I have been writing articles for The Odyssey for a little while now and have been doing movie reviews. While I was brain storming different things and what I wanted to do with my voice. As a biracial-gay man and feminist, I felt that I maybe it's time I write something that was needed. So today I am writing about PrEP and a brief discussion of my experience with it.

First off what is PrEP? According to whatisprep.org PrEP means Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, and it’s the use of anti-HIV medication that keeps HIV negative people from becoming infected.

PrEP is approved by the FDA under the brandname Truvada. The drug has been shown to be safe and effective. A single pill taken once daily is highly effective against HIV.

The medication interferes with HIV’s ability to copy itself in your body after you’ve been exposed. This prevents it from establishing an infection and making you sick.

Even though PrEP has been around in the U.S. for over a year, not a lot of people know about it. And even fewer people feel like they know enough about it to be able to make an informed decision about whether or not to use it. For those who do use it, the information they have might be more focused on practical issues, like where to get it rather than on what PrEP does in the body to prevent HIV infection.

Luckily PrEP is aviable from your doctor if you are sexually active or plan on being sexually active. The reality is condoms break and accidents happen. Remember, the movie "Knocked Up" happens more than you think, but what happens instead of getting a baby you get HIV –– something that will take control of the rest of your life. PrEP itself does not protect against Syphilius, Goneherra or any other STI, but it does assist in protecting you from the big bag (HIV) so when accidents do happen you can get an STI test.

I advocate to both my gay and my straight friends, both men and women, to be on PrEP. I am willing to talk more in-depth with anyone who is curious about it. You can contact me via my twitter, which is located on my bio.

(This is what Truvada aka PrEP looks like)

The lessons I have learned in my life cumulated in a wake up call that we need to take care of ourselves, protect ourselves more seriously and realize the harsh truth condoms break and aren't 100 percent preventive –– though an amazing tool which should still be used. This is where PrEP enters the picture. To have the preventive effects of PrEP all you do is take a pill a day. It's that easy. Personally, I wake up and take it before eating breakfast on the fly. I get tested every six months to make sure everything is OK and as a result of how easy it is to use, I have started to recommend every person I know use it. Now although I advocate if your going to have sex, even while on PrEP, always play safe (wear a condom) as it doesn't protect against unwanted pregnancy or STIs; we still need to be real. Stuff happens and you don't always use protection. Which is why I strongly recommend you talk to your doctor about starting PrEP.

I have girlfriends who are on it from monogamous PREP users to girlfriends who are sexually liberated –– freely sleeping with a new man on the daily, and I love them beyond belief. I don't judge them because gender norms should not be a thing; if a guy can do it with out judgement from his peers a women should be able to do it. But since PrEP hit the market, when I hear they are not taking PrEP I immediately pipe up and question why?

As a feminist, I believe it is a women's god-given right to be able to take control over her body and PrEP is a tool to allow them to do it. How amazing to know you never have to risk your HIV status for a partner. You have the keys to your health. Furthermore, how amazing is it to know that it has little to no side effects reported and requires just a few check ups with your doctor per year. Also for all the ladies out there if you are taking birth control why not take them at the same time? As a result, it will be like having half a condom built in your body. Again, STIs aren't prevented so I still recommend protection.

To be honest, so many people, straight, bi and gay have died from the HIV crisis. People who pioneered for equality. Yet some how we really don't talk about it that much as it happened 20 years ago, still it shook America and many people continue to die. Yes, HIV has amazing treatments and having HIV doesn't mean AIDs or death, but why risk it all when you don't have to? I dare say we have a moral obligation to do whatever possible to prevent the spread of HIV. We have the tools to prevent a disease a generation of people died from so why not eradicate it?

Check out this video and the links Below to learn more about PrEP, and talk to your doctor if you are interested in taking control of your body.

Here is a direct link to the Center of Disease Controls PREP Page: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html

And to read stories about real peoples experiences with Truvada: http://talkprep.org and http://myprepexperience.blogspot.com