E
Back to Top
I HAVE HERPES and I'm still lovely AF! ;) #shoutyourstatus #STDAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/ZkfikqVtDo— The STD Project (@TheSTDProject) April 6, 2016
I'm Kassie. I am a basketball mom, I bake cupcakes, wine is fine, I love to dance, I go to school, and I am GHSV1+ #ShoutYourStatus— Kassie Jean (@KassieJean2610) April 6, 2016
Referring to ur negative status as "clean" reinforces the awful idea that those w STIs r somehow "dirty" cut that shit out #shoutyourstatus— paris hit me (@jersing) April 6, 2016
I have #herpes AND a fulfilling sex life. Being STI+ doesn't equate to the death of your sex life #ShoutYourStatus #STIAwarenessMonth— ELD (@eld3393) April 6, 2016
Let's break the stigma of STIs. Whether you have herpes, HPV, HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, etc, you're still YOU! #ShoutYourStatus— BadGrrrlMeat (@lachristagreco) April 6, 2016
This STI Awareness month, it is w/such pride that I let ya'll know- I've got genital herpes and I'll be attending Columbia #shoutyourstatus— Kayla Axelrod (@farklesparkleAF) April 6, 2016
I'm a 20 y/o dog mom with HERPES. I have a boyfriend and have never had trouble dating #ShoutYourStatus pic.twitter.com/ad5dotqUeu— texasshole (@TumblrH8r) April 7, 2016
- Share This Story sSHARE THIS STORY ON FACEBOOK
- f
- ··· More
To share this article with others, copy and paste this link:
Recommended
Lauren Graham’s rumored Scott Patterson feud, and 4 more questions for her ‘Gilmore Girls’ book
This girl's prom dress was a glorious middle finger to her teacher who called it 'tacky'
How I got my 'bikini body' in 24 hours
Sarah Silverman wants masturbation to be legislated like abortion — and has a plan to do it
Can you guess which of these women isn't wearing makeup?
We were unable to load Disqus. If you are a moderator please see our
troubleshooting guide.
-
Recommend Recommended
-
Discussion Recommended!
Recommending means this is a discussion worth sharing. It gets shared to your followers' Disqus feeds, and gives the creator kudos!Find More Discussions
-
- ⤤ Share
- Sort by Best
-
horus752 • 2 months ago see moreThe upside is that they are advertising it to the rest of us sane people so we don't catch whatever is is they may may have .-
-
horus752 > Leonard Anderson • 2 months ago see moreSorry bro, but this was low hanging fruit and too easy to pass by ;o)
-
-
Zeana Bey > horus752 • 2 months ago see moreThe upside is we can also educate you about how STDS like herpes can be spread even with a condom, aren't included in routine STD panels, and often people are non symptomatic- resulting in over 90 percent of the population having oral or genital herpes and 3 out of 4 of them not knowing they have it. BTW if you've ever gotten a cold sore on your mouth congrats you have herpes and ate likely responsible for the growing rate of genital HSV1.So some pieces of advice before judging anyone or trying to avoid those people who know they have herpes or another incurable STD:1) go get tested as statistically you may already have herpes or a strain of hpv and not even knowand2) those people who know they have it are going to be a lower risk to you as they can actually take preventetive measures (ex: antivirals )compared to the many people who have one of these STDs but aren't aware of thir positive diagnosis.-
horus752 > Zeana Bey • 2 months ago see moreI don't need to be lectured by a millennial as I have taken the health ed courses many moons ago. I know how these things work. However being proud about and shouting your status on social media is narcissistic attention seeking behavior .They are just another group of people trying to play the victim -
allie B > Zeana Bey • 2 months ago see moreYou know another sure fire way NOT to contract an STD? Get married and be faithful. 100% effective.-
Zeana Bey > allie B • 2 months ago see moreThat's actually incorrect Allie particularly when it comes to Herpes. Right now over 90% of the population has oral HSV1, which you may know better by the name cold sores. As HSV is spread through just skin to skin contact most people aquire it fairly early through very innocent means, being kissed by a relative or even participating on contact sports such as wrestling. The increase in oral sex though has led to a give increase of people with oral HSV1 spreading it to their partners genitals. This has become so frequent that right now the CDC is reporting that the majority of new genital herpes cases are being caused by HSV1 (the type most frequently found in the mouth.) So in all those in stench fidelity, marriage, and even abstinence before marriage by both partners can STILL lead to aquiring genital herpes.Unfortunately, a lot of this type of information is not covered in sex ed and the CDC has not helped with its recommendations that herpes not be included in routine STD testing because of its prevalence-
allie B > Zeana Bey • 2 months ago see moreConsidering that I have never had a cold sore, and neither has anyone else in my household. The likelihood that I will have a cold sore and then decide to have oral sex with my husband or vice versa is slim to none.Are you being obtuse on purpose? People in monogamous permanent relationships are not contracting HPV, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, et. al. unless there are some extreme and unusual circumstances. People who are promiscuous or have sex with promiscuous people are at high risk for contracting a host of diseases. Celebrating STD's and STI's as a badge of honor - yes, one woman actually tweeted that exact phrase - is ludicrous.-
