@A myHIVteam Member Greetings Ryan,
I don't live in Kentucky however many of the aspects of having and living with HIV is universal.
Where I live in Hawaii on the island of Maui, HIV Care is available on all the Hawaiian Islands.
Ryan White funding is available nationwide and easily accessible if you qualify for its support.
Stigma only exists if you allow it. We can't change people's mindset of how they feel about being around people with HIV, especially if they know your status. Best practice is not to let those who don't need to know, know your status. I have experienced stigma in the form of medical/dental care where you initially fill out registration forms when seeing a doctor or dentist for the first time and you disclose your status on the registration's forms. Let's face it, we have to live in honesty if we are going to get somewhere regarding our treatment, sometimes being honest by disclosing comes with some level of mistreatment by those we pay to treat us. The level of care diminishes when the caregiver is aware that I have HIV and they put on masks and gloves while other patients aren't subject to these extra measures taken by the caregiver whether it be a dental assistant, nurse, or even a doctor you are seeing for the first time, there is hesitancy and you will know it and feel it. Knowing your rights and access to treatment is key to getting the deserved care we can expect. One of the biggest and most influential support I get is right here, right now on My HIV Team, along with the resources available at my local Maui Aids Foundation. It is unfortunate that our current administration does not support the LGBTQ community in most of its forms. Even if the person is not a part of the LGBTQ community, everyone is bottled up into one group based on stigma putting them into that group.
1- Access to care is available in most major urban areas of the US, not so much in the rural areas, you will have to travel to access care.
2- Stigma will exist if you allow it to become deciding factors in your daily life. Identify it, recognize the difference in treatment, and address it right there and then, don't allow it to pass and become an acceptable form of treatment or lack thereof. We have to stomp it out, or you can simply ignore it. Never disclose to people you can't trust with this private information. Its implications will follow you throughout your life with no bad intent of your own, you will be looked at through a different set of eyes with judgement behind it. Let it go.
3- Support is everywhere today. You are at/with one of the best support systems that exists right here. Be engaged, contribute, ask questions, help in building a stronger, more resilient support system by being a part of My HIV Team, you will not regret its invaluable support. Aloha and be well my friend.

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