Hi I’m Dennis. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. I’m a nurse and I’m a graduate student. I work in a hospital unit that’s dedicated to HIV and AIDS patients. Knowing what I know as an HIV nurse and as a gay man, I try to be really good about staying healthy doing everything by the book. When it comes to dating, you just need to have strict guidelines on what is acceptable and what is not. You may be out at the bar and meet “The One,” that person may be infected you just have to make sure that you know what your risks are and what you need to do to stay healthy. Having boundaries and talking about what is going to happen and what’s not going to happen. It’s just a matter of you both being on the same page and knowing that there is an issue that you both have to deal with. With HIV being around for as long as it has been, some people are just shrugging their shoulders and saying well it’s not something that threatens me or it’s not a reality in my life. But the fact remains once somebody gets infected, it’s an uphill battle to make sure that you know you’re healthy. What worked back then still works to this day. Bottom line, we just have to protect ourselves. Condoms, condoms, condoms, or not doing things that would put you at risk. It’s part of you advocating for yourself. I need to make sure that I never let my guard down because the threat of HIV and AIDS, it’s a reality in my community. You just need to know how to take care of yourself. Learn more at greaterthan.org/pride
As an HIV nurse and a gay man, Dennis does his best to stay healthy. When it comes to dating, Dennis tries to have open and honest conversations with partners. It’s about being on the same page and doing what’s necessary to protect yourself.