Zeana Bey > allie B • 2 months ago see moreAllie, knowledge is power so let's start with the fact that 90% of the adult population has herpes and 3 out of 4 don't know they have it because they are either asymptomatic or mistake symptoms. Beyond that, herpes can be spread even when a person is not experiencing a cold sore.Let's also add in the recent research that showd how so called monogamous couples are more likely to contract an STD than polyamorus couples due to higher rates of infidelity that are not disclosed to partners paired with decreased condom use and infrequent testing. Here's the link to that research btw: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com...Let's also be clear that there are many diseases that are classified as sexually transmitted which you can get even without sex. Herpes simply requires skin to skin contact so even just kissing can spread it, trich can live on warm damp services for up to 45 minutes and can be spread simply by using the towel of someone with it, hepatitis can live outside the body for several days and is commonly spread by sharing a razor blade or even a toothbrush with someone who has it, even HIV before it became routine to test for it in blood samples was being spread to people through medical blood transfusions or simply from being born to a mother already infected.So really, you can be super sanctimonious and call me obtuse but the reality is the idea that STD's are caused by being sexual promiscuous or bad choices such as infedelity or drug use is not supported by the facts.What is even more obtuse than continuing to believe a widely debunked mythology though is deliberately ignoring the point of posting ones STD status and pretending you are not part of the reason these posts are necessary. But let me spell it out to you: people catch STD's in lots of different ways even when they have been safe and played by the rules (even ignoring the non sexual ways you can get an STD is the raperfect victim or cuckolded spouse responsible for getting an STD) and yet they continue to be stigmatized, blamed, and told that they are unworthy, unlovable, dirty, or reaping the consequences of some bad decision they made. As such the rates of suicide, depression, and anxiety for people with an STD is huge, so much so that part of the reason the CDC doesn't recommend including herpes in routine STD testing is because they don't want to risk people experiencing huge adverse psychological impacts if they receive a false positive. So yes, combatting the stigma by making visible all the people who have not let STDs define them as a person, who have not let an STD limit their ability to live a gratifying and fulfilling life, and who despite that STD ate still valuable members of their community and not morally bankrupt, that is pretty important. And yeah, it's not pretty and it's uncomfortable, but denying people that type of support while continuing to perpetuate a narrative that is so destructive to so many people is kind of a shitty thing to do. And that has nothing to do with being pc or some social justice warrior and everything to do with being a kind compassionate person who cares about their impacts on others.So perhaps before you continue with your morally sanctimonious tirades linking STDs to infidelity, go educate yourself and then go get tested and ask they include the tests for things like hsv....because the reality is being monogamous and married won't protect you against STD's that you don't even know you have. And then maybe ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish by continuing to link STD status to moral character (I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming positive intentions) and consider whether the approach you are using is really working or just condoning a stigma about STD that further hurts people who are normally in a pretty fragile vulnerable place after diagnosis.-
allie B > Zeana Bey • 2 months ago see moreLet me correct your data. Your "90%" number is incorrect. Ninety percent of adults aged 20 - 29 that were tested tested positive for antibodies for HSV I and 60% for HSV II. In patients age 16 - 49, however only 23% tested positive antibodies that for HSV I and 16% for HSV II. Straight from the CDC. According to NIH, an estimated 50% of US adults are carriers of the HSV I virus. Here is where you must be getting the "90%" stat : according to NIH it is ESTIMATED by age 50 90% of adults have been exposed to HSV I but close to 50% of those do not contract the virus nor are they carriers.Are you seriously proposing that having multiple sex partners does not increase ones risk for contracting STD's? How wildly irresponsible and dishonest of you. Sexually Transmitted Diseases are transmitted primarily through sexual contact. If one has sexual contact with multiple partners or with a person who has multiple partners their risk of contracting a disease increases with each partner. When one or both parties in a monogamous relationship are unfaithful, they cease to be in a monogamous relationship, by definition. According to a Buss and Shackleford review, 30% of marriages in the US suffer from infidelity with the concentration of this percentage, up to 70%, occurring when the partners are under 30 years old. Second and third marriages have a higher rate of infidelity as well. So if 30% of marriages suffer infidelity, 70% do not. The consequences of infidelity are that an unfaithful partner can contract a disease and give it to their partner. Again, actions have consequences. Sometimes people suffer