Hello, my brothers, sisters, and allies please share this info:

LGBTQIA+ Older Adults in California

-SURVEY OF HUGE IMPORTANCE-

Please share it with your agencies and friends.

“We are at a critical moment that will impact the health and well-being of our community for generations to come. The California Department of Aging, in partnership with a coalition of LGBTQ+ community organizations and researchers, has launched the first statewide survey on LGBTQ+ midlife and older adults. This survey will help us understand the unique needs and challenges of our communities as we age.” Marcy Adelman

https://ucsf.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cBDSgcZPTREuqvY

I talked to myself many times, and yes, I answered to myself. I wonder how many of you have conversations with yourself. No doubt I feel lonely and isolated many times, and I wonder if will find MY PERSON one day.

It has to do a lot with feeling that constant question of ” WOULD HE ACCEPT ME WITH EVERYTHING THAT I AM? WOULD HE BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH MY PAIN? WITH MY ANXIETY? WITH MY RAMBLING?

I LAUGH A LOT! And I like that about myself because I have fun with myself, I AM PROUD OF MYSELF, because I have managed to find wonderful coping skills to survive, and so, YES, I tell myself, I LOVE YOU!

NO DOUBT, I’m imperfect, full of asterisks, commas, exclamation points, and yes, question marks, but….with my rambling I SEE MY SHINING, MY CONNECTION TO ALL THAT IT IS, MY HELPING MANY PEOPLE AROUND ME.

I don’t have to ask if I have made a difference in this world, I KNOW IT. Is this pretentious? Is this crazy? Is this WEIRD?

AM I WEIRD?

I know you are there, I have my open arms willing to hug you, and my eyes sparkle connecting with my SPECIAL YOU, and with all of you. Simply, I AM ALIVE!

AM I WEIRD?

Maybe I am a WEIRD SURVIVOR, #survivingstill

AM I WEIRD? FEEL ME! because I am willing, to be the supporting EQUAL SIGN, that knows it will never be EQUAL because we’ll be changing every day, but SO willing to LEARN each day.

AM I WEIRD?

Because somehow, I AM HERE, even in my dreams. My subconscious lives with the second-by-second fight or fly, while my consciousness knows: THE RIVER OF LIFE is rocks, fish, water, atoms, energy, and dirt…..WE, THEY, US, YOU, and Me.

BESOS from …AM I WEIRD?

#survivors #Anxiety #ptsd #againstageism #stopthehate #hope #MentalHealth #saludmental #pandemia #Cancer #sepsis #balance #love

VIVA LA VIDA!!!!
SOY UN SUPERVIVIENTE DEL VIH, POR 38 ANOS.
La historia comenzo en el ano de 1985, y aqui estoy todavia. Mandandoles a todos mucho carino y agradecimiento.
Apoyennos este Diciembre 01, y siempre.
Gracias al universo por todavia tenerme aqui, aunque muchas veces no es facil. Sigamos ayudandonos, y diganme si puedo colaborar en algo este Diciembre 01.
Las desigualdades que perpetúan la pandemia de sida no son inevitables; por supuesto que podemos abordarlas. En este Día Mundial del Sida, hoy 1 de diciembre, ONUSIDA insta a todos y cada uno de nosotros a abordar las desigualdades que están frenando el progreso para poner fin al sida.
El lema “Igualdad ya” es una llamada a la acción, cuyo objetivo último es promover que todos nos pongamos a trabajar en todas aquellas medidas prácticas que se ha demostrado que son necesarias para tratar las disparidades y ayudarán a acabar con el sida.

supervivientes HEALTHeVOICES – A groundbreaking leadership conference​ , International place for people with HIV/AIDS, and the people who love us​ , HIV LONG TERM Survivors international network​ , Mexico N SF​, Vih Sida​ , GRUPO INTERNACIONAL PARA PERSONAS CON VIH/SIDA,Y LAS PERSONAS AFECTADAS​

To make people living with chronic pain feel like they are criminals is more pain on top of our pain.

WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS!

We know that there are people who abuse pain medication, but the majority of us are in horrible pain, and we take our medications as prescribed. I haven’t asked for more pills, or increased milligrams for about 10 years. But, every month I feel the policing from doctors, pharmacies, insurance and society.

STOP! Most people have no idea what are we feeling, but it is TRAUMATIC to be treated this way. The news about people dying of opioids, especially of Fentanyl, are not the people who are in chronic pain, most of them are people who are victims of addiction to other drugs, laced with Fentanyl and other drugs. SOCIETY, wake up! and help us by giving us options, and treating us better, but THE PRESENT WAY, IS NOT THE WAY!!!!

#chronicpain #chronicillness #pandemics #survivors #hope HIV LONG TERM Survivors international network , HEALTHeVOICES – A groundbreaking leadership conference , We Are The Mighty

GIVE YOURSELF

A CHANCE

Date una oportunidad,

no te jusgues tan duramente.

#WeKeepGoing

#healthevoices23

#advocates

#chronicpain

Hello family!!! Hola familia!!

