My HIV Journey http://www.thebody.com/content/68807/my-hiv-journey.html A video blog by Aaron Laxton at TheBody.com. http://www.thebody.com/images/blog/aaron_biobox.gif Aaron Laxton http://www.thebody.com/content/68807/my-hiv-journey.html 115 145 How Jimmy Kimmel's Story About His Son Relates to HIV Health Care http://www.thebody.com/content/79861/how-jimmy-kimmels-story-about-his-son-relates-to-h.html This week Jimmy Kimmel announced on his show Jimmy Kimmel Live regarding the birth of his newborn son and a rare heart condition that would ultimately require his son, Billy Kimmel, to have open-heart surgery. If you were like me, you found yourself being drawn into his story and wanting the best for Jimmy, his son and the entire family. Huge shout out to Jimmy for sharing this painful and scary moment; thank you for sharing this piece of your life with us. As of right now, more than 4.5 million people have viewed this heartfelt message on YouTube. Jimmy uses his story to highlight the brokenness of our healthcare system. This, however, is not a new fact. In the video, Jimmy jokes, "First they check your wallet and then they check your pulse."

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/79861/how-jimmy-kimmels-story-about-his-son-relates-to-h.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 3 May 2017 16:42:00 GMT My HIV/AIDS Activism Includes Fighting for Racial Justice http://www.thebody.com/content/77889/my-hivaids-activism-includes-fighting-for-racial-j.html The ding on Facebook alerted me to a new reply to a post I had put up hours before, responding to the news that two more men of color had been assassinated at the hands of police in two different U.S. cities, hours apart. It feels as if the details don't even matter, since in the end an investigation will reveal that the police were completely justified in their use of deadly force.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/77889/my-hivaids-activism-includes-fighting-for-racial-j.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 8 Jul 2016 16:01:00 GMT This is More Than the Orlando Shooting http://www.thebody.com/content/77741/this-is-more-than-the-orlando-shooting.html Today, I feel sad. I feel blah and numb. Today, I question all of the strides which we have moved us forward. As an older LGBT community member, I remember a time when it was not okay to be gay. It wasn't acceptable to hold hands or kiss in public. I also remember outing myself under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in order to stand up with other soldiers who were being discharged from the military simply for being gay.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/77741/this-is-more-than-the-orlando-shooting.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 13 Jun 2016 19:32:00 GMT 8 Ways to Fight Poverty to End HIV http://www.thebody.com/content/77414/8-ways-to-fight-poverty-to-end-hiv.html If we are serious about ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic, then it is time that we look at the whole picture. Each of us are the sum of everything that makes us who we are. HIV is merely one tiny piece of the lives that consumers have to deal with. For some it is a tiny piece, while for others it is a gigantic piece that is all-consuming. While we are focusing on prevention strategies, we must also turn our eyes towards the whole person -- and this should include more education and robust strategies to end poverty, not only for those of us living with HIV/AIDS, but also for those at risk of acquiring HIV.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/77414/8-ways-to-fight-poverty-to-end-hiv.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 8 Apr 2016 19:32:00 GMT Panic Over HIV Infection While on PrEP Is Not Necessary http://www.thebody.com/content/77162/panic-over-hiv-infection-while-on-prep-is-not-nece.html Social media has been abuzz today, with people sharing the news that a gay man who was taking Truvada as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) has contracted a drug-resistant strain of HIV. I can only imagine that this is the news that Michael Weinstein has been wringing his troll-ish hands in gleeful anticipation since 2012. There is only one small problem that people are failing to recognize -- this is not surprising.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/77162/panic-over-hiv-infection-while-on-prep-is-not-nece.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:05:00 GMT Considering Gender When Exploring HIV-Trauma Therapy Interventions http://www.thebody.com/content/76983/considering-gender-when-exploring-hiv-trauma-thera.html Living with HIV can be traumatic on multiple levels. For each person it can be extremely different and the treatments must be adapted to each situation and case.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/76983/considering-gender-when-exploring-hiv-trauma-thera.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 21 Jan 2016 19:26:00 GMT Falling Short: Where Charlie Sheen's Interview With Dr. Oz Didn't Hit the Mark http://www.thebody.com/content/76957/falling-short-where-charlie-sheens-interview-with-.html This week Charlie Sheen sat down with everyone's favorite television physician, Dr. Oz. As Charlie spoke with Dr. Oz, I jotted down notes. I found as the interview progressed there was a recurrent theme: "Charlie is sharing his truth however that truth is not everyone's truth."

