Paul Kawata, Executive Director - NMAC. Photo - MetroWeekly.com
A fellow colleague in the struggle, Paul Kawata - Executive Director of the National Minority AIDS Council, shared a personal experience at a HIV/AIDS summit that demonstrated the impact of stigma on HIV/AIDS.
Please read his story — Why the Prop 8 Decision Should Be Important to the HIV/AIDS Community.
We often look at issues from a singular perspective. Most of the time, issues are multi-layered and multi-faceted. You can’t look at HIV/AIDS without considering several other factors that make the issue complex. Kawata’s story shares the challenges of this work. Just image, attending a HIV/AIDS summit as a gay man, experiencing a verbal attack from a participant, receiving negative messages about your sexual orientation, and recommendations that HIV funds be redirected to reparative therapy for gay men. Kawata’s message of equality between same-sex relationships and heterosexual relationships is critical in valuing the different realities of all Americans.
As I said in another posting, the Prop 8 issue allowed the majority to legalize discrimination of a minority group. The federal judge made a very important decision when he overturned the Prop 8. The decision affects all groups but it is important to remember that sexual orientation does not equal heterosexuals only. Our laws, based on heterosexual perspectives, rewards that predominant group. It is time that we broaden our reality of sexual orientations and find ways that marriage is open for people who are gay, lesbian, and bisexual as well.
When we value all aspects of one’s identity — we create a safer and healthier environment. It allows people to love themselves and feel valued in our society. It brings us closer to Kawata’s assertion that “when your life has value, you are more likely to use a condom.”
Breaking the cycle of stigma and oppression is all of our responsibility. Prop 8 impacts more than just gay marriage.
