Reed gets HIV test to help shed stigma

By Ernie Suggs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kasim Reed walked into City Hall’s familiar Conference Room 2 Wednesday afternoon to jump a new hurdle.

The Atlanta mayor usually comes into the room to meet with a sometimes-testy city council. But this time he was met by a man trained in administering rapid HIV tests.

“This is a disease that impacts all of the city,” Reed had said at a press conference earlier to urge widespread testing. “That is why I am going to participate and be tested as well.”

After a battery of medical questions, the technician handed the mayor an oral swab and instructed him on how to conduct the test – basically gathering saliva.

“Oh,” Reed said. “It is like brushing my teeth.”

And with that, it was over.

Twenty minutes later, the mayor would learn his status. So would dozens of others.

As part of events leading up to National HIV Testing Day on Sunday, Reed opened City Hall on Wednesday for anyone interested in getting tested. Atlanta has one of the highest HIV rates in the country and Reed’s test served as a huge symbolic gesture to help reduce the stigma of testing.

“It is the first step in creating awareness,” said Councilman Alex Wan, the development director for Jerusalem House, which provides housing and support services for people affected by HIV. “We need to do something to jump- start awareness. It is a selfish decision not to get tested.”

Kelvin Barlow got tested 10 years ago at the age of 17. He said he was using drugs and having sex, when his father, who does work in AIDS prevention and education, asked him to take a test.

“Two weeks later, [learned] I was HIV positive,” Barlow said.

Speaking mostly to high school students, who are participating in the city’s summer jobs program, Barlow said he wanted to be “uncensored” in his discussion with them, so he talked about how free, carefree and wild he once was.

“Although I look good, this ain’t every day,” said Barlow, who does not have full-blown AIDS. “But I don’t always have a smile on my face. I don’t always have my strength. It is not always easy.”

Barlow is now an HIV test counselor and prevention facilitator.

Although National HIV Testing Day is Sunday, various HIV and AIDS support groups will be conducting tests at various locations across the state throughout the week.

To find out other locations were HIV tests are conducted, call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

Or text knowit to 566948

Or log in to www.hivtest.org or www.actagainstaids.org