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/76957/falling-short-where-charlie-sheens-interview-with-.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 13 Jan 2016 17:03:00 GMT Charlie Sheen's Disclosure Brings Exploitation of HIV-Positive People to Light http://www.thebody.com/content/76696/charlie-sheens-disclosure-brings-exploitation-of-h.html Right now is the moment for the light to shine on thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS who have been killed, bullied, tortured and more, simply for being HIV-positive.

Charlie Sheen, an A-list celebrity, was bullied into disclosing his status.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/76696/charlie-sheens-disclosure-brings-exploitation-of-h.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 18 Nov 2015 06:03:00 GMT Charlie Sheen Has the Right to Privacy http://www.thebody.com/content/76681/charlie-sheen-has-the-right-to-privacy.html Today the media and tabloids are circling around Charlie Sheen reporting that they are going to disclose information about his health. It is my belief that every person has the right to privacy when it comes to their own health information, HIV or otherwise.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/76681/charlie-sheen-has-the-right-to-privacy.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 16 Nov 2015 16:52:00 GMT Day 2 of Michael Johnson Trial: Opening Statement and Initial Testimony http://www.thebody.com/content/75813/day-2-of-michael-johnson-trial-opening-statement-a.html Jurors today heard opening statements from the prosecuting attorney. The State alleges that Johnson exposed 2 to HIV without their knowledge and that they subsequently became infected. The State also alleges that Johnson attempted to expose or exposed 4 others without telling them that he was HIV positive.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/75813/day-2-of-michael-johnson-trial-opening-statement-a.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 13 May 2015 03:24:00 GMT Day 1 of Michael Johnson Trial: Jury Selection http://www.thebody.com/content/75804/day-1-of-michael-johnson-trial-jury-selection.html Greetings everyone!

