The Scandal
Cassey Weierbach was a speaker for Hope's Voice Road to Hope Tour 2005. I don't know the specifics if she did the whole tour or only a few stops, but I do remember that at our first stop (on my section of the '06 tour) at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA they kept asking about her. The only speaker that was with us that was on tour with her last year was Duane who, after our presentation, was grilled by a reporter trying to get info about this woman.
It is terribly unfortunate that someone in this day and age, with all the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS and with the limited resources that are available, would "fake it". As I prepare myself to spend a weekend with Hope's Voice starting tomorrow, I can't help but wonder what kind of attention this will draw or if it will have an impact on the atmosphere.
In this article here, from HIV Plus, it quotes Cassey as saying “All I’ve ever wanted was to educate people about an illness that I live with every day,” Weierbach says. “I’m at the end of the disease,and I want to use the time I have left to put all I have into this project.” (referring to the 2005 Road to Hope Tour).
I don't question anyone for wanting to educate people about HIV, and if she is confined to a wheelchair I have no doubt that she has some sort of illness or disability. However, for the life of me I do not understand what would bring someone to lie about having HIV. This just promulgates suspicions of people that do have HIV. Honestly, I'm highly considering going to get "tested" so I can have a + test result to show everyone. I had been considering it before since I never really got that experience (well I did, but I was 2 1/2 so what can ya do?). From this whole situation, it seems to me that she is a deeply troubled individual who is looking for attention, and a sense of belonging. For that, I can understand and I offer my heart out to her and can forgive her. With this whole situation though, I wonder how much damage she did. How many schools did she speak at that hung on her every word are now feeling stupid and reluctant to have someone else come in and talk about HIV? HIV doesn't have to be a death sentence in most cases if you know your status and you're conscientious about your health. How many of those that are newly diagnosed looked to her as being at the "end of the disease" and lost their hope for a future?
This whole thing makes me ill. I'm at a loss for words and am exasperated beyond belief when I think of the countless people that talk to me with fears of getting tested or finding out they are + and here this woman has just been pretending. None of us asked for HIV, none of us want to fight this fight or lead and live by example... if she wanted HIV so badly she could have gladly taken mine from me. Shame things don't work out this way.
What are your thoughts?
what an appropriate music choice - thanks itunes.
It is terribly unfortunate that someone in this day and age, with all the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS and with the limited resources that are available, would "fake it". As I prepare myself to spend a weekend with Hope's Voice starting tomorrow, I can't help but wonder what kind of attention this will draw or if it will have an impact on the atmosphere.
In this article here, from HIV Plus, it quotes Cassey as saying “All I’ve ever wanted was to educate people about an illness that I live with every day,” Weierbach says. “I’m at the end of the disease,and I want to use the time I have left to put all I have into this project.” (referring to the 2005 Road to Hope Tour).
I don't question anyone for wanting to educate people about HIV, and if she is confined to a wheelchair I have no doubt that she has some sort of illness or disability. However, for the life of me I do not understand what would bring someone to lie about having HIV. This just promulgates suspicions of people that do have HIV. Honestly, I'm highly considering going to get "tested" so I can have a + test result to show everyone. I had been considering it before since I never really got that experience (well I did, but I was 2 1/2 so what can ya do?). From this whole situation, it seems to me that she is a deeply troubled individual who is looking for attention, and a sense of belonging. For that, I can understand and I offer my heart out to her and can forgive her. With this whole situation though, I wonder how much damage she did. How many schools did she speak at that hung on her every word are now feeling stupid and reluctant to have someone else come in and talk about HIV? HIV doesn't have to be a death sentence in most cases if you know your status and you're conscientious about your health. How many of those that are newly diagnosed looked to her as being at the "end of the disease" and lost their hope for a future?
This whole thing makes me ill. I'm at a loss for words and am exasperated beyond belief when I think of the countless people that talk to me with fears of getting tested or finding out they are + and here this woman has just been pretending. None of us asked for HIV, none of us want to fight this fight or lead and live by example... if she wanted HIV so badly she could have gladly taken mine from me. Shame things don't work out this way.
What are your thoughts?
what an appropriate music choice - thanks itunes.