Speak your mind on our #PWNspeaks blog!

You have a lot of thoughts, feelings, and opinions…whether about health, relationships, or politics, your experience as a woman (cis and trans), gender diverse, or trans person living with HIV has helped shape your views, and those views deserve to be heard.

We welcome all submissions from women (cis and trans), gender diverse, and trans people living with HIV.

Write about whatever you like…or use one of the prompts below to get started. To read blogs by other PWN-USA members, scroll down to the bottom of this page for a list.

Posts can be as long or short as you like. You can also make a video blog (or vlog) post instead if you prefer!

We can post in your name or anonymously–please specify when you submit. PWN-USA’s communications team is ready to provide editing support as needed or desired.

To submit a blog post, email a written blog post or a link to your vlog post on YouTube to communications(at)pwn-usa.org. Please allow 3 or more business days for blog posts to be edited and posted. You may be contacted by email for more information or to approve an edited version of your post. PWN reserves the right not to publish blogs that do not align with our values. Thanks for speaking up!

#PWNSpeaks Blog Posts

• Living Obituary in Protest by Bee (Brandi) Velasquez (03/16/26)
• Pre-Obituary (Prayer Obituary): A Testimony of Resilience by Grace Rutha (03/16/26)

• Meds and My Mamma Mia Dads by Brooke Davidoff (10/30/25)

• My New Motto SHOW UP & SHOW OUT by Lashanda Salinas (06/04/24)
• AIDSWatch 2024 Series:
  • Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Expertise, We’re In This Together! by Susan Mull (04/15/24)
  • My Road to AIDSWatch 2024 by Marcya Gullatte (04/15/24)
  • We’re Making History for People Living with HIV, This is AIDSWatch!! by Katie Willingham (04/15/24)
  • AIDSWatch 2024, We’re In This Together by Tana Pradia (04/15/24)

• Kenya Moussa’s First Time at USCHA: An Interview by Victoria Siciliano (Ally) (10/13/23)
• My USCHA Experience by Myra Ann Franks (09/29/23)
• Lonely, Not Alone by Marcya Gullatte (09/20/23) 
• Talking about Trans Day of Visibility by Arianna Jones and Octavia Y. Lewis (03/31/23)

• Abortion and HIV Criminalization: The Right to Bodily Autonomy by Mira Lerner (08/12/22)
• Reproductive Justice and Roe v. Wade by Lisa Johnson-Lett (08/10/22)
• Reflections on PWN-Alabama’s Policy Training by Katie Willingham (04/04/22)
• We’ve Come This Far by Faith by Sallie Thomas (Ally) (03/23/22)

• Black Girls Living with HIV and their Dreams by Evany Turk (11/22/21)
• Am I God’s Joke? by Medusa (06/25/21)
• Getting The Right Diagnosis Saved My Life by Katie Willingham (04/26/21)
• Empowerment by Michelle Troxell (03/09/21)
• Blood Sisters by Connie Johnson (03/08/21)
• Invitation to Love Hate by Lepena Reid (03/08/21)
• Who Is Sleeping in My Bed with Me? by Naimah Oneal (03/08/21)
• Re•sil•ient by Bridgette (03/08/21)

• Amazingly Me by Stacy Jennings (09/14/20)
• HIV Long Term Survivor Practices Self Care During COVID-19 by Angel Stetson (06/22/20)
• Equality and Justice For All: The Time Is Now by Brooke Davidoff (06/22/20)
• To a Newly Diagnosed Person Living with HIV by Rymsky Evans (06/05/20)
• COVID19 in the Eyes of a Long Term Survivor by Tana Pradia (06/03/20)
• The Courage to Thrive by Susan Mull (06/03/20)
• Hunted, by Helena B. (06/03/20)
• Mad Black Woman in 2020 by Tana Pradia (05/30/20)
• Self Reflections During COVID-19 Quarantine by Angel Stetson (05/20/20)
• HIV, BPD and IPV at the Intersection of Pain, Guilt, and Shame by Sarah Beth St. Marie (04/16/20)
• Telehealth Is a Lifeline for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Like Me by Connie Shearer (03/31/20)
• My Journey Out of Intimate Partner Violence by Angel Stetson (03/31/20)
• Coronavirus- What Does It Mean for Folks Living with HIV and Preexisting Conditions by Brooke Davidoff (03/05/20)
• Not the Type of HELP Act People Living with HIV Need by Shyronn Jones (02/21/20)
• Why the CD4% Is a More Stable Indication of a Healthy Immune System by Connie Shearer (02/10/20)
• Healthy Beyond Physical Looks by Lepena Reid (01/05/20)

