Today I Rock the Red Pump Because I Care – Living Outside the Stacks

I care about the women and girls who will be diagnosed with HIV/AIDs. I care about the women and girls whose lives will be affected by HIV/AIDs. I care about the families who will be devastated by this preventable disease.

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDs Awareness Day. It was established by the Office on Women’s Health to raise awareness about HIV/AIDs infection among women and girls in 2006. Women and girls represent more than a quarter of all new HIV infections in the United States. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, more than 278,000 women and adolescent girls in this country are living with HIV.

Women of color will be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDs. In fact, AIDs is the leading cause of death for Black women between the ages of 25 and 34.

Sisters, we have to protect ourselves. Make sure you:

~ Know your status
~ Practice safe sex
~ Avoid risky behavior
~ Talk about HIV prevention with friends and family
~ Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDs

To help raise awareness, I have dedicated today’s blog post to The Red Pump Project which was started by Karyn of The Fabulous Giver and Luvvie of Awesom ely Luvvie. The red pump symbolizes the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDs or who have been affected by it both directly and indirectly.

I will also Rock the Red Pump throughout the day to show support for my sisters who are living with HIV/AIDs. Pictures from various Rock the Red Pump events will be posted on flickr. Feel free to upload pictures of yourself and your red pumps to the group.

To find an HIV testing station near you, go here.

Be safe,

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