The Arkansas HIV/AIDS Minority Task Force is studying how to urge the state’s HIV-positive people to play a stronger, more visible role in public forums, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette/NWAnews.com reports (nwanews.com, 6/10).
The task force is holding public forums on HIV/AIDS throughout the state in July and August, and hopes many positive citizens will attend and make their voices heard.
Michelle Smith of North Little Rock and Jefferson Comprehensive Care Systems, Inc., said that HIV-positive people wishing to make recommendations to the task force should be given “a conducive atmosphere that is not threatening.”
Other task force members suggested that allowing anonymous testimonies and audiotaping the forums (instead of videotaping them) would help preserve anonymity and encourage more people with HIV to attend.
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Ann, Arkansas, 2008-06-17 11:30:30
No Arkansas is not California, & I have lived in both states and there are some that will stand up and shout! No not everyone is ready or in a spot where they can STAND N SHOUT. But there are those that can and will.
hidingamongu, , 2008-06-15 12:33:19
Anonymous testimony is far better then asking those of us that are positve to show the community who we are in a community that is NOT ready to know us. When u have a family u must think of them. I know what its like to live in a community that accepted what life deals, Arkansas is not California, AR is not ready, ask those that provide services here. I have gone from living a true life to hidingamongu....hoping no one will find out for fear of what my family will endure.
