Young man seeks to humanize HIV, teach peers
Submitted on August 9, 2006 - 12:00am.
A.N. Hernández - Summer 2006
Kahlo Benavidez, 20, represents a handful of U.S. minority populations.
He is young. He is gay. He is Hispanic. He is HIV positive.
He is also unashamed of his past and wants to be something few people would be willing to be – a face for HIV.
“I thought maybe by explaining my story and making it seem more real to people, there would be some reason behind me being HIV positive, and I could turn this experience into something constructive,” he said.
Benavidez was the first speaker chosen to participate in a nationwide tour called “Operation: Get Tested,” which is aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV in young people.
He is young. He is gay. He is Hispanic. He is HIV positive.
He is also unashamed of his past and wants to be something few people would be willing to be – a face for HIV.
“I thought maybe by explaining my story and making it seem more real to people, there would be some reason behind me being HIV positive, and I could turn this experience into something constructive,” he said.
Benavidez was the first speaker chosen to participate in a nationwide tour called “Operation: Get Tested,” which is aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV in young people.
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