Plus, March-April 2023

FELICE MARANO

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1 BEFORE

TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

 Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 ©

18

ON THE COVER THE FREEDOM OF LOVE

World-traveling yoga expert, diversity consultant, and HIV advocate Felice Marano is spreading his message of love, compassion, and community around the globe.

FEATURES

16 SELF-CARE CENTRAL

In this special Wellness issue, it’s all about you and your physical and emotional health.

30 EXPERT ADVICE

Health tips from a long-term survivor and fitness legend.

32 ONLY HUMAN

Our cover star writes about his journey to love and humanity.

34 AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER

The mpox outbreak may not be finished for all in the U.S.

36 MPOX IN MEXICO

Despite containment in the States, mpox continues to thrive in Latin America.

38 LETTING GO?

Two HIV advocates ponder activism in their later years.

40 RECORD RIGHTS

What to do when you’re being denied your medical records.

ON THE COVER Felice Marano

photographed by Malin Bray

RIGHT Marano photographed by Fede Marinic

14

15

editorial director NEAL BROVERMAN

editor in chief DESIRÉE GUERRERO

executive creative director RAINE BASCOS

EDITORIAL

senior copy editor TRUDY RING

contributing editor MARK S. KING

mental health editor GARY MCCLAIN

contributing writers ALAN DIAMOND, ALEX GARNER, FELICE MARANO, ANDREW J. STILLMAN

ART

graphic designer MARIUSZ WALUS

senior marketing designer ERIK BROCK

digital photo editor NICOLE ARSENEAULT

EQUALPRIDE EDITORIAL

digital director, the advocate ALEX COOPER managing editor, the advocate JD GLASS editor at large, the advocate JOHN CASEY sr. national reporter, the advocate CHRISTOPHER WIGGINS staff writer, the advocate & out MEY RUDE editor in chief, out DANIEL REYNOLDS

digital director, out RAFFY ERMAC

associate digital director, out & pride.com BERNARDO SIM editor in chief, out traveler JACOB ANDERSON-MINSHALL managing editor, out traveler DONALD PADGETT editor in chief, pride.com RACHEL SHATTO

ADVOCATE CHANNEL

vice president, video, operations JASON KNIGHT

vice president, women’s programming & host SONIA

BAGHDADY

vice president, editorial director & host TRACY E. GILCHRIST

senior producer BRIAN KELLEY

chief booker & on-air correspondent RICKY CORNISH

editorial director & producer CARA GLASS

host & producer JAYMES VAUGHAN

host & producer STEPHEN WALKER

host & producer RACHEL SMITH

climate change reporter & producer MICHAEL SMITH

producer JASMINE HARDY

chief video editor LAMONT BALDWIN

senior video editor BRIAN PAVONE

senior video editor RICHARD GACOVINO

graphic artist DON MICHAEL, JR

chief executive officer MARK BERRYHILL president of global growth & development MICHAEL KELLEY

chief financial officer JOE LOVEJOY

chief marketing officer MICHEL J. PELLETIER

executive vice president, brand partnerships & integrated sales

STUART BROCKINGTON

publisher & vice president, sales JOE VALENTINO

ADVERTISING, BRAND PARTNERSHIPS & INTEGRATED SALES

vice president & publisher, out MARK ISOM vice president, activations & brand partnerships TIM SNOW vice president, strategy & brand partnerships CHRISTOPHER GO creative director, brand partnerships MICHAEL LOMBARDO director, integrated sales KAYLYN BLACKMORE manager, brand partnerships ANNA CARIAS coordinator, brand partnerships JOSE CARDENAS coordinator, sales & advertising administration CARINA BUIE brand partnerships specialist ERIN MANLEY account executive, sales HENRY KRAJEWSKI coordinator, advertising administration & integrated sales JULEAN DEJESUS

DIGITAL & SOCIAL

vice president, technology & development ERIC BUI manager, social media CHRISTINE LINNELL specialist, social media JADE DELGADO

CIRCULATION

director of circulation ARGUS GALINDO

ACCOUNTING

controller, accounts manager PAULETTE KADIMYAN accounts receivable LORELIE YU

OPERATIONS

vice president, ad operations STEWART NACHT director of audience and development BERNARD ROOK director of people and culture DRU FORBES manager, ad operations TIFFANY KESDEN pr, specialist MARIE-ADÉLINA DE LA FERRIÈRE executive assistant LULU DROPO

ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS

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EDITORIAL editor@hivplusmag.com

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Plus (ISSN 1522-3086) is published bimonthly by equalpride.

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Entire contents ©2023 by equalpride. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

THE DICTIONARY DEFINES wellness as “the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal.” But that’s kind of vague, isn’t it? We hear the term thrown around a lot these days but what does seeking wellness really look like in our own lives, especially for those living with HIV?

Some of it’s the obvious stuff about physical health — eating better, getting exercise, not smoking, taking your meds — you know the drill. But another huge part of “being well” has to do with what’s going on inside your head, with your mental, spiritual, and emotional health. That’s what our cover star Felice Marano discovered through exploring things like meditation, yoga, and world travel.

“If we want to start creating a new narrative and creating more opportunities to cure and to heal,” says Marano, “it’s time we speak about love as a way of starting to switch the concepts and the narrative that we have [around HIV]; to start sending more understanding and humanity and love.”

To read our complete interview with Marano and learn more about his “Born to Be Love” movement and HIV activism, flip to page 18. (And don’t miss his inspiring personal essay on page 32.)

In this special wellness issue, we also catch up with legendary fitness expert, author, advocate, and long-term survivor Nelson Vergel (page 30) to get his tips on how to thrive and live your best, strongest, healthiest life regardless of your HIV status. Then check out an honest conversation between two other long-term survivors and HIV activists, Mark S. King and Tez Anderson, about the reality of activism fatigue and knowing when to call it quits (page 38).

We also give you the latest mpox (monkeypox) news from within and outside of the United States. While the outbreak’s emergency status officially ended in January, as far as the U.S. government is concerned anyway (page 34), the virus continues to thrive in Latin American countries due to stigma

Hi there! We hope you enjoy this new issue of Plus, which centers on wellness; the idea that well-being incorporates much more than medications. Editorial director Neal Broverman, executive creative director Raine Bascos, designer Mariusz Walus, and editor in chief Desirée Guerrero have done a great job curating stories of full body health.

Speaking of Desirée, I’m excited to announce she’ll also be editor in chief of our iconic sister publication, The Advocate, working with Neal to tell LGBTQ+ stories you won’t find anywhere else. Congratulations, Desirée.

Also, there’s a new way to get even more Advocate coverage; visit advocatechannel.com for incredible and exclusive video content. Please share your thoughts and feedback on all our sites and publications with me at advocatemarkb@equalpride. com, and on Instagram @advocatemarkb.com

Warmest Regards,

Mark Berryhill Chief Executive Officer

and a lack of vaccines and other resources. Read one man’s story of living through mpox in Mexico on page 36.

In another part of the world, legendary activist and drag queen Panti Bliss (a.k.a. Rory O’Neill) has made history again by being the first drag queen to appear on Ireland’s Dancing With the Stars. O’Neill previously made history after calling out the nation’s homophobia on television (and was sued for it) and ended up becoming a key figure in getting same-sex marriage legalized in Ireland in 2015 (page 46).

Also in this issue, we celebrate two talented Black women of different generations who are fierce allies for people living with HIV, legendary songstress Dionne Warwick (page 11) and Little Fires Everywhere actress Lexi Underwood (page 13). And in our brand new section, Sex & Dating (page 42), read about how two iconic drag queens teamed up with MISTR to help promote PrEP, and why straight people should have access to the HIV prevention method too.

So, whether you’re someone who’s just been diagnosed with HIV or a long-term survivor, or just someone looking for prevention information or maybe a little inspiration, read on.

Be well,

DESIRÉE GUERRERO editor in chief

HOW I USED MY BREATH TO HEAL MY ANGER

One gay man recounts his journey of moving past rage and self-loathing to find a place of peace in his heart.

Iused to be really angry. One side-eye or shady comment could send me off the edge like nobody else’s business. I spent my life constantly fighting the “deep breathing”

and “count to 10” advice I’d been given to help my rage stay silent. I hated myself, I didn’t trust that I could ever be “fixed,” and a lot of times, I just wanted to die.

Things changed during the pandemic, for me and for the world. As I went into isolation, I decided to do something most of the people I knew couldn’t even dare: stay sober through the whole thing.

