HIV+ jumpers answer this!!!!

[freethefly 6]

I, having being HIV+ for 9 years and jumping for 7 years, I have yet to hear any talk of getting an all POZ formation in the sky! Cancer patients do it. Amputees do it. Even the blind have done it. Why cannot we do it? Is it the stigma of AIDS. Do you fear you will be rejected by your peers? I have seen alot of people in this sport jump from partner to partner like they were trying different planes at the convention. Not alot or nothing at all is spoken of AIDS in the sport. Only through awarness can the spread be stopped. I am not saying that people who know of their status are intentionly spreading the virus (let's hope not)in this sport. But the fact remains that those unaware can and do spread this virus in any/all segment of society. Us poz jumpers can do something to bring another light on the issue and help push it out front and also show another side of skydiving as the other groups have done. Anyone interested in discussing this please post.

***"to do the same thing over and over and to expect that the results will change, is Insanity", Albert Einstein

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Dougiefresh 0]

That sounds like a really great idea. Do some fundraiser thing, and donate the proceeds to research or groups fighting AIDS in Africa. Get the local paper to cover the jump. Carry a banner blasting bush for pulling funding for aids programs. Make some NOISE!

In the current political climate, I think this would go a long way to seeing that not all HIV poz people are bedridden with full blown cases of AIDS.

Rock on.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[jlmiracle 7]

You CAN do it! I can't imagine anyone would stop you. Your problem will be getting people to admit to their condition and join you.

Its really sad that our society is really quite ignorant in regards to HIV.


Good luck!

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[aliveboy2004 0]

Your problem will be getting people to admit to their condition and join you.


I agree. It is tough enough to admit to being gay around other skydivers, but to then say that you are HIV+ . HA! And even if you aren't gay, when you say that you are poz, you are immediately branded as being gay.

I certainly plan on making some jumps with some poz folks that I have talked with on dz.com, but I certainly don't plan on advertising the fact that we are making an "HIV+ formation jump"

[freethefly 6]

I am not gay and don't worry what people think. I was a hardcore biker (patch holder, 1percenter) major drug user and used women for only two things, wash the bike and give me sex. I was very ignorant before I found out I was poz. Made all sorts of jokes about people with AIDS. Thought it was funny as hell that gay people were dropping like flies. Ironic that I shed my prejudice only after contracting the very thing I praised. Poetic justice. Yeah, chance of an all poz formation is extremely low. I personally don't give a shit if people know my status. If they don't like it, don't jump with me. I believe HIV made me a better person. If they knew me before HIV, believe they WOULD have been scared of me.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Tonto 1]

Quote

And even if you aren't gay, when you say that you are poz, you are immediately branded as being gay.

I thought that reputation disapeared in the late 1980's! It's certainly not the case here in South Africa, where transmission is nearly 100% hetrosexual.

Freethefly - maybe you should start with "Support group for HIV+ Skydivers." I know there are many people here, + or not, who would support that cause.

You can count me as one of them.

From there, people may feel they're in a safer environment to disclose their status. You're 100% right that AIDS will only be stopped by awareness, followed by a coresponding lifestyle change.

t

It's the year of the Pig.