As a woman living with HIV, this two weeks in February means so much. It means that I am being acknowledged and valued for who I am in this world. 

So much of HIV work centres around men. Research often includes very few women. Most HIV/AIDS Service organizations have little to no services for women living with HIV outside the major centres, like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Many women living with HIV feel ignored, rightly so. 

Love Positive Women says: "I see you. You matter." 

I have been writing a series of articles for PozPlanet online magazine about women living with HIV and what makes us unique. There used to be several organizations in Canada that provided support that was for women living with HIV only. No longer. They had their funding pulled. The government decided that it was not necessary to have women specific support. They left us with nowhere to turn. On top of that decision, the government decided to pull funding for several organizations that provided support to people living with HIV as well. CPPN has had its funding cut by 2/3rds. So, not only do women no longer have a safe space but the other spaces they could go that provided support to all people living with HIV are slowly disappearing. 

There was some good news this past summer after Women Speak launched at the International AIDS Conference. Women were excited that finally we might see a safe space for women living with HIV, run by women living with HIV. Unfortunately, nothing has been seen around what is happening with this initiative. 

Women living with HIV deserve support, deserve spaces where we are safe and valued. Love Positive Women reminds us each year that we are deserving of love and so much more.