Herpes Awareness Day is finally upon us, and HANDS (Herpes Activists Networking to Dismantle Stigma) is thrilled to unveil the results of the Tell Your Story Survey! Hashtags #hands #handsstands #herpesawarenessday #had Thanks to the incredibly diligent work of the Awareness Campaign Committee and the committee’s Chair, KellyAnne Herman, on Friday, September 13th, HANDS launched […]
Herpes Stories
HSV2 – I Have Been So Fortunate – Herpes Interviews
It’s always so refreshing to read about supportive friends and family members – people who don’t judge someone who has contracted HSV2, but instead, embrace them. Bravo to this interviewee’s support network, because they are the one’s getting it right. Many people get diagnosed and then deal with slut-shaming, disparaging remarks from their medical practitioners, […]
HSV1 Oral and Genital – Rumors Circulated – Herpes Interviews
Having experienced how painful it can be to have your personal information circulated in a rumor, I’m thoroughly impressed by this interviewee’s resolve to move forward and remove the toxic people from her life. Whether true or not, details about your health, your body, and your sex life are no one’s business but your own. […]
Genital HSV1 – There’s a lot Your Doctor Doesn’t Know – Herpes Interviews
When we think about medical practitioners, it’s easy to forget that they’re just people, like the rest of us. Some of them are well-informed, empathetic, and thorough, while others project their own stigma onto us as they’re handing out a new diagnosis. Some of the not so good ones just lack a comprehensive understanding of […]
Herpes – So What if I Have an STD – Herpes Interviews
We believe that advocacy can take many forms. Not everyone needs to or should ‘come out’ publicly; that’s not necessary to be an advocate for yourself and/or others. Sometimes, just sharing your story anonymously, like this interviewee has, is all that you can do, and that’s enough. That alone takes an incredible amount of courage. […]
HSV2 – Trying to See the Positives – Herpes Interviews
Were you judgy about people with herpes before you were diagnosed? Yup? Us too. Did you think only certain kinds of people contracted HSV? Yup? Us too. Were you sure that HSV2 wasn’t something you ever had to worry about? Yup? Us too. But we were all so wrong. And that’s ok. This interviewee is […]
HSV2 – It Has Made Me Honest – Herpes Interviews
Thank you, interviewee, for your honesty and candor about disclosing to past partners. It’s so important that we don’t beat ourselves up over the decisions we regret and instead, learn from those experiences. You are not alone in having made that choice, only to regret it later, and those feelings help us to understand other […]
Would You Like to Share Your Story? – Herpes Interviews
Want to help eradicate Herpes stigma? Want to change the way people view you, your loved ones, and all of the people who contract Herpes and are living with an STD/STI? Share your story! An easy-to-use Interview Template Simply fill in your answers below and send them via the contact form. Your interview will remain […]