That wasn’t easy, and I spent a lot of time facing myself at my lowest moments, isolated in the corner of my bedroom, lost to thoughts of despair and a fear that nothing would ever be the same. My sobriety had me turning toward intense exercises, like dusting off my old P90X DVDs and trying out the Insanity workout while I was at it.

As I shaped and tortured my body, I found myself being harder on myself than I was before I’d started working out. That if I didn’t see any results or have the “perfect” body, I was simply a failure.

Things changed one sunny day when my body was sore. I needed a stretch, but any time I had tried the P90X yoga, I thought I would die. For whatever reason, this day was one

I decided to approach yoga from a beginner’s mindset and went to YouTube to find a simple practice for beginners — it was the start of something amazing.

That one practice turned into two, into three, into twice a day for an entire month. I woke up 30 minutes early to get in a nice morning stretch, then went back to the mat later in the afternoon for something with a little more velocity and strength.

Along the way, I found my anger rising very frequently (especially in some deep hip-opening postures.) I heard the instructors saying to “focus on the breath” or “breathe into wherever I feel the tension,” but I was so wrapped up in aggravated grunts and cursing the instructors that I couldn’t understand what any of that meant.

Still, I came back to the mat, day after day, because something inside of me felt the shift taking place. Sometimes I would scream and cry during a session, then feel like I released a weight I’d carried for life as soon as the practice was over.

When my life turned upside down, first by my living situation upending and moving into a new city, then losing my father, I started focusing more on that breath of mine. Certain sessions of yoga remind you to simply focus on “this breath in, and this breath out,” and some days that simple meditation kept me going.

As I experienced changes in life and dealt with a grief I’d never processed, I started to understand more about the “healing powers” the breath supposedly carried. I began putting genuine focus into envisioning the air of my exhale traveling throughout my bloodstream to find the tense muscle or joint and simply will it to be a little more open.

These days, my mother gets frequent calls from me telling her she “won’t believe who just said I was patient,” or how “my calm voice made someone feel safe.” I’ve learned how to confront, accept, and release my anger in healthy ways (for the most part), and I continue to strive to be a better person than I was yesterday.

At that, my deep breaths now consist of a 10 second inhale, followed by a brief pause, and a 20 second exhale. Don’t tell my mom she was right, but it does work every time.

The author getting in his stress-diffusing daily stretch

Want to stay undetectable* with fewer medicines?

Important Facts About DOVATO

This is only a brief summary of important information about DOVATO and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?

If you have both human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• Resistant HBV. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV infection before you start treatment with DOVATO. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the HBV can change (mutate) during your treatment with DOVATO and become harder to treat (resistant). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in people who have HIV-1 and HBV infection.

• Worsening of HBV infection. If you have HBV infection and take DOVATO, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking DOVATO. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

° Do not run out of DOVATO. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your DOVATO is all gone.

DOVATO is different: unlike other HIV treatments that contain 3 or 4 medicines, DOVATO contains just 2 medicines in 1 pill.

DOVATO is a complete prescription regimen for adults new to HIV-1 treatment or replacing their current HIV-1 regimen when their doctor determines they meet certain requirements.

Learn

° Do not stop DOVATO without first talking to your healthcare provider.

° If you stop taking DOVATO, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your liver function and monitor your HBV infection. It may be necessary to give you a medicine to treat hepatitis B. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking DOVATO.

For more information about side effects, see “What are possible side effects of DOVATO?”

What is DOVATO?

DOVATO is a prescription medicine that is used without other HIV-1 medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults: who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in children.

Please see additional Important Facts About DOVATO on the following page.

Ask your doctor about staying undetectable with fewer medicines in 1 pill.

No other complete HIV pill uses fewer medicines to help keep you undetectable.†

Important Facts About DOVATO (cont’d)

Who should not take DOVATO?

Do not take DOVATO if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains dolutegravir or lamivudine.

• take dofetilide. Taking DOVATO and dofetilide can cause side effects that may be serious or life-threatening.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DOVATO?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have kidney problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. One of the medicines in DOVATO (dolutegravir) may harm your unborn baby.

° Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine than DOVATO if you are planning to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

° If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider may perform a pregnancy test before you start treatment with DOVATO.

° If you can become pregnant, you and your healthcare provider should talk about the use of effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with DOVATO.

° Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are planning to become pregnant, you become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant during treatment with DOVATO.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take DOVATO.

° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

° DOVATO passes to your baby in your breast milk.

° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines interact with DOVATO. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with DOVATO.

• Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take DOVATO with other medicines.

What are possible side effects of DOVATO?

DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?”

What are possible side effects of DOVATO? (cont’d)

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with DOVATO. Stop taking DOVATO and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of the skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; problems breathing.

• Liver problems.People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with DOVATO. Liver problems, including liver failure, have also happened in people without a history of liver disease or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis).Too much lactic acid is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death.Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: feel very weak or tired; unusual (not normal) muscle pain; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Lactic acidosis can also lead to severe liver problems, which can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms of liver problems which are listed above under “Liver problems.”

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female or very overweight (obese).

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking DOVATO.

• The most common side effects of DOVATO include: headache; nausea; diarrhea; trouble sleeping; tiredness; and anxiety.

These are not all the possible side effects of DOVATO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where can I find more information?

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to DOVATO.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

October 2022 DVT:7PIL

DON’T MAKE HER OVER

A new documentary highlights DIONNE WARWICK’S lifelong activism and illustrious music career.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

Dionne Warwick is not just a six-time Grammy winner and cousin of the equally legendary songstress Whitney Houston. Beyond her amazing 60-year career in the entertainment industry, singing legendary hits like “Walk On By” and “I Say a Little Prayer,” Ms. Warwick has been a longtime advocate and ally for racial equality and justice, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights — and for those living with HIV.

She, among a handful of other highprofile celebs like Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John, were among the first to use their platforms and positions to bring national attention to the devastating AIDS crisis of the 1980s and ’90s. Stigma was so strong at the time that most celebrities didn’t even want to be associated with the word “AIDS,” let alone advocate for those struggling to survive the virus.

Now, Warwick is being given her due in a new CNN film focusing on her fearless activism in a world that didn’t necessary make room for Black women’s voices to be heard. Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, named after her first big hit single, 1962’s “Don’t Make Me Over,” is an awardwinning documentary feature written and produced by Dave Wooley and directed by David Heilbroner.

“Working on [the documentary] has been a true labor of love,” said Wooley. “We wanted to make a film that people wouldn’t just see…we wanted viewers to feel transported. This is the story of a transformational, global icon.”

The film blends archival footage with personal photographs and newsreels documenting Warwick’s life and career. Exclusive interviews include intimate conversations with her sons, Damon and David Elliott, as well as with music legends Burt Bacharach, Clive Davis,

Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Barry Gibb, Berry Gordy, Elton John, Cissy Houston, Quincy Jones, Alicia Keys, Gladys Knight, Melissa Manchester, Olivia Newton-John, Smokey Robinson, Carlos Santana, Valerie Simpson, and Stevie Wonder.

The film also includes additional commentary from former President Bill Clinton, philanthropist and designer Kenneth Cole, amfAR HIV research advocate Kevin Frost, and Rev. Jesse Jackson. Needless to say, Ms. Warwick is truly beloved and respected by all who know her.

“Dave Wooley and David Heilbroner have created a beautiful tribute that shows the enduring impact of Dionne Warwick,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development for CNN Worldwide, on behalf of CNN Films. “Her trailblazing, humanitarian legacy extends beyond her exquisite songbook, and she’s had a lasting cultural influence.”

Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over is now available to watch on HBO Max.

Ms. Warwick (far right) flanked by her musical peers and fellow HIV allies (from left) Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Elton John

RALLYING THE YOUTH

At 19, rising Hollywood talent Lexi Underwood is diving into HIV activism — and calling on her peers to join her.

BY ANDREW J. STILLMAN

ACTRESS AND ADVOCATE Lexi Underwood (Little Fires

Everywhere, Disney+’s Just Beyond ) recently returned from a trip to Tanzania with (RED), an organization cofounded by U2’s Bono to fight HIV and AIDS and the health injustices that allow it to still thrive in certain areas. Witnessing firsthand how seemingly small actions can have a ripple effect, Underwood recently shared an op-ed with Teen Vogue about what she learned on the trip.

In the piece, Underwood shares that every day around 700 women between 15 and 24 contract HIV and it remains the third leading cause of death in women worldwide. Even worse, young women in sub-Saharan Africa are also three times as likely to be living with HIV than young men in that age group.