I am providing a summary in an effort to keep everyone in the loop. Jury selection kicked off around 9:45 a.m. on Monday, May 11. There were 51 prospects in the jury pool. Half men, half women. One African American female and the rest were white.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/75804/day-1-of-michael-johnson-trial-jury-selection.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 12 May 2015 14:58:00 GMT Is Michael Johnson's Life a Black Life That Matters? http://www.thebody.com/content/75781/is-michael-johnsons-life-a-black-life-that-matters.html Fresh off of the heels of civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri in response to the death of Michael Brown, Jr., the nation was left with the question of whether black lives matter. Institutional systems such as local government law-enforcement education and so forth had proven that black lives did not matter as much as white lives. Unfortunately more young men of color have lost their lives senselessly at the hands of law-enforcement over the last several weeks. As we speak, Baltimore is experiencing civil unrest as their response to the death of Freddy Gray is beyond palpable; the demand for justice is being heard.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/75781/is-michael-johnsons-life-a-black-life-that-matters.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 1 May 2015 10:35:00 GMT Let Me Clear My Throat on White Men in Communities of Color http://www.thebody.com/content/75336/let-me-clear-my-throat-on-white-men-in-communities.html Recently communities of color have ignited a movement that has taken the world by storm in the wake of the Mike Brown and Eric Garner cases. The problem being highlighted is one that goes back to the very foundations of our country -- racial inequality. As I have been at various protests and demonstrations, including many in St. Louis and Ferguson, I have tried to figure out what this means for the HIV/AIDS movement, considering that communities of color are disproportionately bearing the burden of new infections. The irony of the situation is not lost on me, even as much as I want to help address inequalities within the communities of color, I must do so while considering my place in the movement.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/75336/let-me-clear-my-throat-on-white-men-in-communities.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 15 Dec 2014 22:20:00 GMT Why You Might Not Want to Start HIV Medications http://www.thebody.com/content/75249/why-you-might-not-want-to-start-hiv-medications.html There are a lot of considerations that go into a decision to start medications for HIV. It is true that the earlier that a person starts medications, the better the long-term outcomes. I am a realist, however, and I understand that not everyone is ready, willing or able to start medications as soon as they are diagnosed. Inevitably, I come into contact everyday with newly diagnosed individuals who are considering this very question. Here are five points that I would like people to consider when talking about HIV medications.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/75249/why-you-might-not-want-to-start-hiv-medications.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 18 Nov 2014 22:12:00 GMT I Am a Survivor of Intimate Partner Violence http://www.thebody.com/content/75033/i-am-a-survivor-of-intimate-partner-violence.html My name is Aaron M. Laxton. I am an award-winning International HIV/AIDS activist. I am a social worker, a writer. What I want you to know however is that I am also a survivor of intimate partner violence (IPV). Intimate partner violence can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, sex, gender or orientation.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/75033/i-am-a-survivor-of-intimate-partner-violence.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 26 Sep 2014 15:54:00 GMT Ferguson, Missouri, Activism and ACT UP http://www.thebody.com/content/74880/ferguson-missouri-activism-and-act-up.html By now, Ferguson, Missouri has gained international attention. Being a 4th generation-resident of St. Louis, I wish the attention was for reasons other than police brutality, riots and the death of an unarmed teenager. Last night, day seven of the movement, I decided to venture down to Ferguson. For those of you who are unaware, Ferguson is in St. Louis County, located about 15 minutes north of downtown St. Louis.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/74880/ferguson-missouri-activism-and-act-up.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:17:00 GMT The Real Casualties in the PrEP-Battle http://www.thebody.com/content/74420/the-real-casualties-in-the-prep-battle.html I sit waiting at a coffee shop in the Central West End at the Washington University in St. Louis Medical School. This meeting, like most these days, are spent working on strategic planning for implementing PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a one-pill-a-day drug regimen that has been shown to be up to 99% effective in preventing HIV infection. People slowly trickle into the working group and we start to address the task at hand. Who could benefit the most from access? Believe it or not, it is not those who are waging a moralistic attack on whether or not it should be used. For the most part, it is not even the people who will read this article or who are on social media. That is because the people who could benefit the most from PrEP are limited on resources. The young, black male who has sex with men or the Latino ages 13-24; that is who are falling casualty of this absurd power struggle.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/74420/the-real-casualties-in-the-prep-battle.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 6 May 2014 18:32:00 GMT Let HIV-Negative People Decide Their Own Prevention! http://www.thebody.com/content/74338/let-hiv-negative-people-decide-their-own-preventio.html PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a proven concept. Regardless of whether opponents want to admit it or not, "bio-medical prevention" IS the key to reducing new-HIV infections in the highest-risk groups where previous risk-reductions methods have failed. Today, thanks to new research and science, we have a new method that can help those who are at the highest risk. We do not need more data; we do not need more trials to look at efficacy and safety ... PrEP is already a PROVEN concept. Anyone who says otherwise either doesn't know how to read data, is pushing their own agenda or they are simply regurgitating the views of other people who have no clear understanding of the topic.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/74338/let-hiv-negative-people-decide-their-own-preventio.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:41:00 GMT I Am Considered an HIV Criminal http://www.thebody.com/content/74201/i-am-considered-an-hiv-criminal.html "Why should I care about HIV criminalization? People who purposely expose others to the virus should face justice." This response is nothing new. By now, I am well-acquainted with answering the question. As an HIV-positive male who is living in a serodiscordant relationship, prosecution under HIV criminal statutes is an ever-present fear. It does not matter that my partner is aware of my HIV positive status or that I am undetectable and on antiretroviral therapy. Conversely, if you are living with HIV you need to be aware that HIV criminalization impacts you.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/74201/i-am-considered-an-hiv-criminal.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:56:00 GMT Meth, PrEP and What Could Have Been http://www.thebody.com/content/74202/meth-prep-and-what-could-have-been.html Let me take a second to de-bunk a commonly held myth: "Meth is not fun or pleasurable." That simply is not true, in the beginning. The fact is that there is something about the experience of using meth that seemed attractive to me. The truth is that there came a point where it became far too much work to achieve the same high that you had the first time I used. This is commonly referred to as "chasing the high" not to mention the toll that my body paid in the process of that futile mission. This mission could best be described as "my love affair with meth."

