hivplusmag.com

Power of the People

Having HIV as a Latino presents its own singular challenges, but some are working to ease the struggle of being a double minority.
By Neal Broverman|Sep-Oct Issue|Retrieved from the Internet on September 11, 2011 by SJ



http://hivplusmag.com/Story.asp?id=2239&categoryid=1&issue_emi=current&jt=0

Being HIV-positive is hard, but being HIV-positive and Latino is doubly difficult, says Patricia*, a 30-year-old transgender woman living in Phoenix. Patricia hasn't told her family about her HIV status, which she's known for two years. And because they live in Mexico, even if they were supportive—which she doubts—her family couldn't offer tangible help. Patricia's parents didn't talk about sex when she was growing up, so she was forced to learn and make mistakes, on her own. Patricia's English skills are limited, and since one of her former doctors didn't speak Spanish, she was forced to bring a translator to appointments.