Living Out Loud with Darian

HIV/AIDS activists Marvelyn Brown and Jonathan Perry are featured in the new issue of HIV Plus magazine in one of the most revealing and honest pieces I've read in a long time on living with HIV, the stigma that is still attached to the disease and the continuous challenge to send effective prevention messages to the black community.

These two individuals are living proof that HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence and that life goes on, and if you're Marvelyn it goes on with fabulous handbags!

Both Jonathan and Marvelyn have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and are frequently called upon to speak all over the country to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. While they may deliver their messages differently and disagree on issues from time to time their is one thing they definitely agree on, HIV does not discriminate.

"Everybody feels like they're Superman. One of my friends was telling me that when she got HIV, she said, "Lord, why me?" All I could think is Why not you! Don't sit back and ask God to save you when you're not willing or even interested in helping yourself", says Jonathan.

"I would agree with that", says Marvelyn. I wasn't always good in English, but I use math in my everyday life. It's a process of elimination. I put it on intravenous drug users, prostitutes, gay men. Therefore, HIV didn't affect me. The most shocking part for me finding out that I was HIV positive was finding out the H stood for human."

Great point Marvelyn. The entire article can be read in the latest issue of HIV Plus magazine but of course I have it for you here and it's a great read. Thanks Marvelyn and Jonathan for exemplifying the courage needed to tell their story in order to help others.