1/
I spoke with a former academic colleague today who had texted me a few days back for some advice but I forgot to call her back.
We didn't always see eye to eye when we worked together, but we always respected one other.
I spoke with a former academic colleague today who had texted me a few days back for some advice but I forgot to call her back.
We didn't always see eye to eye when we worked together, but we always respected one other.
2/
She was reaching out because her son had recently invited her in and told her of his attraction to other men.
He also told her that he had just had his first sexual experience, and the condom had broke.
He's only 20 years old.
She was reaching out because her son had recently invited her in and told her of his attraction to other men.
He also told her that he had just had his first sexual experience, and the condom had broke.
He's only 20 years old.
3/
He spoke with her 24 hours after it happened, and she was reaching out to me for advice, as her son wanted to get #HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (#PEP).
But he didn't know where or how to get it.
Despite being a family medicine doc, neither did she.
hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv…
He spoke with her 24 hours after it happened, and she was reaching out to me for advice, as her son wanted to get #HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (#PEP).
But he didn't know where or how to get it.
Despite being a family medicine doc, neither did she.
hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv…
4/
"I'm so sorry I didn't return your text promptly," I told her.
"That's ok," she said. "You don't realize you helped me anyway, and I remembered you talking about this a lot when we worked together."
Turns out she Googled me and found an article I had written on PEP.
"I'm so sorry I didn't return your text promptly," I told her.
"That's ok," she said. "You don't realize you helped me anyway, and I remembered you talking about this a lot when we worked together."
Turns out she Googled me and found an article I had written on PEP.
5/
She read it, followed up with the links that provided resources, and helped her son contact a local clinic.
She then sat with him to listen to the conversation on speakerphone.
He spoke with a kind nurse, who asked the right questions, didn't judge him, and reassured him.
She read it, followed up with the links that provided resources, and helped her son contact a local clinic.
She then sat with him to listen to the conversation on speakerphone.
He spoke with a kind nurse, who asked the right questions, didn't judge him, and reassured him.
6/
"Did they give him the medications?" I asked.
"They did," she said proudly. "He's on day 5 now, and he's out with some friends on a vacation trip they postponed earlier in the pandemic."
I smiled.
We caught up on old work gossip.
She asked how my mother was dping.
"Did they give him the medications?" I asked.
"They did," she said proudly. "He's on day 5 now, and he's out with some friends on a vacation trip they postponed earlier in the pandemic."
I smiled.
We caught up on old work gossip.
She asked how my mother was dping.
7/
I asked her how work was going.
She told me she just got another degree and talked about new job prospects.
I applauded her.
Not only for her work accomplishments.
For being a phenomenal mother.
It's hard raising young Black boys in this country.
I asked her how work was going.
She told me she just got another degree and talked about new job prospects.
I applauded her.
Not only for her work accomplishments.
For being a phenomenal mother.
It's hard raising young Black boys in this country.
8/
Especially if their sexual orientation spans along the #LGBTQ continuum.
She not only accepted her son unconditionally when he invited her in, but she also sprang into action with no judgment or hesitation to ensure he got the #sexualhealth care he needed.
Especially if their sexual orientation spans along the #LGBTQ continuum.
She not only accepted her son unconditionally when he invited her in, but she also sprang into action with no judgment or hesitation to ensure he got the #sexualhealth care he needed.
9/
That young man will remember this moment for the rest of his life.
You see...
Sexual health starts in the home.
It begins with a parent who accepts their child for exactly who they are.
So they know that they are loved and their worth when they go out into the world.
That young man will remember this moment for the rest of his life.
You see...
Sexual health starts in the home.
It begins with a parent who accepts their child for exactly who they are.
So they know that they are loved and their worth when they go out into the world.
10/
To all my sexual health warriors who do the work every day...
Understand that the information we put out there is important and necessary.
Keep writing, teaching, and creating resources for public consumption.
You don't know who you may be helping.
To all my sexual health warriors who do the work every day...
Understand that the information we put out there is important and necessary.
Keep writing, teaching, and creating resources for public consumption.
You don't know who you may be helping.
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