"I GOT AIDS"

Not-so-subtle
rapper Lil’ B named his 2011 album I’m
Gay (subtitled I’m Happy) in part to raise
awareness about homophobia (even though he’s straight).

Now
he’s named a recent single “I Got AIDS,”  but what it lacks in subtlety
and lyrical depth, it makes up for in chill beats and an upfront message about
using condoms and getting tested.

HIV/AIDS, THE POPE SAID...

"Above all, it is an ethical problem. The change of behavior
that it requires – for example, sexual abstinence, rejection of sexual
promiscuity, fidelity within marriage – ultimately involves the question of
integral development, which demands a global approach and a global response
from the Church. For if it is to be effective, the prevention of AIDS must be
based on a sex education that is itself grounded in an anthropology anchored in
the natural law and enlightened by the word of God and the Church’s
teaching." - Emperor Palpatine, at the closing Mass of his visit to Africa.

THE DAHL HAUS PRESENTS: GET YOUR RED ON!

TOO HOT

Whenever he performed this
song live after its 1995 release, Coolio made it a point to rattle off statistics about AIDS and
HIV, quickly quieting once enthused crowds. Then he'd end his informative talk
with this advice: "Ladies, if he don't got no condom, he don't get
none." The song sampled Kool and the Gang, using their 1980 hit 'Too Hot'
as a metaphor for HIV infection.

OLDIE, BUT GOODIE: ¡FUCK A CONDOM...HAVE SOME HIV MEDS INSTEAD!

THIS BLOG WAS/ISDEDICATED TO THE FRIEND THAT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THIS DISEASE. THE ONES THAT ITRIED SO HARD TO HELP BUT HAD TO LET THEM BE, THE ONES THAT WANTED TO DIE BYNOT TAKING THEIR MEDICATION, THE ONES THAT INSISTED ON BEDDING EVERY BIG D!CKGAY MAN THEY COULD FIND, THE ONE WHO STILL MOURNS THE LOVER THAT DIED, WHO CHEATEDON HIM, GAVE HIM THIS DISEASE. I KNOW MANY WOULD SAY THIS IS A HARSH ENTRY, BUTI HAD TO GET SOMETHINGS OFF MY CHEST…HOPE YOU ENTRY THIS RE-ENTRY.

Each
era has its phenoms, the thing that changes our assumptions of what can happen
to mankind; and this is the age of HIV/AIDS. This
disease though not as deadly STILL poses
a significant threat to us, yet SO many
of us are NOT taking
precautions. There seems to be a POPULAR misconception
that we might be able to avoid this disease by claiming ignorance and that is
just plain STUPID! Maybe
on some other level of consciousness we can, but here on earth we NEED to take action against this
disease.

Clearly, SEX is more exciting without a
condom…they’re not very convenient, they’re not sexy, they don’t feel
natural…However they are THE only
thing between you and HIV/AIDS; and
if not for the dark dealings I've witnessed in the GAY community, I’d say we could actually take that risk…but
I’d be DEAD wrong.

This
game of SEXUAL musical
chairs we play where the one left standing is one that has to find a seat
elsewhere is reckless AND foolish.
It seems that idea of NOT dealing
with disease makes more sense since most of us just hang back, dreaming AND waiting…just watching as we lose
the community to this killer. I suppose taking some HIV medication is a better thing to do because somehow,
someway it’ll make EVERYTHING
PERFECT…AGAIN…So while we wait, the INVITED fear that told us that we were NOT worthy holds us HOSTAGE, keeping us from living…Now all
we have is doubt AND unhappiness…

SO WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET HORIZONTAL
& HE TELLS YOU I CAN’T USE A CONDOM BECAUSE IT KILLS THE MOOD OR HIS
ERECTION, PLEASE ASK HIM FOR SOME HIV MEDS INSTEAD. EVEN IF HE
DECLARES THAT HE IS FINE & DOESN’T HAVE ANY DISEASES YOU STILL SHOULD ASK
FOR THOSE PILLS IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOU BELIEVE HIM. I’VE HEARD EVERY EXCUSE
UNDER THE SUN AS TO WHY A MAN REFUSES TO WEAR PROTECTION.
HOWEVER, LIVING IN THESE TIMES DOING THINGS LIKE THAT IS A ONE WAY
TICKET INTO THE DANGER ZONE…PLAYING WHAT IF IS A DUMB THING TO RISK…ALL ONE HAS TO
DO IS VISIT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL & SEE WHAT TAKING HIV MEDS DOES
TO A PERSON & I AM QUITE SURE THEY’LL THINK TWICE BEFORE WALKING DOWN THAT ROAD THEMSELVES…AS
ALWAYS THE CHOICE IS YOURS…

NOBODY CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING...

¿IS IT TIME TO RETIRE THE RED AIDS RIBBON?

What does the
red AIDS ribbon
symbolize to you? Hope?
Awareness? Vigilance? History? In a sea of ribbons for all sorts of
diseases and conditions, does it still
retain its impact?

After the red ribbon was worn at the 1991 Tony
Awards it took off as an international symbol for AIDS awareness. It was a
different time them. It seemed like a bold act of resistance to proudly display
a symbol of AIDS for all the world to see. There is no question that the symbol
helped create awareness and fight stigma and was much needed at the height of
the crisis.

But does the
red ribbon still resonate today? It’s become so overused that people tend to slap
it on any sort of thing associated with HIV
as their default symbol. Now that its 20 years since the ribbon came on to the
scene and so much has changed in regards to HIV, should our symbol change
too?

Many young people today see the red ribbon as a
marker of a distant generation while others feel over saturated with ribbon
after ribbon for every cause under the sun. Maybe it’s time for creative artist
types to think big and bold and come up with something new to symbolize the
modern HIV experience.

Does the red
ribbon still have meaning for you or do you think it should have an expiration
date?