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/74202/meth-prep-and-what-could-have-been.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:42:00 GMT Where Would We Be Without AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)? http://www.thebody.com/content/73979/where-would-we-be-without-aids-healthcare-foundati.html This is a very loaded question and one that is without doubt going invoke debate and conversation. For all of the negative things that people say and read about AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) there is one simple-reality, at least they are doing something. I already can hear people saying, "All they do is create stigma, shame and enemies and that is not what we need. Maybe so, but at least they are doing something.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/73979/where-would-we-be-without-aids-healthcare-foundati.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 4 Mar 2014 12:00:00 GMT The New Battle of New Orleans: Insurer Says "Ryan White No Good" http://www.thebody.com/content/73905/the-new-battle-of-new-orleans-insurer-says-ryan-wh.html There is a new battle raging in the deep-south that without doubt could have implications for everyone living with HIV/AIDS across the United States. Louisiana has found itself in a battle between those living with HIV/AIDS and insurance providers, namely Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS).

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/73905/the-new-battle-of-new-orleans-insurer-says-ryan-wh.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:40:00 GMT HIV Prevention and "Click It or Ticket": Are New Devices Safe? http://www.thebody.com/content/73728/hiv-prevention-and-click-it-or-ticket-are-new-devi.html After doing research on new safety devices being proposed to protect drivers and passengers of automobiles, I have come to a conclusion: There is no need for an increase in new safety devices.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/73728/hiv-prevention-and-click-it-or-ticket-are-new-devi.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 27 Jan 2014 19:52:00 GMT "Live Your Life": Thanks and Encouragement to the HIV Community for 2014 (Video) http://www.thebody.com/content/73504/live-your-life-thanks-and-encouragement-to-the-hiv.html In this special holiday entry, Aaron reflects on his journey -- and the more than 200 videos he's posted since his life-changing HIV diagnosis two and a half years ago.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/73504/live-your-life-thanks-and-encouragement-to-the-hiv.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 16 Dec 2013 09:41:00 GMT Have We Reached a Point Where AIDS Is Funny? http://www.thebody.com/content/73421/have-we-reached-a-point-where-aids-is-funny.html I rolled over and completed my morning stretch. The first thing that I reached for, as I always do, was my iPhone. I went through my morning ritual of checking emails, text messages and then making my rounds through social media. My notifications on Facebook indicated that a message was left in the early morning hours and it was as follows: "AIDS helped me lose 35lbs."

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/73421/have-we-reached-a-point-where-aids-is-funny.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 6 Dec 2013 06:31:00 GMT What if Ryan White Had Been Black? http://www.thebody.com/content/72964/what-if-ryan-white-had-been-black.html Unless you have been under a rock recently, you are aware that the fastest-growing group of new HIV infections in the United States is African Americans and Latinos age 13-24, according to the Center for Disease Control. So where is the public outrage? Might it be more if it were a group that mainstream society saw as more sympathetic that was being affected or infected?

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/72964/what-if-ryan-white-had-been-black.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 16 Oct 2013 17:16:00 GMT Am I Responsible for My Friend's HIV Infection, Addiction and Death? http://www.thebody.com/content/72250/am-i-responsible-for-my-friends-hiv-infection-addi.html Do we have an obligation to intervene when our friends are engaging in behaviors that are dangerous and potentially deadly? Some of my closest friends and peers are shooting, snorting and sleeping their way to potential HIV infection and eventually death. Am I responsible through inaction for their ultimate demise?

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/72250/am-i-responsible-for-my-friends-hiv-infection-addi.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 19 Jul 2013 02:49:00 GMT Two Years Since My HIV Diagnosis http://www.thebody.com/content/71729/two-years-since-my-hiv-diagnosis.html Today is two years since I was diagnosed with HIV. If you would've told me two years ago that I would be, at this very moment of my life, healthier than I'd ever been, probably more emotionally healthy than I've even been, I probably would've laughed in your face and called you a liar!

