AIDS Affects People In Newtown

To the Editor:

As secretary of NYCAAP, Newtown Youth Creating AIDS Awareness for Peers, I am writing in response to the recent display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt at Newtown High School. NYCAAP is a group of high school students who work towards educating the community about HIV and AIDS. I feel that the quilt was a wonderful success in portraying the message of NYCAAP – the message that HIV and AIDS are real things that affect real people.

Unfortunately, I also see the cases where this is not true. In talking with my fellow NYCAAP members, I have come to realize that by some people, our message is not completely received. Thus, as a trained and certified HIV/AIDS Peer Educator, I would like to restate it.

HIV and AIDS are real things that affect real people, even in the sheltered town of Newtown. There are currently 29 reported cases of AIDS in Newtown. That number is the third highest in the ten town region, with only Danbury and New Milford reporting more. AIDS does not discriminate. It does not care about your age, your sex, your race, your religion, or your sexual orientation.

More importantly, please remember that HIV is preventable. Abstinence or at least practicing safe, protected sex and opting not to drink or use drugs reduce the chance of infection. Please don’t say, “It can’t happen to me.” Instead, say, “It won’t happen to me because I don’t engage in risky behavior.” This disease is controllable. The last thing I would want for anyone is to have their loved ones sewing them a panel.

I hope that this message is clear. It is not intended to offend, only to educate. Thank you for your time, and remember, be safe.

Sincerely,

Laura Amodeo

Secretary, NYCAAP

39 Parmalee Hill Road, Newtown   December 14, 2000