battling stigma

This blog was translated from Spanish. Read the original, "Introducción - Erika" here. Hi! I am Erika Castellanos. I am a transgender woman living with HIV from Belize. (You don't know where Belize is...

Hola! Mi nombre es Erika Castellanos. Soy una mujer Trans de Belice. (¿No sabes dónde está localizado Belice? (Psst!! Belice es un pequeño país anglo-parlante en Centro América!) Soy fundadora y...

So, I am sitting here waiting for a person to walk through the doors to get tested. I have everything laid out and ready to go. You know how we do when we are getting ready to go out to a dance or a...

Have you ever just wanted to take a break? Being an advocate, our work can become very overwhelming and lonely and our brains are in overdrive. This year I decided to take a break because I was...

Cuando fui invitada por Poject Zero a presentar en Fort Walton Beach en la Positive Living Conference 2015, fue oportunidad para mi cuando tuve oportunidad en pedir ayuda para mi comunidad transgénero en Broward County

It's such a recurring theme that I have to calm down before actually sitting down to blog. I have to make it known that even I face adversity and people should realize that I am a person. I'm humbly...

I had given up on being an advocate. I didn't want to travel. I didn't want to speak my truth to strangers. I didn't want to be involved with World AIDS Day 2015 or The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS. I wanted a normal life with balance.

#CharlieSheen has brought back the passion in me because I realize that I have to continue educating the world! much ignorance and stigma continues.

Yesterday, Charlie Sheen announced to Matt Lauer on the Today show that he was in fact a person living with HIV. Rumors had been circulating in the tabloids that an A-list celebrity was suspected of...

I feel very frustrated after everything I have been reading! I feel like I am preaching to the choir and our message is not being heard! We must act NOW and use this moment to educate and set the...