“Living With AIDS I read the article about a man who talks about how you can still have a life when you have AIDS [“you Can Still Have A Life When You Have AIDS—But You Also Must Think About Death,” January-February 99]. It is good to see how a 36-year-old man looks healthy and is […]
“Living With AIDS
I read the article about a man who talks about how you can still have a life when you have AIDS [“you Can Still Have A Life When You Have AIDS—But You Also Must Think About Death,” January-February 99]. It is good to see how a 36-year-old man looks healthy and is strong although he has AIDS . . .
Support from your family in some cases is what gives you the energy that you need to survive . . . It is good to see how Michael’s parents gave him support when he told them that he was HIV positive. This is the time in which you know that your family is the most important thing in the world. It is good for us to read these kind of articles because this is the only way we could understand how hard life may be sometimes.
Rosa Luna, 16, Verdugo Hills HS
HIV and STDs
The article “AIDS: Don’t Gamble Your Life” and the other ones on sexually transmitted diseases were very interesting. Many people, especially teens, ignore the fact that having unprotected sex will bring many disadvantages such as getting pregnant or even getting an STD . . . Many of these people [in the articles] didn’t pay attention to what might happen to them or what could become of that one night.
It was also good that you posted the chart of common STDs and their symptoms. That way people who are sexually active or even just looking for information can look and see what is really going on. Hopefully these articles will be read by most and appreciated by many.
Cristina Parada, Verdugo Hills HS
Speaking out on Homosexuality
The various articles written about homosexuality with teens really touched me. It hurts me to know that people are so mean and cruel about things that are different. I realized that people are mean and cruel because they fear anything that goes beyond the status quo, but that doesn’t make it right. I hope that some day soon, the world can be more open-minded and accept gays, lesbians and bisexuals as people and not as freaks.
Porshe Arterberry, 16, Dorsey HS
As I was reading through your newspaper, I stumbled upon a lot of stories of people being homosexual and coming out of the closet. I was anything but moved.
For one thing, I don’t want gay people near me or in my classes. The fact that they’re human is irrelevant. I don’t care what they do, just keep them and their thoughts away from me . . . Thank you for letting me share my thoughts.
Seth Craig, 16, Verdugo Hills HS
The article I read “Just Because Something’s Different Doesn’t Mean It’s Wrong” . . . changed my life in a big way. I have learned that calling someone a name like “queer” or “gay” is wrong. It made me think what it would feel like if the shoe was on the other foot. I wouldn’t feel good or happy if someone called me gay or queer. I would probably feel hurt and offended. Overall, this article changed my whole outlook on myself as well as other people.
Teak Ly, 14, Verdugo Hills HS
Why doesn’t LA Youth write about functional teens?
The only LA YouthI have read is the January-February issue, so my complaints may be completely unfounded, but I was displeased when I saw how few articles [there are] related to me, the sexually-inactive, fine-with-the-way-things-are kid who comes from a functional two-parent household. Am I doomed to spend my life reading back issues of Mad? I don’t think the average teen would read this on his or her own.
Nathan Wasilewski, 14, Verdugo Hills HS”