Living

Several years ago, I ended up with shingles. This was a health condition that I was not expecting to experience so early in my life. But it is a condition...

I was 11 years old when I was diagnosed with HIV on March 26, 1987. There were no effective treatments available at the time, which meant the prognosis wasn’t good...

My viral load has been undetectable for 20 years. This has kept opportunistic infections at bay, leaving me to deal with other challenges to my health. Like the time I...

I wanted to write about some disturbing news I came across and I started to do some more research about it over the last couple of weeks. There are places...

"None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have faith." - Paulo Coelho Everyone has various beliefs...

As we move into Women’s History Month in March, I would like to shed light on two amazing women who have been there for me through my diagnosis. These two...

I learned that being HIV+ was a crime in 1989. It was during a training session for a demonstration I participated in to protest the lack of and high cost...

Discrimination (unequal treatment) based on HIV status continues to be an issue globally. Many countries have adopted laws barring discrimination against people based on their HIV status. But there are...

There is a lot to be concerned about in living with HIV. Every day another headline details another issue people need to advocate behind or mobilize around. It’s the culture...

I expressed to you all that I have been wanting to start a social support group for HIV-positive men at my place of employment. I used to facilitate one a...

The combination of an undetectable HIV viral load and avoiding serious injury to my body over the years led me to a false sense of invulnerability. That illusion was shattered...

I speak, sleep, and wake up with advocacy on my mind. Is that a terrible thing? Some think it is, but I don’t feel that it is. What I do...

Valentine’s Day shouldn't feel like April Fool’s Day to people living with HIV, but stigma and concerns about disclosing one's status make the entire prospect of dating feel more like...

It started with a bruise on my thigh. I thought I had bumped into something, except it didn’t go away. I could run my finger over and feel the texture...

As the day drags on, I am cuddled up with my dogs, one of my favorite blankets, and my laptop. I really need to be productive today, but I am...

Content Note: This article describes abuse. If you or a loved one are struggling, consider reading our Mental Health Resources page. The Merriam-Webster definition of the word conversation is; an...

Every new year, I always start to think about behaviors that I would like to change or improve on. Like most people do, I try to make new year's resolutions...

Advocacy is not a decision you make on a whim, and it is not for the meek, it takes demanding work and dedication. There are people who are not living...

An HIV diagnosis can come as shock. Many people quickly jump online to research the ins and outs but have trouble finding helpful information that can tell them what to...

A, B, C, D…? Even multiple choices can be hard. Our mental health is extremely important when living with HIV. The individuals we invite into our lives to help with...