Crossing Borders, Building Bridges

Christopher Davis, a Yuba College student who tested positive for HIV in 1996, spoke to those in attendance at the latest Crossing Borders, Building Bridges event on being gay, living with HIV, and dealing with these factors in the context of his family. Davis, having been introduced by Professor Neelam Canto-Lugo, announced that this was his first time conducting a Crossing Borders, Building Bridges presentation. Davis spoke about how, when he took his HIV test in 1996, he had a bad feeling about the coming results. “I’m sitting there thinking,’what if I’m HIV positive?”, he said. Although Davis had taken the test many times before, he discovered that this would be the test that he would have to live with for the rest of his life. Davis tested positive and proceeded to tell his mother, who did not take the news well. Now knowing the difference between HIV and AIDS, Davis’ mother, who lost her oldest child to AIDS, is attributed by Davis to say, ‘I’ve lost my oldest child, and now I’m going to lose my baby.’ Davis explained the difference between AIDS and HIV, and said that, although you do not have the same dangers in HIV that are present in AIDS, living with HIV is not easy. He went on to describe how he did not take the prescribed pills for his illness until 2005, and this led to a trip to the hospital. Davis affirmed that medication has improved since 1996, and, he said, “I live with the three H’s: hope, happiness, and HIV”. Davis told how he acquired HIV and explained how, growing up locally and attending Yuba City High School, he suffered due to his sexual orientation. Davis said that, since he was first diagnosed with HIV, things have gotten somewhat better for gays in this area, “I want to live every day like it’s my last day.” But then he cited a letter in the Appeal Democrat as proof of the close-mindedness of many people. The letter was designed as an attack on gays in general and this kind of content is what bothered Davis. Davis stated that, although he has had over two-hundred sexual partners, he has been with his present partner for eight years.