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/71729/two-years-since-my-hiv-diagnosis.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 6 Jun 2013 18:38:00 GMT My HIV Journey: Videos of My First Months on HIV Meds, and Where I Am Now http://www.thebody.com/content/71293/my-hiv-journey-videos-of-my-first-months-on-hiv-me.html I am simply a guy who on June 6, 2011, received the news that more than 33 million people have received: I am HIV positive. I decided in that moment to record the journey that I was embarking on so that I might help others as they receive that news. I'm not a doctor and I don't endorse any agenda other than simply living a healthy life.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/71293/my-hiv-journey-videos-of-my-first-months-on-hiv-me.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 1 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT The Changing Face of HIV/AIDS Activism http://www.thebody.com/content/70626/the-changing-face-of-hivaids-activism.html Ask anyone involved in HIV/AIDS activism about the current state of the movement and the answers might range anywhere from stagnated, stalled or quite possibly a bit more optimistic, citing the phrase "AIDS-free generation." The answer typically denotes the person's experience within the community and to some degree reflects their journey with HIV/AIDS. We have inched closer to longer life-expectancy while at the same time creating a diminished a sense of urgency and self-determination that as a community we once had, but now have lost.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70626/the-changing-face-of-hivaids-activism.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sun, 24 Feb 2013 10:10:00 GMT One HIV-Infected Queer's Response to the State of the Union Address http://www.thebody.com/content/70522/one-hiv-infected-queers-response-to-the-state-of-t.html Recently the news of a school massacre with twenty children killed galvanized media outlets around the world. In the days and weeks after, politicians from both sides of the aisle dug in for what would without doubt be a long fight regarding gun reform. As a person who is living with HIV I am left to question, where is this same passion and fervor regarding a CURE for HIV/AIDS?

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70522/one-hiv-infected-queers-response-to-the-state-of-t.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:13:00 GMT HIV Meds and False Positives on Drug Tests http://www.thebody.com/content/70545/hiv-meds-and-false-positives-on-drug-tests.html Recently I took a drug test and found that I tested positive for THC or marijuana. After doing some research I discovered that many HIV meds can cause false positives on drug screens. This video talks about this.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70545/hiv-meds-and-false-positives-on-drug-tests.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT On a Trip to Memphis: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and My Activism http://www.thebody.com/content/70434/on-a-trip-to-memphis-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-and-.html As an activist and advocate it is always good to take time and re-dedicate yourself to change. During my recent trip to Memphis, Tenn., USA, I visited the place in which Dr. King was assassinated and I talk about what this trip meant to me.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70434/on-a-trip-to-memphis-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-and-.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:31:00 GMT AIDS, Grief and Loss: Pain of Being Alive http://www.thebody.com/content/70433/aids-grief-and-loss-pain-of-being-alive.html This is a video aimed at addressing the loss that many long-term survivors face. There can be pain associated with the loss as well as with simply still being alive. Do you have these feelings?

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70433/aids-grief-and-loss-pain-of-being-alive.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:26:00 GMT A Worthless Foster Kid for Life? http://www.thebody.com/content/70432/a-worthless-foster-kid-for-life.html Worldwide I have gained notoriety for "My HIV Journey." However, HIV is only one aspect of who I am. Being a foster child and the associated trauma is something that I struggle with daily. I was taken into care at age 3 and spent over 15 years in the care of people other than my parents. I became a product of a system that would go away when I aged out at 18.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70432/a-worthless-foster-kid-for-life.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sat, 12 Jan 2013 14:13:00 GMT Day 571: Nausea ... Need I Say More? http://www.thebody.com/content/70436/day-571-nausea--need-i-say-more.html So many people think that you are only sick when you first become infected with HIV and that is simply not true. Part of living with HIV can be dealing with nausea related to HIV as well as from the medications we take to control the HIV.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70436/day-571-nausea--need-i-say-more.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:55:00 GMT Day 547: Remembering That I Am HIV Infected http://www.thebody.com/content/70435/day-547-remembering-that-i-am-hiv-infected.html Last night I had a dream and in it I was quite scared. Every now and then something will remind me that I am infected with a virus that without drug intervention and treatment would lead to extreme sickness and ultimately death. Even with treatment a person infected with HIV has a decreased lifespan. This is a scary reality and the reason that I share my story with others to help them cope as well as try to stay negative.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/70435/day-547-remembering-that-i-am-hiv-infected.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 4 Dec 2012 14:50:00 GMT I Have HIV and Current Laws Say I Am a Criminal http://www.thebody.com/content/69900/i-have-hiv-and-current-laws-say-i-am-a-criminal.html According to the current criminal statutes in Missouri I am considered a felon. It does not matter that I disclose my HIV status to another person, and it does not matter that I use protection. As stated in the law itself, these things are no defense. I am viewed as a criminal and as a threat to the common good of society, even though I am on medication and undetectable. ...

