In 1987, I was a 26 year old living in Los Angeles and trying to face the horror of having tested positive with HIV. Television blasted daily reports of the death toll, the suicides of people with HIV, and even the deterioration and death of Rock Hudson. But nothing...
HIV Stigma (and my lover Jack) at USCA
At the United States Conference on AIDS in Orlando, I've learned that HIV stigma is alive and well. Providers report that client will travel to distant counties to get services just so they aren't recognized -- and that's if they bother getting tested in the first...
Sex while HIV Positive: The New Criminals
As you and I relax here surfing the internet, an HIV positive man is sitting in a Texas prison, serving a 35 year sentence for spitting on someone. In Michigan, an HIV positive man was charged for not disclosing his status under a bio-terrorism statute. And just weeks...
Does the Gay Men’s Health Summit make me look fat?
I took more time than usual choosing an outfit this morning, because of two terribly conflicting forces. First, I was on my way to the first day of the National Gay Men's Health Summit and, diametrically opposed to this fact, I went shopping for pants yesterday and...
AIDS2010 for Dummies: An entertaining review.
These are the sights and sounds of AIDS2010, from the people on the ground committed to their projects to the “feel” of such a massive event. From advocates to muppets to dancing sex workers to protesters, here is a detailed review of the video blogs created by My Fabulous Disease.
AIDS2010 in Vienna: A Final Look
I knew AIDS2010 in Vienna would be a great learning experience, but I suppose I didn't expect to feel such profound gratitude for my life and my advantages. Life is such an arbitrary thing; I was born here, you were born there, she was born over there... and that...
AIDS2010: The Art of AIDS
Everywhere you look at AIDS 2010 (the international conference in Vienna I'm blogging), HIV is being expressed artistically. It's as if the disease is so profound to people that simple words can't communicate their feelings. AIDS has been a productive artistic muse...
AIDS2010: Human Rights March with Annie Lennox
The AIDS2010 theme, "Rights Here, Right Now," took center stage on day three, with speakers, seminars and events focused on how important human rights are the the AIDS equation. Access to health care and treatment is a human right. Women deserve rights around the...
AIDS2010 Day Two: The Wisdom of Youth
Today was a blast, because I spent it with my intellectual peers -- puppets, show people and youth! In this video blog entry from AIDS2010 in Vienna you'll meet some amazing young people from around the world who are making a difference in their communities. You'll...
AIDS2010, get ready for My Fabulous Disease!
My favorite online HIV/AIDS resource, TheBody.com, is sending me to Vienna for AIDS2010, the bi-annual international AIDS conference July 17-23. I will be producing daily videos from the conference, and I don't mean wonky, dry reports about research minutiae! This is...