Underwood’s trip to Tanzania, joined by fellow ambassadors Phoebe Robinson (an actress/comedian known for Two Dope Queens) and Martins Imhangbe (an actor from Bridgerton), allowed the advocates to learn directly from the doctors and grassroots organizers who’ve dedicated their lives to supporting women affected by HIV.

One community group, Mentor Mothers, which is supported by (RED) through its Global Fund, was particularly inspiring to Underwood. They are “HIV-positive women who work as peer educators and role models to help encourage other women to know their HIV status and break down stigma in the community about what it means to have HIV.”

Underwood noted that her mother also joined the trip, which made the experience even more special. Underwood and her mom lament that preventable and treatable diseases like HIV still remain intractable for so many people.

As to her time with (RED), Underwood says her activism has just begun. She reflects on how every (RED) product and campaign since its inception in 2006 has raised money to support life-saving programs like that of the Mentor Mothers.

“Those programs have helped millions of people,” she says. “By choosing (RED) — from where we shop, to what products we use or even the car we drive — millions more lives can be saved in the years ahead.”

Lexi Underwood attends Teen Vogue Summit 2022

FAREWELL TO A FRIEND

Remembering Hollywood veteran and longtime HIV ally Carole Cook.

BELOVED ACTRESS OF stage

and screen Carole Cook died recently at the age at 98. The veteran performer died peacefully on January 11 from heart failure. She is survived by her husband, Tom Troupe.

In addition to wild success onstage, where she originated the role of Maggie Jones in the 1980 Broadway musical 42nd Street, Cook also accumulated over 60 screen credits over the course of her career. Today, she’s probably best known for her hilarious turn as Molly Ringwald’s prying grandmother in the 1984 John Hughes teen flick Sixteen Candles and playing opposite Don Knott’s in 1964’s The Incredible Mr. Limpet

She was also a close friend of comedy legend Lucille Ball, who Cook credits for her first big break in Hollywood when she had just moved there from Ohio — and Ball even came up with Cook’s stage name.

“I had no place to live in California, so I lived in Lucy’s guesthouse until I got settled,” Cook told the website Queer Voices in 2019. “She changed my name. I was born Mildred Frances Cook but Lucy didn’t think it was a good show business name. She gave me the name Carole after Carole Lombard. Lucy said to me, ‘You have the same healthy disrespect for everything in general, just like Lombard.’”

Once in Hollywood with Ball, Cook became part of the Desilu Theater’s musical revue.

“We’ve been friends for several years,” Ball shared when she and Cook appeared on a 1965 episode of Password

Tennessee, Goddam

State officials reject federal funds for HIV services, sending shockwaves from Memphis to Nashville.

ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS TENNESSEE were informed that as of May 31 the state is cutting funding for any HIV prevention, detection, or treatment program not affiliated with local health departments, specifically rejecting funds for nonprofits from the Centers for Disease Control, a federal entity.

Cook was also longtime advocate for HIV causes. For over three decades, Cook worked with S.T.A.G.E. LA, a musical theater benefit for HIV, and performed every year at San Francisco’s annual Help Is On The Way benefit, an organization honoring the founders’ sons, who died of HIVrelated causes.

Cook said she’d like to be remembered “as somebody who brought a little difference to people’s lives for the good,” when she spoke with BroadwayWorld.com in 2015. “We all want to be beloved, and that would be nice,” she said. “I’d like for them to think, ‘I’m glad I knew her.’”—DG

The Commercial Appeal of Memphis obtained an email from Niki Easley, director of the HIV/AIDS Initiative for the United Way of Greater Nashville; Easley’s organization disburses the CDC funds given to the Tennessee Department of Health.

“TDH has informed United Way that CDC Prevention (and Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative) funding will end on May 31, 2023,” Easley wrote. “TDH will utilize other state initiatives to support all HIV prevention and surveillance staff and activities in funded metro health departments and those contracts will be in place by June 1.”

Although other states will continue receiving grants from the CDC for HIV-related services, Tennessee won’t see any of that money going forward. State officials, including Republican governor Bill Lee, dodged questions regarding the reason for the shocking policy change.

State epidemiologist John Dunn told affected organizations that the federally-funded Ryan White program will not be impacted.

Ashley Coffield, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, thinks urban areas like Shelby and Davidson counties, which contain Memphis and Nashville, respectively, will be hit the hardest.

“The state health department walking away from CDC funding for HIV prevention is going to impact the community-based organizations that are on the ground doing the preventative work that is necessary to end the HIV epidemic in Shelby County,” she said. “It’s politics before people, and it puts people’s health and wellbeing at risk.”

Shelby County is among one of 50 local areas that account for more than half of all new HIV diagnoses across the country and is part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative. Shelby County also accounted for 232 of the 575 new cases of HIV in Tennessee in 2022.

Other health care organizations that will be affected include AHS Alliance Healthcare Services and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.—AJS

Carole Cook in 1965

BREATH OF FRESH AIR

A new app could help Black people living with HIV quit smoking and live happier, healthier lives.

AS ADVANCES CONTINUE in the fight against HIV, concerns about the virus’s disparities among Black and Latinx Americans persist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approximates that 13 percent of Black Americans with HIV still do not know their status, and members of Black and Latinx communities are less likely to find viral suppression.

Medical Xpress reported that one of the more significant factors related to HIV management is one’s smoking status, especially considering those living with HIV are more likely to smoke as opposed to the general population.

Lorra Garey of the University of Houston’s RESTORE Lab has decided to face this issue head on. She and her team of researchers are collaborating on the development of a mobile intervention app for Black HIV-positive smokers.

“It is so important that we start moving more towards an individualistic approach to understand health and intervention,” Garey said. “It is more of a precision medicine perspective. We’re looking at the individual and what they bring to the table — using their current skills to build upon and provide them the most effective treatment for them we can.”

The research initiative nabbed millions in grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Health Center for Addictions and Cancer Prevention.

To build an effective app, the RESTORE team is currently recruiting 72 HIV-positive people and is also collaborating with St. Hope Foundation and the Thomas Street Health Clinic in Houston.

“I appreciated that NIDA thought this was worth exploring,” said Garey. “With this app, we are hopeful that people will learn new skills — to manage stress, anxiety, depression and negative moods that will assist with them quitting smoking and help them improve their quality of life and wellbeing.”

She added, “If they quit smoking, that can translate into better HIV symptom management outcomes. It’s like a cascading positive effect.”—AJS

The approximate percentage of Black adults in the U.S. who reported smoking cigarettes daily, which is about one percent higher than white adults.

Source: “Current Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 Years and Older” report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BE WELL

Eating right, not smoking, limiting drinking — we all know the general behaviors that keep ourselves healthy and limit the effect that chronic conditions, like HIV, have on our well-being. There is so much more we can do to keep our minds and bodies strong, though. Here at Plus, when we talk about wellness, it’s a term that incorporates mental and physical health; especially since both impact each other. If we have chronic aches and pains, we can get depressed; if we’re racked with anxiety or sadness, we can ignore everything from exercise to brushing our teeth. Wellness is about making sure all parts of your existence are as healthy as possible — that can manifest itself through meditation, yoga, reading, walks, or quiet self-reflection. In this special section, HIV-positive wellness expert Felice Marano guides us through different ways to practice wellness and find the strength within all of us.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

Wellness advocate and globe traveler Felice Marano is on a mission to infuse love, healing, and humanity into the HIV community — and the world.

Welcome to long-acting HIV treatment.

Jayson

Stays undetectable with CABENUVA

Results may vary.

CABENUVA is the only complete, long-acting injectable prescription used to replace daily HIV pills in certain adults and adolescents who have their doctor’s approval.

Every-other-month CABENUVA is given by a healthcare provider as 2 injections, initially 1 month apart for 2 months. It works continuously to help you stay undetectable* for 2 months.

Attend all appointments.

Important Facts About CABENUVA

This is only a brief summary of important information about CABENUVA and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment. (kab’ en ue vah)

ABOUT CABENUVA

CABENUVA is a complete prescription regimen used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents ≥12 years who weigh at least 77 lbs (35 kg) and are replacing their current HIV-1 treatment when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements.

HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Defi ciency Syndrome (AIDS).

CABENUVA contains 2 different medicines:

• cabotegravir

• rilpivirine

It is not known if CABENUVA is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 77 lbs (35 kg).

