Billy believes that being a Sex and Justice Fellow is important because there are a lot of health and safety issues affecting individuals and families around the world. As a college graduate from Rutgers University (NJ), he has had the opportunity to learn about many of these topics. Now, he’d like to share what he knows and continue to learn through this network at Americans for Informed Democracy. Why? Because the more you know, the more you can help. Billy has been studying and writing about HIV/AIDS issues for awhile. While he thinks the biology of the virus is fascinating on its own, he’s even more interested in the sociological and psychological impact of HIV/AIDS, and what current initiatives are promising while others are not. On a lighter note, he recalls having had 6 dogs in his house… at the same time. According to him, “It was nuts!”
Billy Tsang – Fellow
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Can your school host a “V-Day movement” to end violence against women and girls?
"V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery." -Vday.org Founded by Eve Ensler after the success of her solo show “The Vagina Monologues”, she used the show as well as other plays she has written … [Read more...]
Ten common myths about HIV/AIDS (and the real facts!)
Think you've got it all figured out? Check out ten common myths about HIV/AIDS. Share the facts with friends and family. Information is a powerful weapon! Myth No. 1: I can get HIV by being around people who are HIV-positive. The evidence shows that HIV is not spread through touch, tears, sweat, or saliva. Fact: You cannot catch HIV by: Breathing the same air as someone who is HIV-positive Touching a toilet seat or doorknob handle after an HIV-positive person Drinking from a water fountain Hugging, kissing, or shaking hands with someone who … [Read more...]
Quick facts about HIV/AIDS in the United States
On World AIDS Day, tomorrow, we are reminded of an epidemic that has persisted in the U.S. for over 30 years. As we become more connected to world events, it’s easy to see that HIV/AIDS is a global pandemic, affecting individuals and families across every spectrum. It is hardly predictable but very preventable. In advance of World AIDS Day on December 1, the Kaiser Family Foundation has updated a number of its key resources on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These updated resources can be found here: HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheets I invite you to take a … [Read more...]
HIV/AIDS: Key points from a study on men who have sex with men and injection drug-use in Tanzania
Hi again, this is Billy Tsang writing about HIV/AIDS in Africa. In recognition of the upcoming World AIDS Day, I ask you to consider the power that research and advocacy has in advancing innovative methods to combat HIV/AIDS. Article Title: HIV risk and the overlap of injecting drug use and high-risk sexual behaviours among men who have sex with men in Zanzibar (Unguja), Tanzania by Johnston LG, et al. (2010). Background: Much of the past research on HIV prevalence and sexual risk behaviors in Africa has focused on heterosexual populations. In … [Read more...]
Exploring HIV/AIDS in Africa: Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana
I’ve recently gotten interested in HIV/AIDS in Africa, and decided to investigate some current studies on HIV prevalence, culture, and risk prevention. The following are summaries of two articles that look at Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana, as well as my take on what they mean to research on these issues more broadly. To start, it’s important to highlight the difficulty many researchers have had in conducting studies on HIV/AIDS. This is largely due to the fact that homosexuality is illegal in many parts of Africa. As you read about these, tell … [Read more...]
Educate yourself about HIV/AIDS
In three-decades since the emergence of the HIV/AIDS, it has grown from an epidemic to a pandemic. While I can only speak for myself, I can say that this is a topic that I do not think about every day. Yet for many others, whether directly confronted or indirectly affected, HIV/AIDS is something that is relentless and constantly on their minds. This is an issue that has not gone away. There are no veritable vaccines and the medications and programs that treat it are limited to those who can afford treatment. Do you sometimes wonder what’s going on with … [Read more...]
30 years in, we are still learning from AIDS
The New York Times recently published an article called “30 Years In, We Are Still Learning From AIDS” by Laurence K. Altman. This summary timeline, although brief, gives us an idea of how the US dealt with the rise of this epidemic and where it stands when it comes to understanding and combating HIV/AIDS. Those who study the history of AIDS in the US can fill in the blanks regarding the scientific inconsistencies and mass hysteria surrounding the disease. Once it was discovered that seroconversion (changing from HIV- to HIV+) could occur through … [Read more...]
RutgersONE hosts The Lazarus Effect: Antiretroviral Drugs in Africa
January 19, 2011 A few weeks ago, the ONE Chapter at Rutgers University (NJ) hosted its first viewing of The Lazarus Effect. Its goal was to educate the student body and faculty at Rutgers about the powerful effect of antiretroviral drugs in saving the billions of people living with HIV/AIDS. For one night, RutgersONE provided viewers with a profound documentary that gave insight to the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. It had the help of the Rutgers University student body, RED, Global Fund, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ONE, … [Read more...]
A Glimpse at The Cost of AIDS/HIV by 2031
As the global HIV/AIDS pandemic nears the end of its third decade, recent updates in the fight against HIV/AIDS are raising concerns over the ability of low and middle-income countries to maintain momentum. Global economic factors such as regulations, patents, and personal incentives for pharmaceutical companies contribute to the challenges that struggling economies face in setting aside resources to combat HIV/AIDS. Leaders and their constituents alike often face great frustration in navigating these channels. Dr. Robert Hecht and associates began a … [Read more...]
Student thoughts on HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria
By Billy Tsang Billy is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about Billy below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. A quandary in advocacy today is that many young people do not relate to HIV/AIDS nor diseases prominent in underdeveloped nations such as malaria and tuberculosis. People know more about the diseases that matter to them. In past several decades public health initiatives and improved quality of life have reduced once widespread cases of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis are now … [Read more...]