the consequences of other people's actions. Talk about a shitty thing to do, making someone else suffer for ones irresponsibility - now that is truly shitty. Expecting people to take responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make isn't shitty- that is just expecting them to act like grown ups. One makes a choice of some kind, there is a consequence (good or bad) as the result of that choice, one deals with the result of their choice and adjusts their future decisions accordingly. This is a trait of a functioning human adult. Expecting accolades for making an unwise decision or suffering the fallout from someone else's unwise decision is ludicrous.Who shares razor blades, toothbrushes, bath towels, tooth paste, or similar personal items? Why would anyone do that, that is disgusting. Not only can STD's spread that way, but nearly any disease or infection would easily be spread this way. Don't parents even bother to teach basic hygiene to their children? Who seriously does this?In western countries HIV is no longer spread through blood transfusions, and babies born to HIV positive mothers have a much greater chance of avoiding contracting the disease due to more advanced medical practices.What would be helpful, especially to kids who are deciding whether or not to have sex, is if people who "shouted their STD" (one woman actually called it a feminist badge of honor - for the love of all that is good a flippin' badge of honor!) were a little bit honest and "shouted their personal responsibility for their condition!". "I made some unwise choices, now I have a disease that will effect my health and put any partner I ever have in the future at risk for contracting my disease and effecting their health for the rest of their lives!" If they want to shout something, how about shouting a little truth.You keep bringing up Herpes as if it isn't a big deal. Since you are so up on medical data, I am sure you know that people with genital Herpes are at a much higher risk for contracting diseases like syphilis, hepatitis, and HIV because their immune system is compromised and often one can begin an outbreak leaving them vulnerable to secondary infection before uncomfortable symptoms are noticed. HSV II is more than a skin irritation, it effects the immune system and lymphatic system as well. Doesn't it make you want to put on some lip gloss and shout your disease on social media, demanding that everyone accept you and your lifestyle that resulted in your illness! Watching someone you love suffer and die from AIDS related complications might put things in perspective for you. This isn't funny, it isn't cute - behavior that results in damaging people's health and even killing them should be stigmatized, not glorified. That might be more helpful in keeping the next generation healthy than expecting people to think that contracting and spreading STD's or STI's is normal or even desirable.-
Zeana Bey > allie B • 2 months ago see moreNo such thing as "carriers" of HSV my dear. You either have the antibodies and thus have the virus which can be shedding at any time or you don't. HSV also doesnt compromise the immune system, if that were correct every single one of us who ever had chicken pox (another form of herpes that you carry for life) would be considered immunocomprimises. Yes, having HSV does increase risk of other diseases but not due to bring immunocomprimises but due to the fact that any time you have an open sore you are at greater risk for infection.And you are still ignoring the point I'm making which is people pick up STD's all the time from things that have nothing to do with bad personal decisions unless you want to count rape, being with a dishonest partner, kissing, or just happening to be born to an infected parent ( hsv and hepatitis can be spread this way and while yes medication cam reduce that risk it still happens. No one is arguing that multiple partners didn't exacerbate that risk what I am arguing is pretending that sex before marriage and infidelity are not the only ways people pick up STDS and so it's ridiculous to broadly characterize all of them as being irrespinsible, unhygenic, sexual promiscuous, etc etc.And while we are at it: I have genital hsv which I got while in a long term monogamous relationship with someone I was engaged to despite always using a condom and insisting on both of us getting tested. How did I get that, from a fiance who had oral herpes, was asymptomatic and trusted that when he asked his doctors to test for EVERYTHING they were actually teating for everything.And guess what? I still have an awesome life. I have a great job where I provide therapy for abused kids and find that incredibly rewarding. I have an amazing fiance whom I love and still practice monogamy and safe sex with. I rarely, if ever get sick.But you know obviously I just have this because I'm irresponsible, made a bad decision, and now just can't take responsibility.I'm done with the conversion. Good luck to you. And go get tested...you may be surprised
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chase Miller > Zeana Bey • 2 months ago see moreWell if someone caught an incurable STI, they are probably idiots and have made some really dumb decisions. So no, I'll judge even more people now. -
Roxanne > Zeana Bey • 2 months ago see moreWhen idiots openly declare something as disgusting as what STD's they have, people have every right to judge. There are some things that should be kept private, STDs being one of those things! There are other more productive ways to teach about safe sex!
