WHAT WE ARE RIDING FOR:
I am riding (actually drinking wine instead #thankscovid19) in the 2020 AIDS/LifeCycle to raise funds for the life-saving services offered by San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The services they provide mean the world to those that receive the support. The recipients know that HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence with the right medical treatment. However, the medical treatment is not always covered by insurance and it is not cheap. We are working to bridge this gap and make sure those that need the service can have access to these services.
Living with HIV/AIDS is hard enough due to job discrimination and stigma that has maintained throughout years of medical advancements. I have experienced the challenges myself!
MY STORY:
I was diagnosed with HIV in June 2014, which ended my flying career. My military commander and doctor sought a waiver to allow me to continue serving as a C-130J Loadmaster. The waiver was rejected due to higher headquarters claiming no waiver has ever been granted for HIV+ personnel. I was removed from my flying career and I was reclassified into a non-flying career.
The Air Force coded me as "C-2" which prevented me from serving in a combat role and limited most overseas locations. In my non-flying position, I had volunteered for deployment twice only to be denied due to my status. I applied for other non-flying jobs only to get blocked by my local leadership because they didn't know how to deal with my status and the amount of human resource paperwork it might of required. I dealt with HIV/AIDS jokes and plain ignorant comments amongst my peers and leadership. My maintenance commander once pointed to a bandage I had on my head after an outpatient procedure and asked, "What are you exposing my people to?"
I had no confidence that my leadership wanted to develop myself further as a military professional and I was left to quietly serve my time until I would be forced out of my job due to new policies targeting HIV+ personnel. There are currently lawsuits challenging the policies limiting HIV+ military members from serving their country. I eventually chose to leave the Air Force rather than fight for a career that offered no advancement and no satisfaction.
The discrimination and stigma exists! Luckily, I have access to medical treatment and I have maintained an undetectable status for 5 years now. We have lots of work ahead of us to fight the injustices we face with HIV/AIDS, but one thing we can do and is necessary to do is to LIVE OUR LIVES.
We're working together to make HIV/AIDS a thing of the past. We absolutely can end AIDS in our lifetime!!! Will you support me by making a donation today?
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I am riding (actually drinking wine instead #thankscovid19) in the 2020 AIDS/LifeCycle to raise funds for the life-saving services offered by San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The services they provide mean the world to those that receive the support. The recipients know that HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence with the right medical treatment. However, the medical treatment is not always covered by insurance and it is not cheap. We are working to bridge this gap and make sure those that need the service can have access to these services.
Living with HIV/AIDS is hard enough due to job discrimination and stigma that has maintained throughout years of medical advancements. I have experienced the challenges myself!
MY STORY:
I was diagnosed with HIV in June 2014, which ended my flying career. My military commander and doctor sought a waiver to allow me to continue serving as a C-130J Loadmaster. The waiver was rejected due to higher headquarters claiming no waiver has ever been granted for HIV+ personnel. I was removed from my flying career and I was reclassified into a non-flying career.
The Air Force coded me as "C-2" which prevented me from serving in a combat role and limited most overseas locations. In my non-flying position, I had volunteered for deployment twice only to be denied due to my status. I applied for other non-flying jobs only to get blocked by my local leadership because they didn't know how to deal with my status and the amount of human resource paperwork it might of required. I dealt with HIV/AIDS jokes and plain ignorant comments amongst my peers and leadership. My maintenance commander once pointed to a bandage I had on my head after an outpatient procedure and asked, "What are you exposing my people to?"
I had no confidence that my leadership wanted to develop myself further as a military professional and I was left to quietly serve my time until I would be forced out of my job due to new policies targeting HIV+ personnel. There are currently lawsuits challenging the policies limiting HIV+ military members from serving their country. I eventually chose to leave the Air Force rather than fight for a career that offered no advancement and no satisfaction.
The discrimination and stigma exists! Luckily, I have access to medical treatment and I have maintained an undetectable status for 5 years now. We have lots of work ahead of us to fight the injustices we face with HIV/AIDS, but one thing we can do and is necessary to do is to LIVE OUR LIVES.
We're working together to make HIV/AIDS a thing of the past. We absolutely can end AIDS in our lifetime!!! Will you support me by making a donation today?