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Main Forums => Positive Women => Topic started by: engineergirl on November 11, 2008, 12:34:40 am

Title: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: engineergirl on November 11, 2008, 12:34:40 am
Hi, I'm Amanda, Infected July 27, 2002. 

I remember sitting in the chair, waiting for the results.  I remember the faces of the people who once stood behind me in line, nervous, anxiously awaiting their results.  I remember each one of their numbers being called... while I sat, waiting, deep down already knowing...

"Amanda, you're test came back reactive to HIV antibodies"

HIV+

I am 29, I live in Utah (not exactly the best place to live a liberal lifestyle, but I like it here).  I'm from Massachusetts, well, not really... I was born there, but my family played military Uhaul hopscotch pretty much my entire young life. 

I moved to Utah to attend BYU.  It was great... The University of Utah was better...

I live with my partner (Jess) together we have four children (biologically, they are hers)...  I love her, and the children, they are my life.  Kids are: 17, 13, 10 & 7  I feel like I'm always busy.  Probably because I am.  But without them I'd be causing trouble somewhere I'm sure.

Hmm.. I work as an Engineer for a Fire Sprinkler Company.  Been there almost 6-years.  Love it.

Well, that's about it, that's me...

Oh yeah, I forgot the basics... I like the color blue, love to read, snowboard, mountain bike, and well.. write.

All the best,

Amanda

PS.  I look forward to forming lifelong friendships with individuals here on the forums... Utah is a lonely place as a 29-year-old HIV+ non-Mormon female...
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Dragonette on November 11, 2008, 04:30:24 am
Hi Amanda and welcome, greetings from the Netherlands.
Join the ladies thread just below (or above. depending on who posted last) this one and you'll find plenty of varied company.

Till soon, hugs
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: keepingfaith on November 11, 2008, 08:19:29 am
Welcome Amanda, Please do join us in the dating thread..
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: vivyt on November 11, 2008, 09:33:13 am
Hi Amanda!  :)
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Snowangel on November 11, 2008, 11:42:13 am
Welcome, Amanda!
I have 4 kids too, 10 and 3 - 5 year olds.  I also love to read, mostly crime novels.  I just turned 37, have been poz since 94 and still live in Mass.  ;D
Snow
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: BT65 on November 11, 2008, 06:06:54 pm
Hi Amanda,

Yes, please join us in the ladie's thread (if you haven't already). 

I'm Betty, 43 years old, been positive since 1989.  I look forward to getting to know you.
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: tendai on November 12, 2008, 04:09:00 am
Hi Amanda

welcome to the forums. im zimbabwean, 29 and single. we'd love to hear more from you!
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Lostgirl on November 12, 2008, 03:34:39 pm
Hi Amanda

Welcome to the Forums.  Your life sounds hectic, amazing and full of love!  (Even if it is in Utah! - Hear it is a beautiful State tho and would love to visit someday.)

I, and my husband, are from Scotland but presently living in Texas (cannot wait to get back home again as I miss my family!).  Also, its just too hot here for me!  Love being able to travel around the States tho.

Keep in touch.
Lorraine x
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: netta on November 13, 2008, 11:10:31 am
Welcome Amanda  :-*
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Sweet_C on November 14, 2008, 07:31:34 pm
Hi Amanda!!  You seem like a really cool person! 

I'm 34 from Georgia and just tested positive two months ago.
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: engineergirl on November 17, 2008, 01:41:10 pm
I deleted it... Probably a better forum for that.

Thanks...

 ;)
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: BT65 on November 18, 2008, 05:23:07 pm
Amanda, I would pm one of the moderators about that (like Ann).  I'm not sure what the "rules" are on stuff like this.
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: engineergirl on December 15, 2008, 06:32:51 pm
It's been an interesting couple weeks...

www.amandajbrown.blogspot.com

Amanda
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: engineergirl on December 18, 2008, 03:35:18 pm
QSaltLake did it, and the ACLU called...
 
http://amandajbrown.blogspot.com/
 
“The beginning of the end of life is when we remain silent about things that matter” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Amanda
 
Title: For Sale: Pride
Post by: engineergirl on December 23, 2008, 12:28:57 am
I'm selling my PRIDE on eBay... Check it out:

www.amandajbrown.blogspot.com

http://cgi.ebay.com/For-Sale-PRIDE-Ive-got-nothing-to-lose_W0QQitemZ170289234994QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item170289234994&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Veritee on December 31, 2008, 10:23:58 am
Haven't we all kissed a girl?

- well I certainly have and really quite a few but not for some years!.

Although am bisexual and at one time counted myself as fully lesbian and was hugely involved in the feminist, lesbian separatist movement in the UK in the 1970s I have been faithful married to a man since I was 32ish ( mid 80s) - funny how life changes!!!!

 So I have not kissed anyone but him for all those years!! sad isn't it really as he did ( i.e he kissed another girl)  and gave me HIV!!

Anyway I just wanted to say hello

Veritee
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Veritee on December 31, 2008, 10:24:43 am
PS did you sell your pride?

As the link said the listing had been removed?
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: engineergirl on December 31, 2008, 10:52:49 am
www.amandajbrown.blogspot.com

eBay removed the listing for inappropriate links.

I changed the "Pride for sale" to a donation button on my blog.

Thanks for looking...

Amanda
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Veritee on December 31, 2008, 11:05:01 am
great - I have looked at your blog, support anyone who blogs on theses issues so if I can afford it after the new year I will donate something if it goes to help those with HIV - what do you do with donations?
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: Veritee on December 31, 2008, 12:22:16 pm
Read your blog more thoroughly - sorry I have not been on here for a while so am catching up.

It is so absolutely dreadful that you had this reaction when you went public about our HIV to the press.

As I did the same in a UK national newspaper and a few other local papers and radio stations,  I think for the same reasons as you did??

 - in the hope that it would raise awareness that us women with HIV exist and the pressures we face ( but the article was not done well and did not represent my views as they were only interested in the sensation of my husband giving HIV to me and that actually did not matter to me much, even though it was reported this way in the paper
Anyway my article can be read here: http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=my-husband-caught-aids-then-infected-me&method=full&objectid=20607784&siteid=93463-name_page.html

but for me I was lucky in that it did not lead to any adverse reactions or consequences that we had not already had through HIv itself

In fact what it led to was absolutely no reaction at all!! No one was interested at all really and I wished that had been.

but while I wish my going public had had more of a result as while it might look like it was easy it was not in fact easy for me to do and took me a lot of courage.....................................

my heart goes out to you that this has been the consequences for you.
Perhaps why it has not had any ongoing negative consequences for me is that I had already semi-retired form work due to a disability and so I could not lose my job and my husband lost his job automatically when he was diagnosed ( as his company do not allow seamen with HIv to hold a valid seamans ticket so he can no longer got to sea and do his job)

But I am pretty certain had I don't this when I was working as a youth worker for a local authority it may have been the same for me

So I am so sorry about your situation as you have been so brave

Wish you and your family much love - I will donate when I can

Veritee
Title: Re: "I kissed a girl," she said.
Post by: engineergirl on January 22, 2009, 01:12:03 am
It's been a while since I updated everyone on the current status of everything...

Disneyland, Reality, and Rabbit Holes:  www.lesbianmommas.blogspot.com (http://www.lesbianmommas.blogspot.com)

Wrongful Termination Lawyer:  www.amandajbrown.blogspot.com (http://www.amandajbrown.blogspot.com)