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Dionne

My name is Dionne. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was married to a man with who is HIV-positive because of the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS. I was afraid of people just judging me and I did not want to be judged. We just held onto the secret. I think that 14 years silence kept me in bondage. I did not know how locked down I was until I got free. I began to share I truly am

Today I really don’t care what people think of what people say people who judge don’t matter and people who matter don’t judge. You know, there are so many people who think that they could it could never happen to them if you’re negative, you want to stay negative you need to do whatever it is to stay negative.

I don’t care how long you’ve known someone it’s still your responsibility to protect yourself. Use condoms. I am an advocate for condoms because I’ve used one for 25 years and I know they work and the way I know they work is because I still test negative. I love my life, I love my husband. my children. my grandchildren. It’s been a lot of thick and it’s been a lot of thin but it’s all been worth it. 25 years later we’re still together.

My name is Dionne and I am Greater Than HIV.

Dionne didn’t want anyone knowing that she was married to a man living with HIV because of the stigma associated it, and she didn’t want anyone to judge her. She and her husband Reggie held on to the secret for 14 years and Dionne describes that secret keeping her in bondage. She finally broke free.