Forum • In
association with World Aids Day, “Exposing
the Experience” panel speakers
Michael Murrley, Bob Donlon and Jose
Salazar talk about contracting HIV.
Tracey Roman / Online Forty-Niner
Awareness most important factor
to decrease AIDS
By
Dylana Foy
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Jose Salazar, a speaker on the “Exposing the Experiences” panel
on campus Wednesday, said if his parents had talked to him about sex he might
not have contracted HIV.
Salazar was one of three gay speakers at the event who discussed their experiences
with HIV/AIDS. The event was designed to help increase awareness of the virus
and of World AIDS Day.
Started in 1988, World AIDS Day is Dec.1. The day is not just about raising
money, but also about increasing education and fighting prejudice. UNAIDS estimates
38 million adults and 2.3 million children are living with HIV, and during
2005 4.9 million people became infected with the virus. Around half of the
people infected with HIV before age 25 are killed by AIDS complications before
they reach age 35.
Salazar, as well as Bob Donlan and Michael Murrley, the other two speakers,
told where they came from, how they came to be infected with HIV or AIDS and
what they are doing with their lives now.
Salazar comes from a Chicano background and grew up in a Catholic family. He
said his parents never talked about, or even mentioned, sex. He had a difficult
time growing up because his parents were so old fashioned. Around the age of
21 he had his first sexual experience with another guy. He said he was confused
about his sexuality. He thought he was the only one and started doing drugs
and drinking heavily.
In 1995, Salazar learned he was infected with HIV. It was a difficult time
for him because his family did not talk about these kinds of things. He said
he felt alone. He turned to drugs, alcohol, and became involved in an abusive
relationship. He was depressed for a long time. He finally decided he needed
to do something.
Salazar is now a spokesperson for www.HIVstopswithme.org. He speaks to the
Latino community about HIV/AIDS awareness.
“
[It is] important to educate the people you love,” he said.
“
If you have someone you love, don’t tell them to not have sex, like parents
do, but tell them to be safe.”
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