This award is my greatest achievement. A "community ally" means someone who stands with others - with people living with HIV, transgender people, gay men, bisexuals, and lesbians. I have many friends in this community, and from them I've learned so much. Our fight is the same: to end stigma, to be loved, and to be accepted. As I am. As they are. Because we are all born this way.
I thank APCOM (Asia Pacific Community) for welcoming me into their family, Roy Wadia for introducing me, and Midnight Niké Panusart for the love and inclusion. (Website: About - APCOM)
My message is simple: We can only give what we already have.
- We can share wealth only if we have wealth.
- We can love others only if we know what it feels like to be loved.
- We can bring hope only if we feel hope ourselves.
Living with HIV has been a journey with ups and downs, but it gave me purpose. All credit goes to those who love me and believe in me.
Finally, I thank The Well Project - HIV and Women, for teaching me the values of character. And character has the power to change lives. As the saying goes: What great women do, common women follow.
And, I stand here to say: if we choose love, if we choose hope, if we choose acceptance then together, we can change the world.