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69900/i-have-hiv-and-current-laws-say-i-am-a-criminal.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:20:00 GMT A Strategy for the Holiday Season http://www.thebody.com/content/69830/a-strategy-for-the-holiday-season.html For many of us, HIV can be stressful and make us feel as if no one loves us. In this video I talk about some things that you can do to safeguard against depression as the holidays approach. Your HIV status does not define who you are and there are people who love you and want to spend the holidays with you.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69830/a-strategy-for-the-holiday-season.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:00 GMT National Health Blog Month Day 1: Why I Write About My Health http://www.thebody.com/content/69738/national-health-blog-month-day-1-why-i-write-about.html HIV is only one very small piece of who I am. At the end of the day, HIV doesn't negatively impact my life. That's the greatest message, and that's why I blog about HIV.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69738/national-health-blog-month-day-1-why-i-write-about.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:00:00 GMT I Am Gay, a U.S. Army Veteran, HIV Positive ... and Voting for President Obama http://www.thebody.com/content/69627/i-am-gay-a-us-army-veteran-hiv-positive--and-votin.html With the U.S. Presidential election only days away, I will take this moment to encourage you to get out the vote. I am not simply voting as a gay man, or as a veteran or even as a person living with HIV ... I am voting as a person who is encouraged by the path of our country in four years and I believe if given four more years that we will be even stronger!

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69627/i-am-gay-a-us-army-veteran-hiv-positive--and-votin.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sun, 4 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT If You Are HIV Positive and Voting for Mitt Romney ... Would You Like to Share Why? http://www.thebody.com/content/69563/if-you-are-hiv-positive-and-voting-for-mitt-romney.html I do not know how anyone that is HIV positive could think about voting for Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney does not care about HIV or other pre-existing conditions and he does not care about you. With current laws, I am excluded from coverage of HIV as a pre-existing condition for one year. There are many others just like me and we must stand up and be heard.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69563/if-you-are-hiv-positive-and-voting-for-mitt-romney.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:32:00 GMT Day 497: Getting a Cold With HIV http://www.thebody.com/content/69479/day-497-getting-a-cold-with-hiv.html Many times when you are newly diagnosed there is a tendency to freak out and think that death is near when you get sick. This is not reality. As people who are living with HIV we must learn about our own immune system in order to understand that not everything that makes us sick is related to HIV or AIDS. Sometimes a cold or the flu is just that ... a cold or a flu.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69479/day-497-getting-a-cold-with-hiv.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:00:00 GMT Facing the Past of Addiction http://www.thebody.com/content/69315/facing-the-past-of-addiction.html In this video I talk about a moment in which I am reminded of the person that I was when I relapsed on crystal. I have been clean for 265 days and with each day it gets easier. Being in recovery means taking one day at a time. I know that may sound silly to some, but to an addict using one time is too many and a million times is never enough. Keep working the steps ... they work if you work them.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69315/facing-the-past-of-addiction.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 2 Oct 2012 15:00:00 GMT Vote or Die? http://www.thebody.com/content/69222/vote-or-die.html As much as activists get noticed there is something that every person can do that has the potential of changing society: voting! I encourage all of my viewers to register to vote and on November 6, 2012, to let your voice be heard. Stand up and be counted!

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69222/vote-or-die.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:01:00 GMT Caught on Tape: HIV Discrimination and Ignorance by a Police Officer in Michigan http://www.thebody.com/content/69160/caught-on-tape-hiv-discrimination-and-ignorance-by.html Are you kidding me? Another example of the stigma that faces those who are living with HIV. This time it was caught on tape.

The video shows Dearborn Police Officer David Lacey telling Shalandra Jones that she should disclose her HIV-positive status whenever a police officer asks her to step out of a vehicle. He said he was "pissed" that Lacey hadn't disclosed her status before he searched the vehicle ...

