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Journal of American College Health Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vach20
The Secret Side of AIDS Sergio Guerrero
a
a
Modern Thought and Language Program , Stanford University , USA Published online: 09 Jul 2010.
To cite this article: Sergio Guerrero (1990) The Secret Side of AIDS, Journal of American College Health, 39:1, 49-49, DOI: 10.1080/07448481.1990.9936212 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.1990.9936212
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
The Secret Side of AIDS
Downloaded by [University of Toronto Libraries] at 10:31 22 December 2014
SERGIO GUERRERO
For almost 1% years I have been an AIDS patient (technically with an ARC diagnosis). After considerable thought, 1 have elected to make my medical status public at this time, not to cause alarm or elicit sympathy; rather, because it is clearly evident to me that although the disease has captured the imagination of the public and continues to command the attention of the media, it persists in remaining a private affair for those of us who suffer from it and for our immediate families. Notwithstanding the question of the right to privacy, there are some very good reasons for maintaining the condition private. Although in some instances it i s illegal to discriminate against us, the reality i s that discriminaton does occur. Nevertheless, I now strongly believe that such discrimination i s enhanced and perpetuated by our own fear of being honest-truly honest-about our needs-emotional, physical, and spiritual (not to mention financial)-and by our greatest fear: banishment from society. So we confuse ”secrecy” with ”privacy” and banish ourselves. Our fears force us into silence and, for some, into requiring the secrecy of those closest to us until, of course, the patient dies. It is then that everyone finally gets to know our “secret” (and even then, denial of AIDS as a cause of death is becoming increasingly acceptable). Yes, people die all the time and life goes on, as it should. But for those of us who have to stare death in the eye every minute of every day that we live, living, working, and feeling in “silence” becomes a self-imposed exile or, shall we say, a premature death. I choose life amongst the living! I challenge this regrettable secrecy! I reject fear! And I encourage others to do the same. I break the silence and release those of you who have shared my
~~
~
Sergio Guerrem is a graduate student in the Modern Thought and Language Program at Stanford University. This is a letter he sent to friends and family at the beginning of the New Year.
VOL 39,)ULY 7990
secret and encourage everyone to talk and react about AIDS openly, aggressively, and honestly. If anything good could be said about AIDS, it is that it presents the potential of forcing us to become soberly honest about our sexualities and it demands that we test the ethical, moral, and legal fibre of our institutions‘ commitment to protect our fellow human beings. I invite everyone who has ever known me or worked with me to pause a moment and look about you and ask yourselves if anyone else in front of you is carrying the burden of this unnecessary secret. Talk about it not as a statistical probability, but as a personal reality that we all share. AIDS, in the long run, is proving to be not an individual’s disease but a community’s disease. In a true community of humans, where brotherhood and sisterhood abound, secrecy, in times of crises, eventually becomes counterproductive and an unwanted burden. By making my condition public in this way, I hope to chip away a little of this unnecessary and undesirable hindrance. At present, my physical energy is diminished, but my mind remains sharp and demanding; my spirit is strong and creative; and my hopes are high that a cure will be found soon. Yet, I am a realist and a pragmatist. I will go on living, working, and striving to achieve the goals that I have set for myself, and I will continue to fight for what I believe in. I am a fighter-those of you who have been associated with me know that. But if the inevitable should come before 1 see or communicate with any of you again, I take this opportunity to also thank you for the times we’ve shared: the good ones and the bad ones (how could one be without the other?). Finally, I pray that those of you who are healthy, and whose hearts I have been able to reach with my plea for openness, keep your hearts open to others like me who long to live their whole lives through but who might still have some trouble being true to themselves. For you, HIV-positive people living in secrecy, I ask you to join me in publicly eschewing this unwarranted secret side of AIDS in the nineties. I, for one, already feel lighter and truer to myself.
49
Journal of American College Health Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vach20
The Secret Side of AIDS Sergio Guerrero
a
a
Modern Thought and Language Program , Stanford University , USA Published online: 09 Jul 2010.
To cite this article: Sergio Guerrero (1990) The Secret Side of AIDS, Journal of American College Health, 39:1, 49-49, DOI: 10.1080/07448481.1990.9936212 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.1990.9936212
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
The Secret Side of AIDS
Downloaded by [University of Toronto Libraries] at 10:31 22 December 2014
SERGIO GUERRERO
For almost 1% years I have been an AIDS patient (technically with an ARC diagnosis). After considerable thought, 1 have elected to make my medical status public at this time, not to cause alarm or elicit sympathy; rather, because it is clearly evident to me that although the disease has captured the imagination of the public and continues to command the attention of the media, it persists in remaining a private affair for those of us who suffer from it and for our immediate families. Notwithstanding the question of the right to privacy, there are some very good reasons for maintaining the condition private. Although in some instances it i s illegal to discriminate against us, the reality i s that discriminaton does occur. Nevertheless, I now strongly believe that such discrimination i s enhanced and perpetuated by our own fear of being honest-truly honest-about our needs-emotional, physical, and spiritual (not to mention financial)-and by our greatest fear: banishment from society. So we confuse ”secrecy” with ”privacy” and banish ourselves. Our fears force us into silence and, for some, into requiring the secrecy of those closest to us until, of course, the patient dies. It is then that everyone finally gets to know our “secret” (and even then, denial of AIDS as a cause of death is becoming increasingly acceptable). Yes, people die all the time and life goes on, as it should. But for those of us who have to stare death in the eye every minute of every day that we live, living, working, and feeling in “silence” becomes a self-imposed exile or, shall we say, a premature death. I choose life amongst the living! I challenge this regrettable secrecy! I reject fear! And I encourage others to do the same. I break the silence and release those of you who have shared my
~~
~
Sergio Guerrem is a graduate student in the Modern Thought and Language Program at Stanford University. This is a letter he sent to friends and family at the beginning of the New Year.
VOL 39,)ULY 7990
secret and encourage everyone to talk and react about AIDS openly, aggressively, and honestly. If anything good could be said about AIDS, it is that it presents the potential of forcing us to become soberly honest about our sexualities and it demands that we test the ethical, moral, and legal fibre of our institutions‘ commitment to protect our fellow human beings. I invite everyone who has ever known me or worked with me to pause a moment and look about you and ask yourselves if anyone else in front of you is carrying the burden of this unnecessary secret. Talk about it not as a statistical probability, but as a personal reality that we all share. AIDS, in the long run, is proving to be not an individual’s disease but a community’s disease. In a true community of humans, where brotherhood and sisterhood abound, secrecy, in times of crises, eventually becomes counterproductive and an unwanted burden. By making my condition public in this way, I hope to chip away a little of this unnecessary and undesirable hindrance. At present, my physical energy is diminished, but my mind remains sharp and demanding; my spirit is strong and creative; and my hopes are high that a cure will be found soon. Yet, I am a realist and a pragmatist. I will go on living, working, and striving to achieve the goals that I have set for myself, and I will continue to fight for what I believe in. I am a fighter-those of you who have been associated with me know that. But if the inevitable should come before 1 see or communicate with any of you again, I take this opportunity to also thank you for the times we’ve shared: the good ones and the bad ones (how could one be without the other?). Finally, I pray that those of you who are healthy, and whose hearts I have been able to reach with my plea for openness, keep your hearts open to others like me who long to live their whole lives through but who might still have some trouble being true to themselves. For you, HIV-positive people living in secrecy, I ask you to join me in publicly eschewing this unwarranted secret side of AIDS in the nineties. I, for one, already feel lighter and truer to myself.
49
