Welcome to Glitter World

As I started writing about my experiences, I found myself using the term ‘HSV’ over ‘herpes.’ I realized it had a different effect on what I was saying. HSV is way more stealth: most people, unless they know they’re positive for it or are unusually well-versed in sexual health terminology, don’t know what this acronym stands for. But it sure sounds medical, and thus legitimate, making it easier to talk about herpes without implicating deviance, morality, disgust. For once people might regard your situation as a valid health issue, rather than something to be mocked or dismissed as your fault. Eventually, though, I transitioned into using ‘herpes’ intentionally. BECAUSE it is more visceral, BECAUSE of all its connotations. I have discovered a certain power in this word: in uttering it, I force people to reckon with what I am. To sit with their discomfort.

if you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my

Don’t Be Worried About Those Thanksgiving Calories

Shout out to the people living with an STD/STI

You’ve heard of Netflix and Chill, but have you heard of