Dallas Bragg shares a painful moment when another parent told Girl Scouts not to share food or beds with his daughter, fearing HIV contagion from him being gay. He calls out the stigma and misinformation that hurt kids, urging people to learn the facts instead of spreading fear.
When I think back to all my experiences living with HIV, I think the most frustrating, shameful, embarrassing was the way that the parents of the children who hung out with my children behaved. Especially this one particular mom. My daughter was in Girl Scout troop, and when the mom— didn't even know I had HIV yet, she just knew I was gay— she instructed all the girls To not drink after my daughter. Make sure you do not eat after my my daughter, and when they went on trips, no one would sleep in the same bed with my daughter in case they caught something. I want to say to you, don't be that person. Please take time to get educated. Don't be ignorant, and for the love of God, be careful about the fear. And the imprints and the messaging that you give to children.
