battling stigma

Hello, my name is Samantha Rose Montemayor Morales. I am a Proud Trans Latina Woman of Color who has been living with HIV since June 28, 2010.

As we celebrate this very important Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, I think about how far we have come, but I also think about so many things that remain the same in our communities in the United States and Latin America.

Al celebrar este importantísimo Día De Concientización sobre el SIDA entre Latinx, pienso en lo lejos que hemos llegado, pero también pienso en tantas cosas que siguen siendo igual en nuestras comunidades en los Estados Unidos y América Latina.

Soy la primera subdirectora de The Well Project y me gustaría aprovechar la oportunidad para presentarme. Me identifico como una mujer mexicana, inmigrante y una chica del sur de California desde la raíz. Soy madre de un amorcito de 3 años, esposa amorosa y amada, hermana e hija mayor. También soy sobreviviente de toda la vida del VIH.

La tradición de contar historias siempre ha sido una práctica sagrada y catártica para que las mujeres compartan experiencias y expresen emociones. La seguridad que brinda una comunidad crea un ambiente propicio para el compañerismo e intercambio con otras mujeres que han vivido experiencias similares.

Last weekend I got the pleasure to present at the Let's Talk About Sex Conference out in Dallas, Texas with Olivia Ford.

Dear young person who has gone public... Take it easy on yourself. Don't be hard on yourself. Do practice self-love. When I went public with my status, I received overwhelming response from young...

As part of a collaboration with our longtime partner organization Christie's Place, The Well Project shares stories in English and Spanish from the book Healing Hope: A woven tapestry of strength and solace as blog entries on our A Girl Like Me platform under the blog name "Healing Hope."

I was honoured to be selected by IAS to participate at the 24th International AIDS Conference. AIDS2022 took in place in Montreal between 27 July and 2 August.

This blog was not easy to write… Yes, HIV took my motherhood… Back in those times when I was diagnosed, we had no medicine. At least, I didn't have any access to treatment in Colombia, my country...