DO NOT RECEIVE CABENUVA IF YOU

• have ever had an allergic reaction to cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

• are taking the following medicines:

° carbamazepine

° oxcarbazepine

° phenobarbital

° phenytoin

° rifabutin

° rifampin

° rifapentine

° dexamethasone (more than a single-dose treatment)

° St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Ask your doctor about CABENUVA

*Undetectable means the amount of HIV in the blood is below the level that can be measured by a lab test. Results may vary. Jayson has been compensated by ViiV Healthcare.

BEFORE RECEIVING CABENUVA

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have ever had a skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

• have ever had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have ever had mental health problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if CABENUVA will harm your unborn baby. CABENUVA can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after the last injection.

Please see additional Important Facts About CABENUVA on the following page.

Watch Jayson’s Story

“With every-other-month CABENUVA, I’m good to go.”

Important Facts About CABENUVA (cont'd)

BEFORE RECEIVING CABENUVA (cont'd)

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: (cont'd)

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take CABENUVA.

° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. It is not known if CABENUVA can pass to your baby in your breast milk.

° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with CABENUVA.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines interact with CABENUVA. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with CABENUVA. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take CABENUVA with other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF CABENUVA

CABENUVA may cause serious side effects, including:

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with CABENUVA. Stop receiving CABENUVA and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms:

° fever

° generally ill feeling

° tiredness

° muscle or joint aches

° trouble breathing

° blisters or sores in mouth

° blisters

° redness or swelling of the eyes

° swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue

• Post-injection reactions have happened within minutes in some people after receiving their rilpivirine injection. Most symptoms resolved within minutes after the injection. Symptoms may include:

° trouble breathing

° narrowing of airways

° stomach cramps

° sweating

° numbness of your mouth

° pain (e.g., back and chest)

° feeling anxious

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF CABENUVA (cont’d)

CABENUVA may cause serious side effects, including:(cont’d)

• Liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus or people who have certain liver function test changes may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during CABENUVA treatment. Liver problems have also happened in people without history of liver problems or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver function. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems:

° your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice)

° dark or “tea-colored” urine

° light-colored stools (bowel movements)

° nausea or vomiting

° loss of appetite

° pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area

° itching

• Depression or mood changes. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

° feeling sad or hopeless

° feeling anxious or restless

° have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself

The most common side effects of CABENUVA include:

• pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, and warmth at the injection site

• fever

• tiredness

° feeling warm

° rash

° feeling light-headed or feeling like you are going to pass out (faint)

° blood pressure changes

• headache

• muscle or bone pain

• nausea

• sleep problems

• dizziness

• rash

These are not all the possible side effects of CABENUVA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

GET MORE INFORMATION

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to CABENUVA.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

March 2022 CBN:4PIL

Trademarks are property of their respective owners.

When FELICE MARANO

— a diversity consultant, avid world traveler, and advocate for yoga, wellness, the LGBTQ+ community, and people living with HIV — was first diagnosed with HIV himself a few years back, he noticed something missing from the conversation:

“The idea of love…for me, everything started because I started to consider all the concepts around HIV in general and like, diseases have energy,” says Marano. “If we are energy and everything is energy…. What kind of energy and attitudes do we send toward [people living with HIV]? It’s just fear and stigma and hate. And so I started to realize that, even in a medical aspect, on a scientific level, even on all the sides of the disease — if we want to start creating a new narrative and creating more opportunities to cure and to heal, it’s time we speak about love as a way of starting to switch the concepts and the narrative that we have; to start sending more understanding and humanity and love.”

Marano explains that while there’s no shortage of clinical and medical information about HIV available online, it can be very difficult to find emotional support and human connection — which he says can be very disheartening, even dangerous, for those who have just been diagnosed. “I realized that there’s a lot of things online…I can find anything I want about HIV when it comes to everything on a scientific level. And that’s the type of help we get.”

One powerful tool that Marano utilizes to combat stigma and spread his message is social media. If you visit his Instagram page (@borntobelove.community) you’ll see the word HIV large and bold on many posts — a clear message that carrying the virus is nothing to be ashamed of.

Marano also doesn’t shy away from using body- and sex-positivity to help spread his message and often shares sexy or sensual photos of himself on his page. He says he does so not only as an act of self-love but “so that maybe the topic becomes a little bit ‘sexier,’ and maybe more people will get interested about it.”

But just a few years back, before he got to this beautiful point of openness and inspiration, Marano felt much like countless other young people must feel when they hear the words, “I’m sorry, the results are positive.” He felt alone and afraid.

“I started to share my story [publicly] like two years ago, so not a long time,” recalls Marano. He explains that he was at a business convention and at one of the workshops people were invited to come onstage and share a personal story. Marano says something came over him and he was compelled to tell his own story for the first time in that room of strangers.

“In that moment — I’d never shared my story before on a large [platform], I just shared with family and friends — I felt a huge call, kind of a responsibility, like, Oh my god, I feel I have a story to share. So I went onstage, almost crying, and the first thing I was thinking was, Oh my God, I’m think I’m going to have a heart attack.’

IF YOU VISIT HIS INSTAGRAM PAGE YOU’LL SEE THE WORD HIV LARGE AND BOLD ON MANY OF HIS POSTS — A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT CARRYING THE VIRUS IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

IF WE WANT TO START CREATING A NEW NARRATIVE AND CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CURE AND TO HEAL, IT’S TIME WE SPEAK ABOUT LOVE.

FELICE MARANO

However, he explains somehow the moment seemed like it was about more than just himself and his own story.

“I felt kind of like a tool for something bigger,” Marano says. “Like this bigger energy, this bigger thing, it moves us sometimes to do things. The life I have, traveling around the world, it gave me access to certain ways of living life and concepts and ideas, and it was kind of like, Man…I want to share this message.”

Despite his openness these days about his own diagnosis, Marano advises others living with HIV to only disclose to someone when you feel 100 percent comfortable, and not to ever feel pressured to “come out.” He says you must remember to protect and preserve your own mental and emotional health.

“No matter how much you dig into the healing process of all of this, it’s kind of like — for me, at least — [disclosing] is always a hard thing to deal with,” says Marano, and admits that it can still be painful sometimes when telling a new person or group of people that he is HIV-positive.

“First of all, I think don’t everybody should always [disclose their status]. I think the most important thing we should do is really spend some time with ourselves…to understand how we really feel and what we really need.”

He recalls that sharing his status too soon with too many people became an emotional burden for him in the beginning, so he learned to be more selective of who he told and when. “I realized that the more I was disclosing… the more I was having to process emotionally, like I was getting all their worries and their problems, and it became heavy.”

In addition to his online Born to Be Love community, Marano is taking his HIV advocacy a step further and has developed an online course for people living with HIV. Rather than just offering up the usual medical and scientific information, Marano’s course will focus on emotional health and community. He says he wants to create a space where people come first, not their diagnoses.

One thing that has helped keep Marano emotionally well over the years and that brings him much joy is the “nomadic lifestyle” he has enjoyed over the last 12 years. Born in in a small town near Naples, Italy, Marano explains that his passion for traveling the globe runs much deeper than just wanting to visit popular tourist destinations.

“I go to a place, I learn the language, I adapt to the culture, and I try to really grow in that mindset…. To me, the mission of my life is traveling and discovering the world.”

STRONGER THAN EVER

Health and HIV advocate Nelson Vergel survived the storm of the AIDS epidemic after finding a path to health and fitness. Now, he shares some tips with us.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

When author, advocate, speaker, and health expert Nelson Vergel was diagnosed with HIV over three decades ago, the outlook was dim. Great numbers of healthy young men’s lives were being cut short at devastating rates due to a mysterious new virus. Despite these extremely difficult circumstances, Vergel persevered — and, in an effort to survive, discovered a passion for health and fitness along the way.

Today Vergel is a former chemical engineer who has become a leading advocate for sports nutrition, supplementation, hormone therapies, and the promotion of wellness.

“Nelson has been a personal hero of mine for decades now,” wrote fellow longterm survivor and HIV advocate Mark S. King on his blog, My Fabulous Disease. “His groundbreaking book, Built to Survive, co-authored with Michael Mooney, became an instant reference guide for people living with HIV who wanted to stay healthy and armor their bodies against the potential ravages of HIV disease. Nelson’s own commitment to fitness — his bulging biceps became as much a part of his brand as his clear-sighted nutrition wisdom — has influenced and inspired generations of people living with HIV.”

