Facing life with HIV: Alexander Smith inspires
Alexander Smith grew up believing in God and Mormon traditions. He also knew that he liked men. These two desires were in direct conflict with one another. One day, he met a man. They didn’t talk about health status. They had sex without a condom, and Smith became infected with HIV.
“H – I – V. Three letters that have changed my life forever,” says Smith, a licensed clinical social worker who has lived with HIV since St. Patrick’s Day 2003.
When Alexander was 19, he went on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He then spent 8 years trying to cure being gay. With the help of church leaders, therapists, mentors and support groups, he realized that none of it helped stop his attraction to men. He decided to embrace his homosexuality; that is when he met the man who passed on the virus to him.
Smith acknowledges that he didn’t do what he could have done. He didn’t have the conversation, and his partner didn’t offer the information. Because of the devastating nature of the disease and the questions Smith had regarding how he could deal with it, Smith began injecting crystal meth just to feel alive and to feel infection-free. His clinical training helped him to see that he was headed for death, so he reached out to his father. He has been sober for over four years now.
Three years ago, he decided to have a different relationship with his virus, so in an English accent, he said “Hallo” to it. He has been diagnosed with AIDS and is still surprised when people ask how he got it.
“We get it by having a human experience,” says Smith. He noted that the four fluids that can pass the disease are blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
Smith has started “Bless Your Virus” to spread the word about HIV and AIDS and to help end the stigma that still exists with the disease.
“Saying ‘Hello’ and wrapping our arms around the virus, negative emotion [or] enemy,” says Smith, “is a powerful practice that can change our lives.”
This article was originally published at examiner.com as part of the America inspires competition. Links have been updated.
“H – I – V. Three letters that have changed my life forever,” says Smith, a licensed clinical social worker who has lived with HIV since St. Patrick’s Day 2003.
When Alexander was 19, he went on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He then spent 8 years trying to cure being gay. With the help of church leaders, therapists, mentors and support groups, he realized that none of it helped stop his attraction to men. He decided to embrace his homosexuality; that is when he met the man who passed on the virus to him.
Smith acknowledges that he didn’t do what he could have done. He didn’t have the conversation, and his partner didn’t offer the information. Because of the devastating nature of the disease and the questions Smith had regarding how he could deal with it, Smith began injecting crystal meth just to feel alive and to feel infection-free. His clinical training helped him to see that he was headed for death, so he reached out to his father. He has been sober for over four years now.
Three years ago, he decided to have a different relationship with his virus, so in an English accent, he said “Hallo” to it. He has been diagnosed with AIDS and is still surprised when people ask how he got it.
“We get it by having a human experience,” says Smith. He noted that the four fluids that can pass the disease are blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
Smith has started “Bless Your Virus” to spread the word about HIV and AIDS and to help end the stigma that still exists with the disease.
“Saying ‘Hello’ and wrapping our arms around the virus, negative emotion [or] enemy,” says Smith, “is a powerful practice that can change our lives.”
This article was originally published at examiner.com as part of the America inspires competition. Links have been updated.