Hello. … Are you HIV positive

A greeting followed by “Are you HIV positive?” should be the norm for people, especially in the Baton Rouge area.
Picture this: you notice someone around campus who catches your eye. After pondering on what to tell them, the two of you exchange numbers and start taking time out to get to know each other.
The conversation gets longer and stronger, but the topic of sex is rarely brought up. Days, weeks and even months go by, and you notice that you’re really feeling this person.
One night, one thing leads to another and you both are in bed together. The mood is going well and about two hours later, the night is over and the only thing in your head is, “I laid it down,” not knowing that it’s a possibility that she has infected you with the HIV virus, or you may have infected her.
My point is when a relationship/friendship is being developed, the topic of HIV/AIDS is eclipsed by matters of lesser urgency. Most times, you’ll know more about the person’s last boyfriend or girlfriend, than knowing about their past sex partners. I am not saying this to scare you or to tell you don’t have sex. It’s just to let you know that you need to be careful.
The Web site, www.thebody.com reports there were 33 cases in the United States in which someone was infected with HIV without being told by their partner.
For example, an article printed in May 2002 in the New Orleans Times-Picayune tells the story of Darryl K. Womac, a Metairie man who was booked with one count of intentional exposure to HIV. The victim who came forward was a young lady who he was involved in a five-month relationship.
The woman brought up the issue after she found a prescription bottle for a well-known AIDS medicine, dated December 2000, in Womac’s home and detectives say medical records obtained with a court order show that Womac tested HIV-positive in July 1998.
This tells you that there are some people walking around day to day knowing that they are infected with HIV or other diseases and have no intentions of taking anyone else’s life into consideration. Womac’s victim undoubtly, hadn’t thought to discuss his or her sexual histories.
So, taking this picture in mind, ask yourself if you would rather have a talk with someone or look in his or her medicine cabinet to find out your fate.