• Mad Love by Connie Shearer (10/22/19)
• A Woman’s Pain in Intimate Partner Violence by Tana Pradia (10/10/19)
• We Can Live Again by Angel Stetson (10/10/19)
• PTSD, Trauma and HIV by Brooke Davidoff (09/19/19)
• Reproductive Rights in The Eyes of a Black Woman by Tana Pradia (08/14/19)
• Father with HIV Urges Community to Stand Up for Family Values by Bernard Young
• When a Family Is Separated by Donna (08/06/19)
• Could I Lose My Kids as I Seek Asylum by Anonymous (06/31/19)
• HIV Ignorantly and Inaccurately Identified as a Communicable Disease, ICE Officials Say Grounds to Remove Children from Parents by Janine Brignola (06/31/19)
• Separating Families Based on HIV Status Is Unconscionable by Tami Haught (06/31/19)
• Families Must Be Reunited #ClosetheCamps by Anthony Johnson (06/31/19)
• How Can Officials Separate Families Because of Parent’s HIV Status by Jessica Warren (06/31/19)
• Mother with HIV Denounces Family Separations Based on HIV by Jennifer Vaughn (06/31/19)
• Heart Attack by Brooke Davidoff (06/12/19)
• Dear Champion, Bad-Ass, Hellraiser, Advocate, Survivor, YOU by Kamaria Laffrey (06/05/19)
• Long Term Survivor: What It Means to Me by Olga Irwin (06/05/19)
• What Long Term Survivor Day Means to Me by Alecia Tramel (06/04/19)
• PWN-Georgia Dines and Dishes the Tea on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by Shyronn Jones (03/13/19)
• The Importance of Pap Smears by Brooke Davidoff (02/25/19)
• Learning to Swim by Katie Willingham (02/15/19)
• HIV Rapid Testing & Access to Antiretroviral Medications Must Be a Priority at Fulton County Jail by Shyronn Jones (02/08/19)
• Knives, Irrational Fears, and HIV by Brooke Davidoff (02/04/19)

• PWN Georgia Works to End Violence Against Women by Shyronn Jones (10/29/18)
• Domestic Violence: Silence=Death, by Angel S. (10/23/18)
• Living Out Loud by Elizabeth Drayden (10/10/18)
• Learning to Live My Truth More Fully by Tiommi Luckett
• This Is My Purpose by Sian Green (08/24/18)
• The Other Me by Sian Green (08/24/18)
• LuLu by jessiMona Cartwright-Biggs (07/10/18)
• Why I’m Protesting the Separation of Immigrant Families by Tana Pradia (06/26/18)
• BULI (Black United Leadership Institute) by Stacy Jennings (06/15/18)
• HIV De-Criminalization: Artist Interview & State Update by Shyronn Jones (06/14/18)
• This Moment!! by Monique Howell (06/11/18)
• My Story by Cheryl F. (06/04/18)
• How I Became an Advocate by Michelle Harris (06/01/18)
• Surviving My Choices by Angel Stetson (06/01/18)
• Puerto Rico by Rosa Rivera Avilés (06/01/18)
• My Life Today by Tana Pradia (06/01/18)
• My Spirit Will Not Be Broken! by Shyronn Jones (06/01/18)
• Long Term Survivors by Katie Willingham (06/01/18)
• My Life Journey by Yolanda Ross, LMSW, LCDC (05/07/18)
• What’s the 6-Word Reason at the Heart of Your Advocacy? Here’s Katie’s by Katie Willingham
• Top 5 Reasons Why Women Living with HIV Should Attend the Next SPEAK UP! Summit in 2020 by Shyronn Jones (04/25/18)
• Commission on the Status of Women by Shyronn Jones (04/03/18)
• PWN #NWGHAAD Sistas Organizing To Survive, by Kamaria Laffrey (03/20/18)
• National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by PWN-USA Greater Houston Area (03/10/18)
• What Speak Up! Did for Me by Olga Irwin (01/25/18)

