World Aids Day for Senior Citizens Too

Today is World Aids Day, Dec.1

Remember when you first heard about AIDS? It is an ugly time in our history when we ganged up on and disowned our own people who were sick, just because we thought they might be or were gay. We thought they brought it on themselves, make their bed now go lie in it. We were afraid to be near them. We didn't want to help.

Then we opened our minds and discovered it was also heterosexuals, children, and our friends, our family...our world. Would WE, could we, be next?

Now many live with HIV and AIDS, struggling to survive another year with the help of many pills. But who saw THIS coming---senior citizens are getting AIDS at an alarming rate. Nearly 27% of people living with AIDS are 50 years or older. While AIDS awareness education flooded schools and the gay community, we never stopped to consider the active sex lives of our seniors.

I mean, everyone KNOWS senior citizens don't have sex. WRONG. Not only are we having it, we are thinking about it and planning to have it with new acquaintances. Life goes on after 50, yes, Virginia, even after 80!

World AIDS Day---get tested, stay protected, no matter your age.