The not-for-profit organization Center for Positive Connections in North Miami is an oasis for more than 1,000 heterosexuals living with HIV -- a group often overlooked and misunderstood. Since July 1997, a total of 20,830 Floridians have contracted HIV, and 22 percent got it through heterosexual contact. Of Floridians with AIDS, 82,343, or 18 percent, became infected through heterosexual contact.

Positive Connections offers counseling and support groups to the newly diagnosed as well as the long-timers, in addition to holistic treatments that include massage and acupuncture. Thomas Liberti, who heads the HIV/AIDS bureau of the Florida Department of Health, said "Florida has always been a state where the epidemic is very diverse. The epidemic has penetrated so many communities that it hasn't left out the alarm for the heterosexual community."

Sheri Kaplan, founder of the organization, said most of her clients hear about the center by word of mouth. It provides a social lifeline to people whom otherwise would feel isolated with their illness. Positive Connections also offers an online personal ad service for those with the virus. "It's serving a whole community that previously had no place to go," Kaplan said. In addition to learning from each other's stories, people who visit the center can check out HIV/AIDS-related material from the small library and work out in the gym. The biggest problem Kaplan faces is the lack of money. It costs at least $10,000 a month to operate the clinic 40 hours a week, she said. Her projected yearly budget -- one that provides all the services she would like to offer -- is $325,000.

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