Plus caught up with Vergel and he shared some of his wisdom, life experience, and health and fitness tips:

Could you give a brief description of how you became passionate about health and fitness?

I became interested in health and fitness after learning that I had wasting syndrome and that I could die in my bones like many of my friends. I started reading all I could about nutrition, exercise, supplements, and, last but not least, hormone balance. Increasing my protein intake, working out with weights and machines three times a week for an hour, and supplementing my testosterone after realizing I had low testosterone helped me gain 35 pounds and reverse my wasting syndrome. By doing this, I could survive long enough to be lucky to be here when new medications came in that saved us. I wrote the book Built to Survive and founded the Program for Wellness Restoration, a well-known nonprofit organization.

Why is it important for people living with HIV to seek physical and mental wellness?

It’s important for everybody, HIVpositive or not. But keeping our bodies and minds healthy is even more critical for those of us who have HIV and are getting older. Some studies show that we are aging faster than HIV-negative people. We tend to have more comorbidities than healthy HIV-negative people. Some of the medications we take make us gain visceral fat and have side effects that make us tired and bloated. Some medications may even increase the incidence of anxiety and depression. Some of us have to deal with a lot of shame because we have HIV, are gay, transgender, disabled, or don’t have enough money to make sure we’ll be okay when we’re old. So most of us are still alive and aging with HIV and have

developed resilience skills to thrive while we are hyper-aware of our health issues. Fortunately, federally funded programs such as Ryan White can provide free services to low-income people. However, many people with HIV still don’t have access to proper mental health care or treatment. Getting therapy and antidepressant treatment if needed, exercising, getting enough sleep, and having a solid network of friends and family can make a big difference in our lives.

How has your own journey as someone living with HIV changed your life?

HIV made me face my own mortality at a very young age. That can mature somebody fast or destroy you if you don’t know how to tame it. HIV pushed

me into changing my career from being a chemical engineer to running a nonprofit organization that helped all of us survive HIV wasting. I thought HIV had destroyed all my dreams, but in fact, it completely changed my focus on helping others and myself survive and thrive. It has not been easy to live for nearly 40 years with his disease, but I have to say I’m probably wiser than my HIV-negative peers of the same age. Many come to me for health advice since they assume I have been through it all. I like my life, and I stopped wondering long ago what it would have been like if I had never been diagnosed with HIV.

Do you have any specific nutrition or exercise tips for people living with HIV?

I suggest everybody living with HIV

google “the Mediterranean diet” to find out more details about what vegetables, meats, nuts, oils, etc., they should consume to keep a healthy heart in a healthy body. Walking for 30 minutes daily can benefit both physical and mental health. If you have access to a gym, working out three times a week for an hour can ensure you keep enough lean body mass and, hopefully, healthy cholesterol and blood pressure. Recent data shows that we should not be sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time and should take breaks to walk around. Simple things like this can make a big difference.

For those who may be sad, depressed, or otherwise unmotivated, what advice would you give them?

The most important thing to do if you’re sad or depressed is to get out of your house and avoid isolating yourself from others, but while we are depressed, most of us don’t feel like doing much, even taking a shower, getting dressed, and leaving the house. Depression shrinks our worldview and makes us fully selfcentered. It is not easy to get out of a dark place. Basic things like exercising, walking your dog, going to the grocery store, picking up the phone to call somebody, and letting your doctor know that you’re going through a difficult time may make a huge difference.

Vergel recommends that anybody who wants to keep informed about the latest progress in HIV research join his online group by sending an email to pozhealth+subscribe@groups.io. For more info about the Program for Wellness Restoration visit powerusa.org.

Nelson Vergel

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

Imagine being so close to your dream; finally able to quit your job and start a sabbatical year around the world. Imagine waking up a few days before the dream comes true and being diagnosed with HIV. How would your life change? How would you react?

I am Felice, born in Naples, Italy, and raised around the world. I have long desired to be a changemaker, an inspiration to this rapidly-evolving world, yet I never expected to be the voice of millions of people living with HIV — especially not after years of corporate life.

BY FELICE MARANO

I am here instead, being able to use such a relevant space to educate others around HIV and AIDS; I could focus on the evolution of science and the opportunity of being on treatment, living a normal life and being unable to transmit the virus. I could mention preventive therapies or the advances to bring pregnancies to term with no risk of transmission for the babies. Yet, when I close my eyes and think about my personal story, I feel I was meant to talk about love. I know I was meant to witness the lack of humanity most people experience, resulting in unjustifiable suffering. What was meant to be a sabbatical year of surfing and meditation, an opportunity to see the most beautiful beaches and sunsets of the world, became for me an opportunity to stand still. The diagnosis gave me the chance to stop and meditate; through the power of silence I was able to create a different narrative about health and wellness. It gave me the chance to realize that the biggest enemy

Being a source of positive energy is key to staying happy and healthy while living with HIV.

to deal with wasn’t the virus nor my chronic condition. Rather, it was enduring the pain being inflicted by a lack of humanity, a lack of education, a lack of love.

The most painful journey to deal with has been personal fear and internalized stigma, rejection experienced at home and among friends, the difficulty to cope with a world that still knows so little about HIV and AIDS. I had to deal with the violence of a father and his words. I saw “friends” walk away and people refusing moments of intimacy although I was unable to transmit the virus. I was strong enough to move beyond a heavy depression and keep myself together even when I had recurring suicidal thoughts. I kept finding courage to move on through my vulnerability, yet I couldn’t stop considering the luck of humanity.

So, let me ask you… What are we doing as human beings? Where is our capacity to support and uplift one another, no matter what? Where is our capacity to feel, to breath, and to support the other?

Where is the love?

I wondered why the majority of people living with HIV are still struggling. I started to elevate myself until I felt comfortable to open up and share my story with the world, until I became a reference for the many reaching out to me with their stories of shame and depression, of lack of understanding and support. As a result, while science is advancing and helping people cope with chronic diseases, we are still failing as human beings. Most are incapable of providing a hand to a friend or a lover, to a family member. We are failing so

badly when it comes to HIV and AIDS that most people won’t feel secure to disclose their status, not even to their family members. Therefore, most people are living with a heavy monster inside and that monster is not HIV; it is rather shame or fear of rejection, repression or depression — mostly generated by obsolete beliefs.

I could have used this space to educate about HIV and AIDS, yet I have preferred to write about love. No matter how much science is evolving, if we fail to evolve in terms of compassion, our brothers and sisters will still suffer and die, preferring to walk a path towards death rather than encountering life.

The greatest medicine in the world goes beyond our physical body, it transcends our skin and it creates spaces for inner acceptance and transformation. We have the capacity to choose the difference we want to make in this world and the ways we decide to show up. Are you brave enough to support your fellow humans in the name of love?

IS IT REALLY OVER?

While some debate over who should be credited with slowing last year’s mpox outbreak, racial disparities prevent the disease’s full elimination in the U.S.

BY ANDREW J. STILLMAN

As mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) begins to fade in the United States, U.S. health officials have begun shutting down emergency mobilizations as the threat appears to have virtually disappeared from public awareness.

“We’re in a remarkably different place,” Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University, told AP News. “It’s really impressive how that peak has come to very, very low levels.”

The credit for the diminishing of mpox, however, remains up for debate. While some commend the public health officials for their handling of the outbreak, others feel the credit should go more to the members of the LGBTQ+ communities who banded together and took steps to prevent transmission.

Wired also reported on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent data that showed that men who felt at risk voluntarily abstained from sex, left hook-up apps, or skipped group sex parties to help stop the spread.

As cases fade, racial inequities still prove to be an issue in eliminating the outbreak completely.

Justin Smith, a Black gay man who directs the Campaign to End AIDS at Positive Impact Health Centers, told the publication, “What we are seeing is that most of the cases are occurring in Black and Latino men. We’re trying now to make sure we’re getting into that last mile of folks that may not want to raise their hand, or come into an event where they have to attest that they’re queer.”

During the initial outbreak, an existing two-dose vaccine developed for smallpox was also used against mpox, but only a few thousand doses were initially available in the U.S., and most other countries didn’t have any at all.

Fearing a repeat of the 1980s AIDS epidemic and the modern COVID pandemic, HIV activists took it upon themselves to help lead the response against mpox.

Regardless of who’s the most responsible, Columbia University virologist Stephen Morse said, “The monkeypox virus essentially loses steam after a couple of rounds in humans. Everyone credits the interventions, but I don’t know what the reason really is.”

