PWN in the Media

World AIDS Day 2011 & Count Us In! campaign launch

On December 1st, 2011, U.S. Positive Women’s Network launched Count Us In!, a national campaign focused on upholding the rights of women living with HIV to achieve high-quality health care. PWNers across the country launched the campaign in their communities from Detroit, MI to Fort Collins, CO. In Oakland, CA the campaign launched with a press conference featuring Mayor Jean Quan, the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and the Office of Assembly Member Sandre Swanson.

KPFA 94.1:

Letters and Politics – December 1, 2011 at 10:00am

Click to listen (or download)

Hard Knock Radio with Anita Johnson

“HIV+ Women in Oakland Demand, ‘Count Us In,’”  New American Media featuring PWNer Sonia Rastogi

“Spiral of invisibility hides the continuing peril of AIDS in Silicon Valley,” San Jose Mercury News featuring PWNer Naina Khanna and WORLD Executive Director Cynthia Carey-Grant

“Oakland Women’s Group to Kick Off New Campaign on World AIDS Day,” Oakland North featuring PWNer Sonia Rastogi

“AIDS Day a time to remember, time to talk,” Galesburg News featuring PWNers Kat Griffith

“Michigan Health depts targeting HIV-positive women unfairly, experts say,” the Wasington Informer featuring PWNer Nicole Seguin

Giving Advocates a Voice: An Update with PWN in BETA Magazine

Philadelphia ACTUP chapter going strong

“Waheedah Shabazz-El is a 58-year-old heterosexual African American Muslim woman from Overbrook who discovered she was HIV positive while in prison in 2003.

She also is a member of the official U.S. delegation to the United Nations’ high-level meeting that this week will test the extent of the world’s commitment to ending AIDS.

In who she is and how far she has come, Shabazz-El represents the trajectory of an epidemic that has infected more than one million Americans and 60 million people worldwide – and triggered powerful advocacy forces that have changed medicine and culture – since a weekly federal report first described a mysterious disease in five gay men 30 years ago on Sunday.”

Read the full article here.

30 years of HIV: AIDS in the ’90s: ‘I wasn’t going to die miserably’

Linda Scruggs, Program Director at AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth, and Familes and PWN Founding Member

June 1, 2011 – PWN Founding Member Linda Scruggs talks with CNN about her experiences living with HIV as part of CNN’s 30 years of AIDS Coverage series. June 5, 2011 marks 30 years since the first case of HIV recorded. Linda is a powerful and courageous leader who discusses her journey living with HIV and her inspiration to serve women, youth and families.

Read CNN’s article and watch Linda’s video here!

KQED News: More Asian American Women Contracting HIV

May 17, 2011 – In honor of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on May 19th, 2011, The Banyan Tree Project, an HIV anti-stigma campaign, and Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center hosted a press conference on A&PI women and HIV. PWNer Sonia Rastogi spoke on the press conference panel about the barriers to testing, treatment and care for A&PI women.

Listen to KQED’s coverage here!

The Princess Warrior: One Woman’s Battle for Survival and How It Has Made Her Stronger

May 5, 2011 – Positively Aware, the HIV Treatment Journal of the Test Positive Aware Network, features Barb Marcotte, PWN Steering Committee Member, who discusses her battle with HIV and the fight that needs to happen!

Excerpt:
“I am 43 years old now. It is time to change these thoughts and behaviors. Truth is, I know I am a sexy, strong woman—a true DIVA living with HIV. I know deep down, that fight is still there. It has been buried under a lot of shit for years, but I am there. The real me.” – Barb Marcotte

Click here to read the full article.

Poz Profiles: 31 at 30 with LaTrischa Miles

“I used to count my years because of my fears, now I want to make my years count.” – LaTrischa Miles

June issue – To commemorate 30 years of HIV, June’s feature issue of POZ Magazine is “31 Long-Term Survivors for 30 years of AIDS.” PWN Advisory Group Member LaTrischa Miles from Kansas City Free Clinic discusses about her experiences and provides a beacon of hope for all. Read the full article here.

Click here to read the full article.

“This Positive Life” video series from theBody.com: An Interview with Dee Borrego

April 2011 – Each month theBody.com posts videos from This Positive Life, a monthly videos series that interviews with people living with HIV to talk about their experiences giving you the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of what it means to live — and live well — with HIV. Check out April’s interview with Dee Borrego, one of PWN’s Founding Members. PWN thanks theBody.com for it’s phenomenal work!

Click here for the interview and video!

2011 Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:
“A survivor’s story: Life beyond an HIV diagnosis”

March 10, 2011: Acintia Wright featured on CBS 8 evening news, San Diego, CA

2011 Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:
PWN-Philadelphia chosen to represent HIV+ women; Philadelphia Mayor’s recognition

In recognition of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s 12 Cities initiative, Community Education Group, founded by A. Toni Young, launched “It’s Time for Action” for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a nation-wide campaign taking place in 12 U.S. cities to reflect the urgent response required to combat the epidemic among women and girls. The PWN-Philadelphia chapter was chosen as the sponsoring organization in Philadelphia to represent women and girls on this day. In addition, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter officially recognized WGHAAD on behalf of PWN-Philly’s efforts.

Read about PWN-Philly | Read more about the “It’s Time for Action” and the 12 Cities Initiative here

“The truth is, we do know which women are most likely to acquire HIV. All women may be at risk, but low-income women — especially black and Latina women in major urban areas with high HIV rates — have a much greater risk of HIV infection.”
- Naina Khanna

Women and HIV: A Nuanced Epidemic by Naina Khanna, Achieve: a joint publication of ACRIA and GMHC, Summer 2010