Editor's Note: Attention, Attention is a new column we are bring to the people to keep them informed about sexual health issues.   We are pleased to be working with William Brawner, a ten-year veteran of sexual health issues education. So listen up and pay attention, attention!

While working with the HIV/AIDS community I have come across a number of HIV positive people. As many of us already know, society has placed an extremely negative stigma of people with HIV. Most HIVers desperately want to share their story, but are terrified of the repercussions. A close friend, who happens to be positive, decided that he would like for me to incorporate an anonymous letter into my presentations.

The author is a 25-year-old heterosexual African-American male. He has been positive for 24 years and does not look sickly. While reading this letter realizes that this person could be your next door neighbor, relative, or even significant other.

Dear World,

I am a heterosexual male who has been positive for over 20 years. I was infected by a blood transfusion when I was 18 months old my mother did not inform me of my condition until I was 5 years of age. Since then I have been living the world's biggest lie.

Along with the regular pressures of life, you know, saving money, paying bills, and keeping a job. Life has forced me to deal with this chronic illness. Oh, remember when I say chronic illness I mean that there is no cure and the disease will most likely be the cause of my death. So please take a second, close your eyes and try to imagine these feelings.

After waking up and thanking God for another day, I then take 8-12 pills with horrendous side effects. I mean extreme stomach and headaches, loose bowels, and nausea just to name a few. Then I have to go out into the world to hear ignorant comments about positive people. You have heard them.. People with AIDS are faggots or dirty skinny drug addicts. Or my favorite, ãthose people deserve everything that has happened to them.ä

Not to mention my additional concerns. Possibly not living a full life span. Never being able to have children or an honest relationship. The most frightening is someone finding out and telling the rest of the world.

I am over 20 years old and not one person on earth knows any of this. No one knows that I have had fevers as high as 104 followed by night sweets so severe that you could actually ring sweet out of the bed sheets. No one knows any of this not friends, very few family members, NOBODY!

I beg the people of the world to please protect themselves. If you having sex use a condom. If there is no condom present simply do not have sex. Get tested and more importantly after getting get the results. In the form and educate others so people who are positive may feel more comfortable in this world. Just do yourself a favor and not end up in this situation.

Stay tuned for more Attention, Attention and email any comments to community@geoclan.com