¿Dónde empiezo? Es con mucho dolor que estoy escribiendo este blog...los recuerdos de mis amigos que murieron por complicaciones del SIDA me persiguen todo el tiempo.
MariaHIVMejia's blog
Where do I start? It is with much sorrow that I am writing this blog...the memories of my friends that passed from AIDS complications haunt me all the time. It is very hard to express how I feel … so I will do my best. I know I am not alone in these feelings, but us long term survivors have survived something that was supposed to kill us, we are left with long term fatigue from our meds that save our lives. The PTSD that we have mentally endured from so many years of hiding in shame, feeling worthless, having the fear of dying like the many brothers and sisters I have seen die in front of me...
You know, it is so hard for some people to talk about HIV! It's like if they even talk about it, they fear others will think they have it! I AM SO TIRED OF THE SHAME AND STIGMA of this human condition! WTF has to happen for people to speak up?! I am flooded with thousands of emails and inboxes all over my social media. Some people are afraid to publicly write and post because of the HIV in my name. I AM NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT! This was a marketing and branding tactic when I started social media activism more than 7 or 8 years ago. People are so afraid of the ignorance of others or being...
#CharlieSheen has brought back the passion in me because I realize that I have to continue educating the world! much ignorance and stigma continues.
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 record straight! Come out of the HIV closet and let's humanize this condition. #WearejusthumanbeingswiththeconditionofHIV #Justavirus #Nomorestigma #Nomoreshame #Education is a must now! #HIVhasnocolor You know, I feel very freaking sad around all of this speculation with #CharlieSheen and his announcement! I am starting to see that most of the people that we talk about HIV with are people infected...
Estoy muy emocionados de anunciar que voy a estar haciendo otro Keynote (discurso como oradora principal) en El Paso, Texas! Espero poder conocer a algunos de ustedes que viven alrededor de la zona! Es en febrero 2016! María, usted ha sido invitada a la quinta Conferencia Anual de Competencia Cultural en El Paso, Texas, el Viernes, 26 de febrero 2016. En la Universidad de Texas Tech en la Oficina de Diversidad, Inclusión y Salud Global… Sí, es para los próximo año. Y tengo la agenda bastante llena hasta ese entonces! Este es un don de palabra que tengo y se siente tan bueno saber que cada vez...
Maria, you have been invited to the 5th Annual Cultural Competence Conference in El Paso, Texas on Friday, February 26, 2016. Texas Tech University Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Global Health… YES, it is for next year. I am pretty booked until then! This is a gift that I have and it feels so good to know that every time I speak I touch people and even make them cry. I started speaking in panels and in every place you can think of. With keynotes you are on your own and you have to speak for one hour plus! I never use power point (unless requested). I may have a small note with pointers...
What a proud moment when I was selected to be a part of the very deep campaign for Greater than AIDS for women, HIV, Trauma, Domestic violence and Intimate partner violence.
Well where do I start? It is no secret that I have been going through one of the toughest times of my life. I thought I may not be able to go, but how can I cancel when they gave me a partial scholarship… and The Well Project, where I blog, I am on their CAB and their Global Ambassador, assisted me in every way to show my presence as a Latina activist / advocate there!! So I said "Maria, push through, truck it and be real with what you are feeling emotionally and mentally." It was not easy to go through severe depression. Being in that comfort zone or that dark hole at home and all of sudden...
I have been going through one of the roughest times of my life and I wanted to show the world that it is ok to be a strong woman and ask for help at the same time. Being a part of the Greater Than AIDS campaign for HIV and IPV resurfaced many issues I had that I thought had healed...but the reality is that I was just glued together...I had not healed and now I am in intensive therapy for the first time in my life. I was in a very dark space...greater than any other pain I had felt before and I really wanted to end the pain and just be free. I am so happy my wife pushed for us to get help...