Contracting HIV through a blood transfusion is rare in this country, Rosado-Santos said.

"HIV is a human virus," Johnson said. "HIV doesn't care if you are black or white. It doesn't care if you are a newborn or 80 years old. It doesn't care if you are a man or women — straight or gay."

Because HIV can be sexually transmitted, society has turned it into a moral issue, Johnson said.

"So there is judgment and morality attached to it," she said. "But it is a human virus that can affect anyone."

Johnson said she has been HIV positive since 1993. She contracted the disease through heterosexual relations. "How you got AIDS is one of the first things people want to know," she said.

Rosado-Santos said he believes people should be kind and understanding toward those who have AIDS.

"Many people are rejected in their community because they have this disease," he said. "People are not educated and don't want to be educated about HIV facts."

Conference participants Jonathan and Jamie, both 34, of Salt Lake City, were diagnosed with HIV at age 25. The couple requested that their last names not be made public.

"It really resets how you look at the world," Jonathan said.

"A lot of people just pretend it doesn't exist," said Jamie, who was diagnosed while attending school in Idaho.

Frank Evans, an AIDS community advocate, said a support group of family and friends, along with community groups, are a great help to those with AIDS.

"It helps them to know they are not alone in the challenge they face," Evans said.

For more information, go to www.PWACU.org.

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E-mail: astewart@desnews.com