SPFPP 348: Can You Sue Someone for Giving You Herpes?

The big question is “Can you sue someone for giving you herpes?”. Well, some considerations are first can you prove it? Then was it reckless and knowingly done? Our guest, Puerto Rican New Yorker, Destiny Maria, Author of the memoir, It Started with a Green Dress joins us to share the motivation for taking legal action against someone who knowingly gave her herpes. She shares the story of her herpes diagnosis, legal battle and the healing process from the heartbreak and betrayal of a friends with benefits relationship gone wrong.

Destiny and Courtney discuss coerced consent, stealthing and ignoring red flags in relationships. Destiny shares the struggles she has faced coming to terms with her experience and diagnosis. The challenge of dealing with the stigma within her community. And the joys and growth that comes with being a new mother.

Destiny Maria Bio: Destiny Maria is an author, educator and new mom following her Herpes diagnosis. In her memoir, It Started with a Green Dress: Overcoming Sexual Stigma, she describes how she breaks free from STI stigma. Destiny chose to pursue legal action when she learns only through her diagnosis that partner knowingly withholds his positive status from her.

Since then, Destiny has developed a career as a two-timed published author and aims to further advocate within the community and women of color.

She believes in practicing open and honest conversations about informative consent in order to lead healthier sex lives. Destiny continues to pursue her passion in writing and embracing her journey entering motherhood.