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69160/caught-on-tape-hiv-discrimination-and-ignorance-by.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:00:00 GMT A Day With HIV Awareness/Anti-Stigma Campaign http://www.thebody.com/content/69146/a-day-with-hiv-awarenessanti-stigma-campaign.html Whether you are positive or negative, we are all affected by HIV. Take your best shot by taking part in A Day With HIV, the awareness and anti-stigma campaign presented by Positively Aware magazine. On Sept. 21, use your smartphone or digital camera and take a snapshot of an everyday moment in your life. Send your photo and a caption to photo@adaywithhiv.com. Photos and captions will be posted on www.adaywithhiv.com and select photos will be published in the November/December 2012 issue of Positively Aware.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/69146/a-day-with-hiv-awarenessanti-stigma-campaign.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:00:00 GMT Eviction of a California LGBT/HIV Organization http://www.thebody.com/content/68993/eviction-of-a-california-lgbthiv-organization.html Have you heard that recently a California LGBT/HIV organization was evicted out the office that they were leasing and told that they were "spreading disease"? This is appalling. What can we do to help? We can rally behind them and use this as a chance to shine a light on the stigma that those living with HIV/AIDS face as well as LGBT community members.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68993/eviction-of-a-california-lgbthiv-organization.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 5 Sep 2012 11:49:00 GMT Day 450: HIV Anti-Criminalization http://www.thebody.com/content/68994/day-450-hiv-anti-criminalization.html In this video I talk about my recent trip to Washington, D.C., as well as my current work toward HIV anti-criminalization efforts, not only in Missouri, but nationally. Also I am working on my workshop that will be presented at MIT on Oct. 20, 2012, for the LGBT Youth Empowerment Conference. If you will be in the Cambridge, Mass., area, please consider checking the conference out.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68994/day-450-hiv-anti-criminalization.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:00:00 GMT My Name Is Aaron Laxton and I'm HIV Positive http://www.thebody.com/content/68900/my-name-is-aaron-laxton-and-im-hiv-positive.html My name is Aaron Laxton and I am HIV positive. You have either stumbled upon this video or someone has sent it to you; either way, listen and learn. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is not spread through casual contact! Living with HIV is stigmatized and so you must make a choice of whether you will love someone who is positive, or will you be an ignorant bigot?

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68900/my-name-is-aaron-laxton-and-im-hiv-positive.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:08:00 GMT Interview With Robert Suttle of The Sero Project http://www.thebody.com/content/68995/interview-with-robert-suttle-of-the-sero-project.html Interview with Robert Suttle from The Sero Project at the ADAP Association Conference in Washington, D.C.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68995/interview-with-robert-suttle-of-the-sero-project.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:00:00 GMT My HIV Journey: 13 Months of Videos Following My Diagnosis http://www.thebody.com/content/68681/my-hiv-journey-13-months-of-videos-following-my-di.html I am simply a guy who on June 6, 2011, received the news that over 33 million people have received: I am HIV positive. I decided in that moment to record the journey that I was embarking on so that I might help others as they receive that news. I'm not a doctor and I don't endorse any agenda other than simply living a healthy life.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68681/my-hiv-journey-13-months-of-videos-following-my-di.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sat, 18 Aug 2012 17:48:00 GMT International AIDS Conference 2012 Photo Recap http://www.thebody.com/content/68996/international-aids-conference-2012-photo-recap.html Some photos from the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68996/international-aids-conference-2012-photo-recap.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sat, 11 Aug 2012 08:00:00 GMT My Tips for HIV Drug Adherence http://www.thebody.com/content/68636/my-tips-for-hiv-drug-adherence.html "Compliance and adherence is a must. That's what's going to get you to an undetectable viral load and a healthy CD4 level. ... The things the doctors tell you aren't merely suggestions; they're proven."

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68636/my-tips-for-hiv-drug-adherence.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:45:00 GMT Day 426: Making Videos Is Simpler Than You May Think http://www.thebody.com/content/68899/day-426-making-videos-is-simpler-than-you-may-thin.html Aaron talks about why and how he keeps making his videos.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68899/day-426-making-videos-is-simpler-than-you-may-thin.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sun, 5 Aug 2012 15:45:00 GMT Day 425: Reality of Stigma http://www.thebody.com/content/68898/day-425-reality-of-stigma.html As I prepare to move I think about the fact that stigma is everywhere around me. I recently viewed an apartment and something that went through my mind is "What will happen if people find out I am HIV positive". Have you had to deal with stigma because of HIV/AIDS? If so, what was the situation and how did you deal with it?

