~                  ~PISCES PROVIDENCE~
    Rev. Moonstone's Attempt to Fix the World's Problems
Dear Rev. Moonstone,
  I have a serious dilemma and I'm afraid to discuss this with anyone  
  close to me. I am a 19 yr old male, attending the local college and 
  living in the dorm on campus. Recently, I started hanging out with a
  group of students from my biology class; we formed a study group. At
  first, it was all very casual, just some friends studying together. But, 
  lately I've begun to develop a different interest in one of the female
  group members. She seems to reciprocate my feelings and I'd like to
  ask her out for a cup of coffee after study group is done for the night.
  Here's where my dilemma comes in. Six months back, I was diagnosed   with herpes. I haven't dated anyone since then. I know that I'm not
  alone with this disease but you'd think that herpes no longer is a
  problem the way that it's been overshadowed in the press by AIDS. I
  know the risks involved with intimate encounters when one of the
  partners is infected with herpes. I'm not planning on trying to get this
  gal in bed anytime soon, I just want to get to know her and then see
  where we go from there. But my dilemma is this: How and when do I
  tell someone I'm interested in about my herpes? I'm afraid if I tell her
  too soon I'll blow it with her before it even gets a chance to see where
  it might go. But I want to start out by being honest, you can't build
  anything lasting if it's based on deceit.What should I do
  Rev. Moonstone?
  Incurably Contagious in Michigan
  Dear College Man in Michigan,
  First let me say, I'm sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with the      STD-Herpes. You made a valid point about Herpes being overshadowed  
  by that other sex-related disease called AIDS. Yet just because you don't 
  hear it being discussed on the evening news show, doesn't mean that
  Herpes is not still out there, in epidemic proportions, a highly contagious
  disease that carries with it considerable social stigma.
  Second, I'd like to commend you for giving serious thought to not only
  your personal responsibility as one half of a sexual union, but also, for
  your decision to approach this  new relationship slowly and give it a 
  chance to develop before becoming sexually involved. I don't know if your
  mature attitude developed because of the Herpes, but I wish more young
  adults would exercise some restraint in their dating behaviors.
  I checked around online and found a few sites dealing with Herpes that I
  believe you will find helpful. I have listed them at the end of this article.
  The following, "Tips For Telling Prospective Partners" on the website at
  URL: http://www.racoon.com/herpes. The site also features discussion
  forums and chat rooms that you might explore. I wish you the very best in
  all your future endeavors. -Rev. Moonstone
   for link to "Tips For Telling Prospective Partners" document.