MPOX MESS IN MEXICO

While the U.S. celebrates the end of its monkeypox emergency, cases continue to rise in Latin America due to stigma and lack of resources. Here’s one man’s story of having mpox in Mexico.

BY ALEX GARNER

Alex Garner is a regular contributor for Plus and has over 25 years of experience working as a community organizer, with a focus on uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, people living with HIV, and other marginalized communities.

LIVING THROUGH MPOX (formerly called monkeypox) is a literal pain in the ass. Profound and indescribable pain. Since this outbreak started in April of 2022, we’ve read many panicked stories, seen lots of scientific charts, and heard outrageous stigmatizing statements. But we have not heard enough from the gay and bisexual men who have endured mpox, particularly outside of the U.S. or Europe.

While the U.S., Canada, and western European countries have seen a sustained decrease in diagnoses since cases were first reported in April, cases in Latin America continue to rise. Mexico has no vaccines, no treatment, and only has five diagnosis centers in a country of over 130 million people. Activists have mobilized to call for vaccine access and better testing and treatment, but they’ve encountered an apathetic and disorganized government. It’s clear that the Mexican government doesn’t believe the lives of gay and bisexual men are worth investing in. This outbreak, like COVID, has only illuminated the existing inequities that exist globally for queer people, people of color, the poor, and people living with HIV.

Alejandro Dungla is a food writer in Mexico City. He has a degree in gastronomy and writes about different social aspects of Mexican cuisine. He also lived through weeks of mpox. As the virus wanes in other parts of the world, I wanted to share Alex’s story in hopes that people will understand that this outbreak persists globally — and that has an enormous impact on the physical and mental health of our community. Mpox is not just a public health issue, it’s also a matter of social justice.

When did you realize you might have mpox and what did you do?

I started having symptoms on September 10 [2022]. At first, it was a fever that I controlled with paracetamol. On the third day, my anus start itching and I realized something was wrong. I went to the doctor and he realized it was monkeypox, as he had previously diagnosed other patients. He sent me to the Hospital de Infectologia del Centro Médico La Raza to have an official diagnosis.

What were your symptoms from mpox? Fever, body pain, fatigue, and the typical lesions that hurt a lot — and I mean a fucking lot.

What sort of care did you receive in Mexico?

I was hospitalized for seven days. They wanted to keep me in observation because I’m also HIV-positive. On the third day, the pain was unbearable and they gave me intravenous opioid analgesics plus paracetamol and antibiotics.

What has been your experience with stigma related to mpox?

All the health care staff was really friendly at the hospital. I do recall one nurse commenting that “you were a bad boy,” and I was like, I only have sex. That’s not being a bad boy, that is something normal. I think

the stigma I suffered comes from the federal government of Mexico, which hasn’t done anything to buy vaccines because 95 percent of the population affected by monkeypox are queer men.

What would you like to see the government do in response to mpox? Take responsibility and protect the population by buying vaccines. LGBTQ+ people are not a group of second-class citizens to be treated in this way. Our suffering because of this epidemic can be avoided.

Why is it important for you to speak out about having mpox? Because there’s no shame in suffering from this disease, just as there is no shame in suffering from diabetes or flu. There are lot of people around the world suffering because of monkeypox and we have rights and a voice.

IT’S TIME FOR ME

BY MARK S. KING

Tez Anderson is a truth-bomb talking poster boy of long-term HIV survival. As one of the founders of the Let’s Kick ASS: AIDS Survival Syndrome program (letskickass.org), he advocates ferociously for the needs and visibility of aging people living with HIV.

Tez and I both know we must speak up for ourselves because no one else will. The cavalry ain’t coming. We’re it. We also share a certain physical and mental weariness, after a lifetime on the front lines of HIV and the kind of beating your body takes from HIV and the many medications, some quite toxic, we’ve taken over the years. Not to mention we’re both now into our sixties.

Here’s our conversation during the international AIDS conference in Montreal, gently edited for length and clarity.

Mark S. King: Here we are, hanging out during the beginning of this conference, and we’re already talking about how old we feel. We’re dragging a little.

Tez Anderson: I am 63 years old. I wasn’t supposed to be 30. I took the “d” drugs in the ’90s [DDi, D4t, Ddc] and I got bad neuropathy. It’s gotten worse. My feet hurt all the time.

Mark: I did those drugs, too, but luckily I don’t have those side effects. But when I think about whether or not I’ll keep doing these events, to me it’s more of a psychic exhaustion. And I also wonder to myself, does my life get another act? I’ve already had a few acts, for sure.

Tez: Yeah. I know. And what does it look like?

Mark: And maybe it doesn’t have to do with…

Tez: Any of this HIV stuff! I agree with you.

An honest conversation between two longterm survivors about life, death, and (maybe) leaving HIV activism.

Mark: I just moved back to Atlanta, and my first instinct was, okay, which HIV organization should I get involved with? And then I thought, fuck that, there’s a great gay film festival here. Why don’t I go support that? When do we get to release ourselves from a lifetime of HIV activism?

Tez: I wonder the same thing every day right now. It feels like sometimes I’m shouting into a void. I mean, I get the most amazing responses from people about my work, I get the loveliest emails.

Mark: Same here.

Tez: It’s very gratifying. But at some point I can’t take it in anymore. And I wonder if I’m just talking to the same 5,000 people over and over. Is it just a big clusterfuck? Do people care about AIDS anymore? No. We give a fuck, but outside our little circle…?

Mark: I just had a cold chill run up my spine. When you talk about those 5,000 people I’m like, oh my god, that’s my traffic, are they just the same people over and over?

Tez: I’ve just reached the point where I don’t have the oomph. I don’t have the desire.

Mark: The thing is, can we allow ourselves that? Can we exit gracefully, stage right? Can we do that?

Tez: Every time I mention this to somebody, they’re like, oh please don’t do that. We need you.

Mark: They might need you, but what do you need?

Tez: Yeah, it’s flattering, but I need to lay on a beach somewhere. Drinking pina coladas.

Mark: Do you have other interests that you wish you could be doing?

Tez: What the fuck is a hobby? The hobby has always been activism. I’ve been openly HIV-positive since 1986.

Mark: And me, 1985. But here we are bellyaching about how we wish we could do something else, but what is it for you? Are you just trapped in the HIV silo forever? Or is it the activism that’s keeping us alive and well?

Tez: People seem to want me to keep doing what I’m doing.

Mark: Well, sure. If I took a poll among my readers, they would say the same thing. Of course. But let’s put this into context. The world will keep spinning if Mark S. King stops writing.

Tez: And I could drop dead in a heartbeat.

Mark: Do you think about mortality all the time?

Tez: All the time.

Mark: I do, too. I had a dream last night that I was watching my own cremation. They kept scooping up the big pieces, like cleaning a litter box, and throwing them back into the furnace.

Tez: Oooh.

Mark: I think it has to do with our own experiences of mortality at a young age. There’s a psychic wound there.

Tez: Yeah. We said goodbye to a lot of people.

Mark: I know the scene. And we’ve both gotten to witness a good death, when they were surrounded by love and friendship. And yet I feel as if, at the end, I will be saying, “If I could just have a couple more minutes, please. I have a thought.”

Tez: I have the opposite thought, to just check out when it’s not worth it anymore.

Mark: Well, sure, we both have friends who chose…

Tez: Who [died by] suicide, yes. Because at some point it was the humane thing to do. I’m not opposed to it.

Mark: Sure. You get the pills. You keep the right kind of pills around. I can’t believe how dark this is getting. (Laughs) I hope people will pick up on how light-hearted we are, discussing all this.

Tez: Yeah.

Mark: Okay, Tez, here’s the thing. You’re going to have to find that hobby. It doesn’t have to be Scrabble.

Tez: Painting? No. Photography? Nah…

Mark: Film! You just have to sit in the theater and eat popcorn. I love movies. I’m challenging you, Tez, because we can’t continue doing this for other people. But that said, I do it because this work really nurtures me, still.

Tez: Me too! And every time I think about pulling away, I think oh, but I really love this. And I get to a conference and run into a thousand people who I love.

Mark: Yeah. We get to work alongside some amazing people.

Tez: They’re so much better than I am.

Mark: I think that all the time. I’m privileged to be in their company.

Tez: Me too.

Mark: So then, the final takeaway is, “gosh this is exhausting, and I really need another chapter in my life, but I guess this is it!” We love this work. We wish we could exit the stage sometimes, but we know good and well we’re not.

Tez: We’re not going to, no. I know we’re not.