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68898/day-425-reality-of-stigma.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sat, 4 Aug 2012 15:45:00 GMT Fake It Till You Make It! http://www.thebody.com/content/68896/fake-it-till-you-make-it.html Not much to say, just a video about frustrations. Remember that you never know what others are going through and even though they appear happy, it doesn't mean they are.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68896/fake-it-till-you-make-it.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:45:00 GMT Aaron Dancing Around Crazy to "Proud" http://www.thebody.com/content/68849/aaron-dancing-around-crazy-to-proud.html So I was getting ready to go out tonight and decided to have an impromptu show ... my dogs think that I am crazy ...

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68849/aaron-dancing-around-crazy-to-proud.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 9 Jul 2012 15:45:00 GMT Facing Homelessness http://www.thebody.com/content/68895/facing-homelessness.html As most of you know I have not posted a video in a few weeks. Since I share all aspects of my Journey with HIV it is only natural that I share this part although it is hard to do so. For those of you living with HIV and dealing with homelessness please let me know. I would love to hear from you.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68895/facing-homelessness.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:45:00 GMT Me and My HIV Horse-Sized Pill Before Bed http://www.thebody.com/content/67439/me-and-my-hiv-horse-sized-pill-before-bed.html "This is my nightly ritual and it will be the nightly ritual for me for the remainder of my life. ... It's not as simple as just taking one pill; it's taking one very expensive pill."

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/67439/me-and-my-hiv-horse-sized-pill-before-bed.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 8 Jun 2012 15:45:00 GMT My Letter to HIV: A Video From Aaron Laxton http://www.thebody.com/content/66953/a-video-from-aaron-laxton.html My Journey: My Letter to HIV

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/66953/a-video-from-aaron-laxton.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Wed, 2 May 2012 15:45:00 GMT Dealing with Addiction http://www.thebody.com/content/68894/dealing-with-addiction.html Addiction and substance abuse is something that can not only get out of hand but can and does ruin people's lives every day. In this video I talk about my own addiction to Crystal Meth and offer some guidance to those that might be battling addiction.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68894/dealing-with-addiction.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:45:00 GMT HIV Day 318; Piercings and Tattoos For HIV-Poz Peeps http://www.thebody.com/content/68892/hiv-day-318-piercings-and-tattoos-for-hiv-poz-peep.html A brief video covering the topic of safety regarding tattoos and piercings for HIV-positive individuals. This video stems from a viewer that had questions regarding being poz and wanting to get body art. I hope this video answers some questions for you.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68892/hiv-day-318-piercings-and-tattoos-for-hiv-poz-peep.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:45:00 GMT What the Leather Community Means to Me http://www.thebody.com/content/68891/what-the-leather-community-means-to-me.html I wanted to take a moment and talk about what Leather means to me. It is more than what a person is or is not into and rather is more about simply being who you are. I am thankful to be a part of this great community and count myself very lucky.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68891/what-the-leather-community-means-to-me.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Mon, 5 Mar 2012 15:45:00 GMT Shit Gay Guys Say at Risk of HIV http://www.thebody.com/content/68889/shit-gay-guys-say-at-risk-of-hiv.html So I figured I would join the madness of things people say. All of the following things might be heard from a gay guy that is horny ...

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68889/shit-gay-guys-say-at-risk-of-hiv.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:45:00 GMT Is AIDS Funny? http://www.thebody.com/content/68888/is-aids-funny.html Is something that has killed more people that all the world wars together funny? Is something that has picked through an entire generation funny? If not then why do we simply dismiss the topic with jokes regarding AIDS?

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68888/is-aids-funny.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Fri, 2 Dec 2011 15:45:00 GMT My HIV Journey Channel Bloopers http://www.thebody.com/content/68887/my-hiv-journey-channel-bloopers.html Decided to have a little fun and show you that even though my videos look as if I never make mistakes, I do. Here is a few clips and for the record I curse when I mess up on a video.

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]]> http://www.thebody.com/content/68887/my-hiv-journey-channel-bloopers.html aaronlaxton@gmail.com (Aaron Laxton) Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:45:00 GMT