• Reflections on World AIDS Day 2017, by Monique Howell (12/01/17)
• Finding Strength in Myself to Stay Safe, by Thandi (10/20/17)
• HIV Is Not a Crime! It’s Time to Speak Out, by Shyronn Jones (09/04/17)
• The Curse That Has Many Blessings, by Shelia Crockett
• How Do I Mobilize Relatives and Friends Who May Not Be Politically Aligned to #KillTheBill?, by Kari Hartel and Barb Cardell (06/26/17)
• America, by Shyronn Jones (06/26/17)
• Happy Birthday, PWN-USA!, by Lepena Reid (06/26/17)
• Policy Fellowship Update & Advocacy Strategies, by Shyronn Jones (05/31/17)
• Health Care Is Life. The AHCA Is Not, by Barb Cardell & Kari Hartel (05/24/17)
• Time to Roar for May Day and Immigrant Rights, by Barb Cardell (05/02/17)
• Colorado HIV Advocacy Day: Success!, by Barb Cardell (04/25/17)
• Who Would Have Thought?, by Meta Smith-Davis (04/03/17)
• All Women, All Rights at AIDSWatch 2017, by Jada Cardona (04/03/17)
• A First Time Peek from the Hill at AIDSWatch 2017, by Kamaria Laffrey (03/30/17)
• Georgia’s Fight to Modernize HIV Criminalization Laws, by Shyronn Jones (03/29/17)
• Women Living ’17, by Shyronn Jones (03/15/17)
• Health Care?? What Happened??, by Angel S. (03/14/17)
• National Women & Girls HIV Awareness Day, by Monique Howell (03/08/17)
• Bodily Autonomy, by Alexieindia Abrams (03/07/17)
• On My Journey Through Life and Healing a Broken Heart, by Tana Pradia (03/06/17)
• Advocating at AIDSWatch Georgia 2017, by Shyronn Jones (02/21/17)
• We Are the Change, by Stacy Jennings (02/07/17)
• Power, by Monique Howell (01/26/17)

• Anti-Racism & White Women Living with HIV, by Laurel Sprague
• My Journey Overcoming Internalized Racism, by Darlene
• Join Me in Fighting for Racial Justice!, by Kathleen G.
• Moving Forward with HIV in America: Drawing Strength from Our Past and Empowering Today’s Leaders, by Tranisha Arzah
• Opportunities for Involvement with the Atlanta HIV Planning Council, by Shyronn Jones
• Community Advocacy in Atlanta, by Shyronn Jones
• HIV Housing Community Feedback Forum, by Shyronn Jones
• Staying Positive: Women Living with HIV Speak Out Against Stigma, by Barb Cardell & Kari Hartel
• World AIDS Day in Atlanta, by Shyronn Jones
• What Does World AIDS Day Mean to You?, by Monique Howell
• Ending HIV Stigma, by Christina Carta
• What I Would Tell Another Woman about PWN Speak Up 2016, by Davina Conner
• Hiding Behind the Mask, by Christina Carta
• In the Spirit of the Summit: Healing the Brokenness, by Asha Molock
• Women Living with HIV Are Leading the Way, by Bruce Richman
• My Take on the Violence, by Angel S.
• Taking Back MY Life…, by Angel S.
• My Time at Speak Up! 2016, by Alicia Diggs
• You, WE Matter!, by Monique Howell-Moree
• It’s Time for Change, by Tiommi Luckett
• Little Girl Grows Up, by Teresa Sullivan
• PWN-USA Sisterhood, by Angel Vick
• Ready, Set, Grow! AIDS 2016, by Waheedah Shabazz-El
• Women Now!, by Monica Charleston
• Sex Work and HIV, by Tiommi Luckett
• Mirror, by Monique Howell-Moree
• Thanks for Teaching Me How to Be an Ally!, by Anna Forbes
• Eight Years of Courageous Authenticity, by Susan Mull
• Happy Birthday PWN-USA 2016, by Lepena Reid
• Happy Birthday PWN-USA!–A Voice for the Voiceless, by Alicia LuvLee Diggs
• Latina Voice–and Proud, by Maria Nogueira
• Eight Years PROUD, by Loren Jones
• Red Pocketbook Brunch in Atlanta, by Shyronn Jones
• Thoughts on HIV Is Not a Crime, by Monique Howell-Moree
• HIV Survivors Need Support, Not Jail Cells, by Monique Howell-Moree
• Mental Illness, HIV & Stigma, by Christina Carta
• A Purpose for Everything, by Princess
• Do You Ever Have Doubts?, by Christina Carta
• Sister Love Song, by Princess
• Wake-Up Call, by Princess
• Stress and How It Affects You, by Christina Carta
• My Story of Stigma, by Lisa Johnson-Lett
• We Are Sisters, by Princess
• Nilda Rodriguez, Who Are You?, by Loren Jones
• HIV Has Significantly Shaped My Life, but Does Not Define Me, by Priscilla Mahannah
• First-Timer at AIDSWatch 2016, by Niko
• Attending AIDSWatch for the Second Time, by Tranisha Arzah
• It’s All About Relationships, by Rachel Weissburg
• Love and Relationships, by Christina Carta
• Love Positive Women, by PowerSource
• Black Shame and HIV, by Loren Jones