Mark: I mean, this life is crazy, and it can break your heart, but we want a little more.

Tez: Yeah. Maybe a little bit more.

This article was republished with permission from My Fabulous Disease, a blog by HIV advocate Mark S. King. You can read more stories like these at marksking.com.

ACROSS LEFT TO RIGHT HIV activists Tez Anderson and Mark S. King ponder their lives and legacies

KNOW YOUR MEDICAL RIGHTS

BY NEAL BROVERMAN

When dealing with insurance and health care matters, it can sometimes feel like being stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare, with an endless loop of unanswered phone calls, emails, and letters. The federal government is trying to remedy this situation, specifically through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights, which just ruled against a Georgia medical laboratory that allegedly dragged its feet for seven months over a deceased man’s medical records.

The Civil Rights office announced early this year that it had settled a complaint against Life Hope Labs of Sandy Springs, Ga., and additionally ordered the laboratory to pay HHS a fine of $16,500. In announcing the settlement, the OCR stated that Life Hope may have violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s right of access provision that’s part of HIPAA’s Privacy Rule; OCR also stated the lab would take corrective action so this problem won’t happen again.

It all began in July 2021, when a request to Life Hope Labs was made by a deceased man’s daughter for her father’s medical records. After failing to receive the documents over the course of two months, the daughter filed a complaint with OCR. Even with the federal government involved, the Life Hope didn’t provide the records until February 2022.

Even though the records related to someone deceased, such documents are typically needed for estate and insurance matters, and could even provide insight into genetic issues passed from parent to child.

“Access to medical records, including lab results, empowers patients to better manage their health, communicate with their treatment teams, and adhere to their treatment plans. The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives individuals and personal representatives a right to timely access their medical records from all covered entities, including laboratories,” said OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer. “Laboratories covered by HIPAA must follow the law and ensure that they are responding timely to records access requests.”

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, passed in 1996, ensures privacy when it comes to patients’ health matters, so doctors and insurance companies cannot freely release private information — it also ensures that patients can easily and swiftly receive their own medical information. HIPAA’s right of access provision dictates that labs, hospitals, and insurers provide personal health information within 30 days of receiving a request, but also notes that “the 30 calendar days is an outer limit and covered entities are encouraged to respond as soon as possible.”

“With limited exceptions, the HIPAA Privacy Rule gives individuals the right to access, upon request, the medical and health information about them in one or more designated record sets maintained by or for the individuals’ health care providers and health plans,” HHS states on its website. “Designated record sets include medical records, billing records, payment and claims records, health plan enrollment records, case management records, as well as other records used, in whole or in part, by or for a covered entity to make decisions about individuals. Thus, individuals have a right to access a broad array of health information about themselves, whether maintained by a covered entity or by a business associate on the covered entity’s behalf, including medical records, billing and payment records, insurance information, clinical laboratory test reports, X-rays, wellness and disease management program information, and notes…among other information generated from treating the individual or paying for the individual’s care or otherwise used to make decisions about individuals.”

The OCR encourages anyone having difficulty receiving their medical records to contact them at (800) 368-1019 or online at ocrportal.hhs.gov.

Here’s where to turn if you’re getting the run-around trying to access your health records.

ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS, INCLUDING LAB RESULTS, EMPOWERS PATIENTS TO BETTER MANAGE THEIR HEALTH, COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR TREATMENT TEAMS, AND ADHERE TO THEIR TREATMENT PLANS.

CARING QUEENS

MISTR, Jackie Beat, Willam, and a bevy of beautiful boys team up to promote PrEP and launch an HIV care program.

BY ANDREW J. STILLMAN

Telehealth platform MISTR, known for providing free PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and sexually transmitted infection testing, recently partnered with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Willam Belli and drag icon Jackie Beat to release a holiday music video. This continues the tradition of drag performers using their platforms to spread awareness around PrEP, the medical HIV prevention option that continues to grow in popularity.

The song, titled “MISTR Wonderland,” features the blush-worthy quips Beat and Willam are known for, while the video highlights “The MISTRs,” a sexy group of men who dance around in their speedos and Santa hats.

The video begins with The MISTRs driving up to a house party as the music begins. Willam wakes up Beat, saying, “Jackie, wake up, there’s

boys here!” Viewers are then transported into MISTR Wonderland, where the tune of “Winter Wonderland” plays with lyrics encouraging people to take their sexual health into their own hands by signing up for MISTR’s free PrEP services.

Lyrics like, “If a hunky Santa in a cock ring is coming down your chimney, don’t forget — thanks to MISTR, you can stuff your stocking with candy canes and gingerbread and PrEP” encourages people to practice safer sex even if they’re feeling “slutty, thirsty, or sleazy.”

The video came in tandem with the health platform launching its first HIV long-term care program on World AIDS Day (December 1). The new service allows patients to securely consult with a licensed physician to begin a treatment regimen for HIV with no out-of-pocket costs.

The brand also used the music video to introduce The MISTRs, who they recently announced as their 2023 official ambassadors. The MISTRs will promote the company’s mission of expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment.

And while the holidays are long gone, you can still enjoy this naughty (and nice) little video all year long at MISTR’s YouTube page.

2 5 %

The percentage of the 1.2 million people for whom PrEP is recommended that were prescribed it in 2020, compared to only about 3 percent in 2015.

Source: “PrEP for HIV Prevention in the U.S,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Drag icons Jackie Beat (standing, center) and Willam (seated) promote PrEP with the speedo-clad MISTRs in the video for “MISTR Wonderland”

STRAIGHT TALK

Heterosexuals accounted for 22 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2020 — so why aren’t we giving them PrEP?

PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS, OR PrEP, is the number one form of HIV prevention, but marketing efforts for the medication are historically targeted towards men who have sex with men.

While this community is largely at a higher risk for HIV, this has left an open gap in messaging for the heterosexual community.

In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that heterosexual people made up 22 percent of the 30,635 new HIV diagnoses that year. The United Kingdom also reported that new HIV cases were higher in heterosexual people than gays and bisexuals for the first time in a decade.

Perceptions that HIV is a “gay disease” play a part in the struggle to broaden the message for HIV prevention and care.

“I believe there is stigma attached to PrEP that unfortunately keeps straight, cisgender people from accessing it at the rates this population should,” Dr. Monica

Gandhi, MPH, told Healthline. “The CDC estimates that 1.2 million people require pre-exposure prophylaxis in the U.S., but fewer than 25 percent are taking it.”

Gandhi noted the troubling CDC statistic “means we have to redouble our efforts to reach heterosexual, cisgender women and men with our PrEP messaging. In fact, two of the biggest PrEP trials that led to the approval of PrEP were in heterosexual couples.”

Younger generations are more likely to remain openminded to this medication as opposed to older generations. In the battle against HIV stigma, education remains a primary issue. Clinicians especially need more training and knowledge on this topic.

Advancements like tele-PrEP services and the new federal budget to cover PrEP in the underinsured or uninsured are helping make the medication more accessible.

With nearly 1 in 7 people living with HIV unaware of their status, getting tested and considering PrEP can help you and those around you stay safe and protected. —AJS

VACCINE HOPES DASHED

The first Phase 3 trial for a potential HIV vaccine ends in disappointment.

BY ANDREW J. STILLMAN

It’s back to the drawing board for a potential HIV vaccine, as Janssen Pharmaceuticals recently announced a Phase 3 investigational study into a potential regimen was not effective in preventing HIV infection.

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced in January that their independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board uncovered no safety issues with their Mosaico study, but also found it didn’t prevent HIV effectively, leading them to discontinue the trial.

“We are disappointed with this outcome and stand in solidarity with the people and communities vulnerable to and affected by HIV,” Penny Heaton, M.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head for Vaccines at Janssen, said in a statement. “1.5 million people acquired HIV in 2021

alone, underscoring the high unmet need for new options and why we have long worked to tackle this global health challenge. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing innovation in HIV.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, former chief medical advisor to President Biden, countered the discouraging news by telling The New York Times that other strategic approaches, including an ongoing study called PrEPVacc in eastern and southern Africa, have gained some headway.

Although medications can suppress the virus and living with HIV is no longer a death sentence, the regimens are needed for life, with some patients developing side effects or drug resistance. Meanwhile, millions of people around the world cannot easily access the lifesaving medications.

“The ultimate prevention modality for any infection, particularly viral infection, is a vaccine that’s safe and effective,” said Dr. Fauci. “That’s the reason why the field is going to continue to pursue very active research in that area.”

