Lisa Tiger, a Native American HIV/AIDS educator and activist, spoke about her personal experiences with HIV Tuesday night.

Tiger was diagnosed with HIV in July of 1992, and currently is following her mission to raise awareness among Native Americans.

When Tiger learned she was infected, she said she knew it wasn’t the end of her life. Tiger used her past painful experiences to help her deal with the HIV virus.

“I am not ashamed,” Tiger said.

“Don’t Let AIDS Make Us Vanishing Americans,” Tiger’s presentation, was given to an audience of nearly 80 people.

When Tiger was two years old, her father accidentally shot himself while he was drinking. In 1990, her brother was murdered.

“My brother’s death was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to experience. I’m surprised it didn’t kill me; it made me a stronger person.

“Don’t ever think this can’t happen to you,” Tiger said. She said she waited until after high school to become sexually active, but she still became infected.

“Be a child first, young girl’s bodies aren’t prepared for sex at ages 15 and 16.”

Tiger contracted HIV from her boyfriend of three years. Tiger said the man she was sexually active with knew he was infected throughout their entire relationship. He previously became infected through bisexual encounters.

“Seven other people that I know have been infected by him,” Tiger said.

Angie Fisher, a junior in elementary education, said,”Lisa said it isn’t uncommon to hear of a boyfriend or girlfriend who has failed to tell their partner that they are infected. It’s such an [im]moral choice to put someone you love in such an extremely devastating position.”

Tiger said she was tested as soon as she found out that her old partner was infected. The results proved she was HIV positive. “I knew my life would be different from that point on.”

Tiger said two weeks after she was tested, the whole state of Oklahoma knew she carried the HIV virus. “I didn’t want it to be a secret.” At this point in time she knew she needed to inform others about HIV/AIDS, STDs, drug use and alcoholism.

“If you are having sex, you are taking the chance of getting HIV,” she said. “Sex is what got me into this mess!”

She told the audience about the different ways of contracting the virus. Tiger said that infection is spread through both vaginal and anal sex, drug use and through blood. It is also spread by mucus membranes and breakages in the skin.

However, she said, “You cannot get it from kissing.”

She said the virus breaks down the immune system leaving those with the virus open to other diseases.

“HIV is a very fragile virus that is inside me. You have no reason to fear people with HIV/AIDS, people with AIDS fear you. What you have can kill them,” Tiger said.

Tiger moved her discussion to the problem of sexually transmitted diseases in our country today. “Sex without a condom is stupid, down right stupid,” she said.

Tiger reported that one in three people have genital warts and one in six people have herpes.

“You can get STDs through both sex and oral sex, be your own judge,” she said.

Melissa Cross, a junior in human development and family sciences, said Tiger’s speech was enlightening. “The statistics that she presented about STDs were unbelievable. They made me believe that reality hasn’t hit many.”

After the presentation ended, a discussion group was held. Tiger said she wanted to answer additional questions and hear people’s comments.

“The best part of what I do is hearing from others, after they have heard from me,” she said.