Marissa's blog

I've told my story a ton of times about what led to me contracting HIV. I was always cautious as to not say certain things that could point to the person I contracted from or even more tell a story that wasn't mine to tell

I recently had a deep dive regarding U=U with a writer from POZ Magazine and what it means to me as a Latina living with HIV.

August 29th marked 102 days... and while I am very late providing an update, I wasn't quite ready...

If you are new to advocating, have never been to USCHA, or are interested in learning about HIV, I highly suggest considering your attendance for the coming year!

Y'all I'm out here living 2020 in 2023... While y'all was stuck at home, looking cute up top and only wearing ya underwears or jammies under the table I was out EVERYDAY going to work cause Covid what...

It all started a few months ago when CAB (community advisory board) member Samantha Rose Montemayor sent me a message and said, "Marissa, we should be at this event."

Todo comenzó hace unos meses cuando Samantha, miembro del CAC, me envió un mensaje que decía, "Marisa, deberíamos estar en este evento". Me compartió el sitio web; lo leí un poco y compartí la información para ver cómo podíamos asegurar que asistiríamos.

Since my 2016 diagnosis in Florida, I've always known if I don't disclose my HIV status to a sexual partner I could be criminalized. Essentially it didn't matter because morally I felt that I should tell the person, but at what point do I not get to put myself in a potentially stigmatized or worse situation?

The flood gates have opened and I've FINALLY had the opportunity to attend USCHA, something I've longed for since shortly after my diagnosis in 2016.

Growing up there were no stories about the birds and the bees, periods or HIV. These conversations were never had with my parents and so the cycle continued. This is a common theme among families of...