-
-
-
Some guy • 2 months ago see moreAre we so deep into social justice that not wanting to catch a f#$%ing DISEASE is now considered close-minded discrimination?-
allie B > Some guy • 2 months ago see moreDo not allow these people to co-opt "Social Justice" - that they use and corrupt the moral theory of Thomas Aquinas to justify immoral behavior is just vile. And, yes, our society is so deep into moral relativism masquerading as social justice that is is discriminatory to want to prevent disease. This mentality started well over a decade ago in the gay community with HIV - there were men who actively sought to catch it and men who purposefully spread it so that everyone in the community would be equal. This was in Boystown in Chicago in the late 90's and early 2000's. Watching my friends and customers (I worked in a bar and a salon in the neighborhood) receive and celebrate their positive test results is what made me realize that there is a reason why most religions forbid homosexuality and promiscuity - these things are illnesses in and of themselves and destroy society.
-
-
Allan Hall • 2 months ago see moreStand up and declare that you have a disease/infection that can cause irreparable damage to the human body, that can be spread quite easily! -
-
Roxanne • 2 months ago see moreMore proof that our society has fallen that much deeper, this is disgusting! An STD is not an honor and there SHOULD be a stigma associated with it. What the hell is wrong with people?!?!?! -
-
lindsey • 2 months ago see moreJust because someone has an STD doesn't make them a bad person. I've always believed you can't judge until walking in someone else shoes. Good for those who are not letting a life altering experience make them feel worthless. Let's all educate ourselves instead of shunning. Shame on those with negative comments. Totally defeats the purpose of what they're trying to do.-
allie B > lindsey • 2 months ago see moreWhat is their purpose, exactly? Normalizing sexual promiscuity and celebrating the diseases they catch and spread due to their decision to be promiscuous regardless of the consequences seems to be their purpose. I am sure that these same women were shouting their abortion last summer, when that was the thing. Lets push the agenda that we are nothing more than rutting animals with no ability to control ourselves - complete slaves to our genitals unto the point of rotting, disease, and death. Let's do educate ourselves - the spread of sexually transmitted diseases are the direct result of irresponsible behavior, lack of self control, and self serving behavior. Should they feel worthless? No. But they made an irresponsible decision, or a string of them, and now have the consequences of a disease or diseases of varying severity. Decisions have consequences. This isn't something to be proud of.-
Darcy > allie B • 2 months ago see moreI think you neglected to research how a lot of STI's are transmitted. Even people who practice safe sex can contract something like Herpes or Chlamydia. There is a certain risk we all take when we have intercourse of some type with another person. I'm not sure how "sexual promiscuity" (which is such a dated concept) has anything to do with this post.... You have to remember that these people are fighting against a stigma that society perpetuates about STI's and STD's. People should not have to feel embarrassed or ashamed that they have these diseases. It happens and they have to deal with them, not you. Stop judging for real.-
allie B > Darcy • 2 months ago see moreSexual promiscuity is a reality not a concept, and has everything to do with this post. Sexual promiscuity leads to the contraction and spread of disease. You can spin it however you like, but that is a fact. Yes, STD's "happen", to people who have sex with multiple partners or who have sex with people who have multiple partners, regardless of the precautions they take. STD's don't just "happen" they are the result of a choice. Morality is never "dated", matrimony is still a "thing" as is faithfulness to one's spouse. There are two ways to avoid STD's - don't have sex, or have sex only with your spouse who has sex only with you. Both ways are 100%. If one chooses to have sex outside of a permanent monogamous relationship, one has taken on the risk of contracting an STD regardless of what other precautions they take. Some STD's will kill you, if you spread the STD either through willful deception or ignorance of your own status, you have killed someone else through your own selfish lack of self control. People can feel however they choose to feel about contracting these diseases - but they do have to take personal responsibility for the choices they made that resulted in contracting and spreading a disease. This isn't a disability, it is a disease contracted as the result of a choice.-
Darcy > allie B • 2 months ago see moreWell I do not agree with you whatsoever. If any person was given the option to choose between having an STD or not, I am sure the majority of those people would choose the latter. No one wants an STD. People like sex or at least most of us do- and when they engage in sexual intercourse they run the risk of transmitting an STI or STD, whether it is practiced safely or not. They choose to have sex they do not choose to have an STD. I do not think morality or matrimony has anything to do with this, you're just going deeper and deeper into irrelevant topics that do not support your "argument." I think when these people are putting a voice to the disease itself it is a step in the right direction to end the stigma surrounding them . I also feel like it is in some way allowing them to have accountability about the disease. I never said this was a disability in fact I stated multiple times how these are actual diseases, no one is denying that fact. It seems that you and I are just very different people with very different views on the world and apparent decorum. And that is okay.-
allie B > Darcy • 2 months ago see moreOf course no one wants an std, but choosing to have multiple sexual partners carries a risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease. People engaging in this behavior either decide that this is an acceptable risk, or are engaging in self deception and willful ignorance. This is a fact, not an opinion. You seem to agree with this as you yourself state that "when they engage in sexual intercourse they run the risk of transmitting an STI or STD, whether it is practiced safely or not."Married and faithful people also like sex - with their spouse. People who participate in the holy sacrament of matrimony or otherwise subscribe to a monogamous, faithful, marriage run zero risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease. That is just a fact, whether you like it or not.Many diseases are also disabilities that the barer did not contribute to. Sexually transmitted diseases are not - the barer of the infection or disease is responsible for contracting the disease because they chose to engage in behavior that spreads the disease. Contracting the disease and then continuing the behavior that spreads the disease is the height of irresponsibility and selfishness as they are contributing to the spread of illness and disease in order to indulge their personal desires. This behavior is immoral as it damages others and society.-
Darcy > allie B • 2 months ago see moreWhy are you bringing up things that are not relevant like disabilities? We are talking about STD's which literally translates to Sexually Transmitted Disease.
