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@lavernecox : Today is #WorldAidsDay. It feels like a miracle that I am HIV negative. I grew up feeling that it was inevitable that I contract HIV and saw it as a punishment for being who I am. I grew up internalizing so much shame about my sexuality and gender expression. I saw HIV as God's punishment for being who I am. This, of course, was something I internalized because our government did nothing for far too long about HIV/AIDS diagnoses and we still live in a culture that deeply stigmatizes folks living with HIV.  Undoing that stigma in my heart and mind requires continued education, listening more, and loving personal interrogation of my implicit assumptions and biases and even the language I use. ............ Today I want to stand with folks living with HIV all over the world. You are far more than your diagnosis. I want to encourage everyone to get tested and know your status.  I want to affirm that because of the tireless work of activists who have come before me HIV is no longer a death sentence. Properly medicated, HIV positive folks can have an undetectable viral load and NOT transmit HIV to others. There are now medications to prevent HIV negative folks from contracting HIV. Thank you to everyone who has done this incredible work and continues to do the work to end AIDS globally. I love you all. If you're shopping this holiday season Go to Amazon.com/RED to shop @RED products that fight AIDS with every purchase. #SHOPATHON link in bio