contact with men that...

I’m Janelle Luster born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, 24 years old, I was diagnosed in March of 2012. At the time that I was diagnosed my house caught fire (my closet at that) and I didn’t have a regular job, no money saved. I was...

Janine Brignola has been involved in activism and advocacy for 12 + years after receiving her diagnosis and finding out that she had become HIV+. This demanded she advocate for herself and in doing so she found how large the need for advocacy is. It...

I'm a single mom of two who was diagnosed at 19 years old when pregnant with my first child. I struggled with depression and anxiety for years due to my HIV status. I have had family and close friends try to out me so many times. Born in 1986, I am a...

Jewel A. Walker-Terrell is a 40 year old Jackson, MS native living with HIV. Jewel is a state retiree from the MS Department of Employment Security. A 1990 graduate of Provine High School, she attended Tougaloo College and MS University for Women...

My name is Jyoti Dhawale. In Hindi, "Jyoti" means "Light". As in "The Ray of Light". I was diagnosed with HIV in 2005 due to medical negligence and into HIV Activism since 2011. 1976 born, Indian, residing in Nagpur. Love life, friendly, free...

My name is Johana Quesada and I am a stay at home mom, HIV activist, artist and breathwork facilitator based in Dallas, Texas. I have one beautiful son and three stepchildren with my amazing partner. After being diagnosed in 2018, I found myself...