Also, you just proved my point that a person does not choose to get an STD- I said they choose to have sex- those are two very different things. You are confusing cause and effect. I don't care about the religious sentiment you are trying to perpetuate right now as it has nothing to do with my views about this. I believe that you are judging those who do not deserve to be judged because they are bringing awareness to something that affects their lives on a daily basis. If this is how they want to end a stigma against STD's than I think it is a good first step- because then people will be able to talk freely and openly about it. Maybe someone will actually learn something and then spread their knowledge to other people and maybe that will help in the rate of STD contraction. These are high hopes but they are definitely tangible.-
allie B > Darcy • 2 months ago see moreYes. Diseases that are transmitted sexually are contracted by having sex. If one chooses to have sex outside of a monogamous relationship they are choosing to take the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. They may prefer that this not happen, but they are willing to take that risk by engaging in the behavior that transmits the diseases. So no, choosing to have sex outside of a committed monotonous relationship is not a very different thing than choosing to get an STD. They are very closely related things.-
CM > allie B • 2 months ago see moreAllie, What if your mom gave you herpes as you fell out of her birth canal? Hmm.-
allie B > CM • 2 months ago see moreIf my mother passed an STD to me at birth, I would have the unfortunate experience of suffering from someone else's bad decision. Just as I would if I my mother were an alcoholic and I suffered health effects from that, or if she were a drug addict and I suffered a learning disorder for that. Just because these situations exist, does not mean we choose to call what is bad, good to make those who make crap decisions feel better and included. Mothers can pass STD's to their children, yet another reason why responsible behavior is important and contracting an STD is not something to be proud of.If people with STD's want to shout something, how about the effects of their STD on themselves and those in their lives. How about this one #ShoutYourStatus "I have herpes, now any child I have will have a chance to suffer eye infections, blindness, seizure disorders, and respiratory illness for their entire life through birth-acquired herpes. I'm still hot, though!"
How about #ActResponsibly or #SpreadingDiseaseIsNotHot.There is no way to spin STD's and the spread of them as a good thing - there just isn't. There is no way to disconnect STD's and the spread of them from promiscuity no matter how hard you try, because the two are intrinsically linked. STD's are primarily spread through sex. Having multiple partners increases the risk of contracting and spreading STD's - even to your future children, as you so kindly pointed out. Celebrating this rather than acknowledging that behavioral changes need to be made in order to prevent the suffering caused by the spread of STD's insane.
-
-
Zeana Bey > allie B • 2 months ago see moreExcept for all the cases in which STD'S are caught outside of sex, and all the std's that are caught despite trying to be monogamous (rape survivors, trusting spouses whose partners cheat, babies born to mothers with an std, or in the case of herpes simply being kissed or having any kind of non sexual skin contact.You can try to explain those methods of infection away all you want (we have ways to reduce that etc) but it does not mean that people aren't contacting std's because of those things either. So you can either accept that there is a whole lot more to this than just sexual promiscuity and let people support one another by showing them that life can and does go on with an STD and STDs do not define you as a person or you can continue to depict everyone with an STD as promiscuous, morally bankrupt, irresponsible and doomed to a horrific life (despite all the evidence to the contrary) and continue to perpetuate an incorrect narrative that continues to emotionally harm people when they are at their most vulnerable.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Glebs Litvjaks • 2 months ago see moreOh, I see Rafaella - the same insane feminist harpy that tried to get people fired for saying mean things to her. I was expecting to see her since having an STI is one of the very few things she achieved in her life.