I found this video series just last week, and I’ve watched all four parts. I was moved enough by its message to want to share it with you. I’m only posting the first video (maybe I’ll post more), but I am recommending all all four videos.
To be clear, I do not endorse, nor recommend the medical facility that created the video series. I DO endorse it’s message of open and hones sharing as a family, and of open and honest talking about sex, and about STIs, and about HIV. I’m just wanting to be clear that I have nothing to do with this organization. So while I cannot speak to the organization itself, I would say that by them creating the video series, they must genuinely care about the communities they serve.
I also want to note that at one point, at the end of the 2nd movie one of the stars says “Don’t be ashamed.” That’s the only place that I have a small point of correction. I get the point of not being ashamed, but telling someone not to feel something isn’t the way to go. This is a super small critique, but I thought it needed to be said. Telling people not to feel a certain way is telling someone to deny their genuine experience.
It’s common and cultural for people to say “Oh, don’t feel that way.” But! That very statement is what shuts many people down from feeling their very own feelings. Especially when we hear these messages at a young age and continue hearing these messages. It’s a good intention to not want others to feel pain, but, telling me not to feel isn’t effective in stopping pain, it just sends a message that I shouldn’t feel it.
All that said!…This video series addresses HIV in the Latino/Latina communities, and I fully support this message. HIV is prevalent in the Latino community, and especially here in the Los Angeles area. The video series actually models how to have open and healthy discussion about sex, about HIV, and about other sexually transmitted infections. THAT conversation simply doesn’t happen…nearly as often as I’d like, AND, it’s a conversation that we can have.
Lastly before I show the video, I also want to mention that here in the Los Angeles area, HIV in the African American, and in the Youth, as well as in the Latin communities is sky rocketing as compared with the Caucasian communities in the United States.
This video series addresses it this topic HEAD ON, and for that I say Well Done.
Here’s the video: