I meet people who say we haven’t been using a condom, how can I tell him to use one now? One who loves their body will protect their body. It’s not about a man, a husband, it’s about self. I’m not saying you have to use a condom all the time just because I have to. What I’m saying is in order to protect yourself, you have to use a condom. I just suggest you choose wisely.


Marvelyn speaking at Miles College in Birmingham, Ala.

SM: What has been the most challenging thing you’ve faced in speaking out?
Marvelyn: One time I really broke down when I went to speak to a group of high school kids. Before the [host] introduced me he started a conversation about HIV: ‘I know some of you are thinking you can’t relate to this and this has nothing to do with you …’ People were on their cell phones and their PSPs … it was crazy. I felt like that was what I would have done in high school. And when I saw myself in every one of them in there, it scared me … it was like ‘wow, they really don’t have a clue.’ I was trying to talk to them and they were acting just like I used to act. That was the first time I ever cried during a presentation.