Mosaico was a complimentary vaccine trial to the Imbokodo, study which was discontinued in 2021 after disappointing results among women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mitchell Warren, executive direction of the HIV prevention organization AVAC, said, “It’s not that all hope is lost, it’s that we need to redirect our resources to greatest impact.”

Warren hopes the Mosaico news prompts policymakers and activists to ensure the existing tools for HIV prevention — like PrEP — be made more widely accessible.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

BY ANDREW J. STILLMAN

THE DRUG LENACAPAVIR — marked as Sunlenca and produced by Gilead Sciences — was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat HIV in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multi-drug resistant infection.

Sunlenca offers a new, twice-yearly treatment option for adults with HIV that is not adequately controlled by their current regimen because of resistance, intolerance, or safety considerations. The therapy will be used in combination with other antitretrovirals, with the first doses utilizing pills and subcutaneous (under the skin) injections. After the

starting dose is completed, maintenance injections of Sunlenca will only be required every six months.

“[The] approval ushers in a new class of antiretroviral drugs that may help patients with HIV who have run out of treatment options,” Debra Birnkrant, M.D., said in a press release from the FDA. “The availability of new classes of antiretroviral medications may possibly help these patients live longer, healthier lives.”

Daniel O’Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, echoed the statement saying, “This news is an important milestone in the work to help end the HIV epidemic as Sunlenca is now the only FDA-approved twice-yearly treatment for people with multi-drug resistant HIV.”

Sunlenca is the first of a new class of drugs called capsid inhibitors approved by the government, the FDA announced in December. Sunlenca specifically works by blocking HIV’s protein shell (the capsid) and disrupting the virus’s lifecycle.

The approval for Sunlenca is supported by data from a Phase 2/3 trial. Participants had previously undergone previous treatment with a median of nine antiretroviral medications.

The review and approval for Sunlenca as a medication went through the FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation intended to speed the development and review of new drugs.

The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union are the only countries to have approved the use of lenacapavir, whether alone or in combination.

A new twice-yearly medication is greenlit for those running out of HIV treatment options.

ACTIVISM IS BLISS

How legendary drag performer PANTI BLISS became an accidental activist and, eventually, the queen of Ireland.

While it’s true Ireland no longer has a monarchical system after declaring itself a republic and withdrawing from the British Commonwealth in 1949, today’s reigning “Queen of Ireland” is none other than Panti Bliss, the country’s most well-known drag performer.

Unlike Ireland’s neighboring British monarchy with their creation of heirs and spares to ensure succession, Panti wasn’t born into this role — she didn’t inherit it from anyone. Instead, the self-described “accidental activist” forged a new path to become a part of queer history.

“I didn’t set out to be an activist,” she admits in between her rigorous Dancing with the Stars Ireland rehearsals. “I’m a queer person living in a homophobic world, and sometimes that bothered me, and when things bother me, I want to change them, but I didn’t set out wanting to change the world, you know, like Gandhi or something! So that’s why I call myself an ‘accidental activist.’”

Born in Ireland six months before the Stonewall Riots took place, Rory O’Neill grew up in a small rural town in county Mayo, far from the world of drag and the birth of the queer rights movement in the United States. After a brief performance stint during college in Ireland in the late ’80s, O’Neill moved to Japan and became a hallmark on the Tokyo club scene, where his alter ego and drag name Panti Bliss came to life. Returning to Dublin in 1995, O’Neill, performing as Panti, pioneered and orchestrated some of the city’s most influential club nights, hosted Alternative Miss Ireland for 18 years, and performed worldwide. Since his return to Ireland, he has been open about being HIV-positive, continuously campaigns for its prevention, urges people to get tested, and worked hard to raise awareness of how it can be lived with.

In 2014, O’Neill sparked a nationwide uproar in Ireland after a television appearance where he called specific individuals and organizations homophobic. The ensuing scandal,

an Irish stew, if you may, became known as “Pantigate” and ignited a divided Ireland — those standing behind Panti, and the homophobes who weren’t. Following the television appearance, Panti rose to true acclaim during a famous “noble call’ speech in Dublin’s Abbey Theatre — a must-watch oration about queer oppression available on Panti’s YouTube. The address for equality was recognized worldwide by notable figures such as RuPaul, Ellen DeGeneres, Graham Norton, Stephen Fry, Madonna, and many more posting on social media in support. Shortly thereafter, Panti became the fearless trailblazer in Ireland’s “Yes” campaign for marriage equality, and O’Neill’s life and work in the lead-up to the 2015 Irish referendum became the subject of the triumphant documentary The Queen of Ireland. In 2019, Rory married partner Anderson Cabrera at a ceremony in Dublin surrounded by family and friends.

Today, O’Neill is among the hopefuls competing in this year’s season of Ireland’s Dancing with the Stars and making history by doing so as Ireland’s first same-sex pairing. Partnered with the Ukrainian professional dancer Denys Samson, O’Neill performed in drag as Panti and closed out the show’s first week, performing a captivating cha-cha-cha to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” that earned an impressive 23/30 points.

The self-titled “gender discombobulist” is cognizant that being on a family entertainment show and invited weekly into the viewer’s home is an opportunity to change perceptions. It might not be apparent to every viewer, but Panti’s ensembles, routines, and song selections are unambiguous; these decisions are meticulously selected and as carefully contoured as the makeup on her cheeks. The notion that little boys and girls in similar rural towns and villages that O’Neill grew up in, where he felt alone and desired to escape from, can now see someone like Panti perform each week on the TV is a driving factor for the star.

“I know sometimes we can over-blow these things, saying ‘It’s just an entertainment show on TV,’ but it is massively popular. When I was 15 years old, a queer boy struggling to deal with all of that…if I had seen a same-sex couple dancing together on the same level playing field — completely ordinarily, like all the other contestants, at 6:30 p.m. on a Sunday evening on a family entertainment show — it would have meant the world to me.”

While Ireland has changed so much in Panti’s lifetime, her mere existence and participation on the hit show have ruffled some feathers, revealing “if I go deep enough into my Twitter mentions, you’ll always find some crazies.” But

ACROSS Panti has warmed hearts from Dublin to Tokyo

BELOW Panti Bliss is the alter ego of Rory O’Neill

without missing a beat, Panti joyfully proclaims that the reaction received from the general Irish public has been “overwhelmingly positive and lovely!” Still, activism isn’t for the faint of heart, and while Ireland has transformed significantly over the years, like everywhere, “homophobia still exists here.” With her strenuous training schedule of about 6-8 hours each day, Panti should be applauded for the work being done. Not only is she getting her “prepandemic body back” and competing each week, she’s showing viewers at home how one can not only live with HIV, but that one can flourish with it, too — an issue that most people outside the queer community might not be as wellversed on. “Dancing

on the telly every Sunday evening is part of that process of letting people know that it’s not this huge thing to be feared anymore.”

From initial meetings O’Neill had with the show’s producers, he revealed it was crucial that he’d get to dance out of drag and “at least one week as Rory because I think it’s important to have two fellas dancing in your parent’s living room.” This impactful statement was seen just last year on the U.S. version of the show. After 29 seasons and 336 contestants, season 30 finally featured a permanent samesex couple each week, with Jojo Siwa and her professional dancing partner Jenna Johnson placing second.

While Panti is a current favorite to win this season of Dancing with the Stars Ireland, she’s also a contestant people are closely watching as she’s keeping viewers guessing what she’ll do next. “I’ve never been one for behaving, and if they wanted someone to behave on the show, they wouldn’t have asked me.”

Panti also has some exciting projects in the pipeline. Between making sporadic pop-ins at her two Dublin establishments, Pennylane Bar and Pantibar, she’s also set to go on an international tour once the reality competition show concludes in March, and will be appearing in the upcoming Disney+ docuspecial, Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman, premiering on St. Patrick’s Day.

RIGHT Panti with David Letterman in Disney+’s Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman

BELOW Panti with her Dancing With the Stars partner Denys Samson

Starting + Staying

By starting HIV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis and staying on treatment as prescribed, you can help control your HIV viral load, which can help you live a longer and healthier life.

Today’s HIV treatments can fit into your schedule, and some can even be started right away. So be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about what’s right for you.

And remember, you are not alone. There are many people to help support you, alongside your healthcare provider.

Work together with your healthcare provider to find an HIV treatment option that is right for you and start your treatment journey today.

The best time to start treatment is ASAP after diagnosis

You can live well with HIV

on HIV treatment

Model portrayal

Model portrayal