Muchos de ustedes saben que vivo con dolor cronico, pero no saben mucho de lo que mi jornada de salud ha impactado mi salud mental.
Many of you know I live with chronic pain, but you might not know much about how my physical health had impacted my mental health. I’m open about my living and surviving with ANXIETY and PTSD, and how one of the ways they show up in my reality is through trichotillomania, also known as trich, which is when someone cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair. They may pull out the hair on their head or in other places, such as their eyebrows or eyelashes. ( I’m thankful for my vanity, LOL, otherwise, hum ).

Estoy abriendo el libro de mi vida para hablar de mi supervivencia con ansiedad y estress post traumatico, y de como una de las maneras en que estos diablillos bailan en mi existencia es en forma de algo que se llama Tricotilomania, La tricotilomanía es la pérdida de cabello por las ganas de jalarlo y retorcerlo hasta que se desprende. Los pacientes son incapaces de detener este comportamiento, incluso aunque su cabello se vuelva más delgado. ( Estoy agradecido por mi vanidad, por que si no? ay ay ay!.

Gracias a todos/todas/es por su apoyo.
Thanks to everyone for your constant support.
Here I am if you want to chat.
Aqui me tienen por si quieren platicar.

#mentalhealth #anxiety #ansiedad #Tricotilomania #esperanza #hope

Wishing Happy Holidays to all of you. By the way, if anyone is interested in the T-shirts, designed by the amazing Gio Hdez, based on my own concept, let me know. We want to share them with as many people as we can, and most of the time I had given them as presents ( and I’m very happy about that ), but the reality is that I don’t have a lot of money. So, at least to get the money back, I’ll be asking for $18 dollars, plus S&H. You can send the check directly to my address Jesus Guillen, 300 Buchanan St. #209, SF, CA 94102. They are beautiful, I just love the concept for all survivors, and you know who you are. LOVE YOU ALL, always thankful for your support.

L( HIV )IVING LOUD

Today is June 5th, HIV LONG TERM SURVIVORS awareness day, and I want to share this small documentary/video that my amazing young Italian journalism student from San Jose State University, Alessio Cavalca, did with a lot of love.

Special THANKS to Bill Hirsh, and ALRP, for all they do for our community, so they are part of this video.

Alessio and I connected a few months ago, and he shared with me the fact that one of his cousins died of AIDS in the 80s, and his family was very close to him when that happened. He wanted to bring a little bit of hope to the newly diagnosed and also to the HIV LONG TERM SURVIVORS.

This is also for my part, a focus on how much we need more intergenerational communication.

I’m incredibly thankful to Alessio, as I am to Bill and ALRP, but I want to also send love to all the HIV-LONG TERM SURVIVORS today, who many feel invisible and not acknowledged.

We are part of the first generations growing older with HIV, and all we want is to grow older with dignity.

I am myself a 37 years HIV LONG TERM SURVIVOR, living with chronic pain, but somehow, I think I am lucky to be LIVING LOUD.

#hivlongtermsurvivors #aging #survivors #l(hiv)vingloud #together #mentalhealth #HIV #AIDS #intergenerational #ALRP #HOPE

Hello family! Please share this information with clients and friends

HIV LONG TERM SURVIVORS AWARENESS DAY

I AM SUPER ExCITEd ABOUT THIS INTeRNaTIONAL EVENT!!!!

I really hope you can join us, and let’s make this event the largest gathering of HIV LONG TERM SURVIVORS EVER!!!! .

Huge thanks to VIC PERRI and AUSTRALIA.

Zooming Across The Pacific!

(AEST) 10am-12noon, Sunday 5th June

(PT) 5pm-7pm, Saturday 4th June

#hivlongtermsurvivors#HIV#together#survivors

FREE event, but please register at the link here below.

For all people with HIV of all ages who identify as Long-Term Survivors. What is the most recognized definition of a long-term survivor? It is considered to be those who were diagnosed prior to the watershed year of 1996. This is when those who were newly diagnosed had the opportunity to commence HIV antiretroviral combination therapy and feel a sense of hope.

Join the Taking Charge Peer Support Network of Living Positive Victoria and Thorne Harbour Health as we have a discussion with the HIV Long Term Survivors International Networking group. Based in San Francisco, this group is a grassroots movement that began in 2015 and has almost 5,000 members. We’ll share stories and personal insights as we mark HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day. We’ll have the opportunity to explore both the commonalities and the differences between the Australian and American epidemics.

Register Now! Zooming across the Pacific

What is HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day?

The selection of June 5 for this annual observance coincides with the anniversary of the first official reporting of what became known as the AIDS epidemic on June 5, 1981. When the CDC first reported on five cases of a mysterious disease affecting young gay men. June 5, 1981, is considered the start of the AIDS pandemic.

Don’t forget to check out our ‘Well beyond 50’ website. It has some great feature stories as well as plenty of useful information. WELL BEYOND 50

Taking Charge is a partnership between Living Positive Victoria and Thorne Harbour Health.

For more information contact Vic or Gerry or message Jesus, admin of the HIV Long Term Survivors international network