Many years ago, I stepped away from the work I did within the HIV industry. Not because the work isn't important, necessary, and needed—but because I felt that if I wasn't pushing an agenda aligned with what most of the industry wanted, then I was seen as problematic. I felt that if I didn't accept being tokenized and puppetized (a term I developed), I wasn't welcome.
After facing discrimination and isolation directly tied to my advocacy, it stopped being worth it. I had already endured mistreatment from family, friends, and strangers—so the last place I should have felt that was within my own HIV community. Continue reading...
