THE PREP HYPE

chief executive officer & editorial director DIANE ANDERSON-MINSHALL editor in chief NEAL BROVERMAN evp, group publisher & corporate sales JOE VALENTINO vp, brand partnerships & associate publisher STUART BROCKINGTON

EDITORIAL managing editor DESIRÉE GUERRERO editor at large TYLER CURRY senior copy editor TRUDY RING associate editor DONALD PADGETT contributing editors KHAFRE ABIF, MARK S. KING mental health editor GARY MCCLAIN staff writer MEY RUDE contributing writers JOHN CASEY, MATTHEW HAYS, JIM PICKETT, CHARLES STEPHENS ART executive creative director RAINE BASCOS art director BEN WARD editor at large digital art CHRISTOPHER HARRITY PRINT PRODUCTION production director JOHN LEWIS production editor JACOB ANDERSON-MINSHALL PRIDE MEDIA EDITORIAL editor in chief, the advocate TRACY E. GILCHRIST digital editor in chief, advocate.com NEAL BROVERMAN editor at large, the advocate JOHN CASEY editor in chief, out DANIEL REYNOLDS digital director, out.com MIKELLE STREET editor in chief, out traveler JACOB ANDERSON-MINSHALL editor in chief, pride RAFFY ERMAC deputy editor, pride TAYLOR HENDERSON director of podcasts & special projects JEFFREY MASTERS ADVERTISING & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS senior director, ad operations STEWART NACHT manager, ad operations TIFFANY KESDEN director, brand partnerships JAMIE TREDWELL creative director, brand partnerships MICHAEL LOMBARDO senior manager, brand partnerships TIM SNOW junior manager, advertising & brand partnerships DEAN FRYN coordinator, advertising & brand partnerships KEIGHTON LI DIGITAL vp, technology & development ERIC BUI digital media manager LAURA VILLELA social media manager CHRISTINE LINNELL social media editor JAVY RODRIGUEZ

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IT’S PROBABLY

NOT a surprise that my best subject in school was English; I’m an editor, after all, and spend my days reading and writing that language, so that tracks. Math and science were a struggle, mostly because I didn’t have much interest in learning about those subjects. Now I want a do-over; I would love to challenge myself to become profi cient in trigonometry or statistics or chemistry. The latter especially holds much sway over me, as I marvel at the scientifi c and medical advances happening every day.

As I sit outside typing on a laptop without a mask, I wonder how our brightest minds came up with the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s incredible how two shots have turned our lives around. Last summer we were separated from friends and family, businesses were cratering, and millions around the world were su ering and dying. Now, whiplashed and a bit worse for the wear, we’re stumbling outside and returning to a version of the normalcy we so long took for granted. None of this would be possible without science and the people who spend their lives studying how our bodies work.

The same brilliance that helped bring COVID to its knees (at least in this country) has revolutionized HIV treatment since the virus was fi rst identifi ed 40 years ago. The disease is no longer a death sentence but a manageable condition thanks to the doctors and scientists who have committed their lives to the HIV pandemic. While those heroes haven’t yet reached the pinnacle of their quest — a cure or vaccine — researchers have continually made HIV care less toxic and more profi cient. The advances are still occurring as our 9th annual Treatment Guide (page 28) proves. Years ago, people living with HIV would have to swallow a punishing regimen of pills to stay alive and likely endure debilitating side e ects that altered their appearance or made them a slave to the toilet. Now one or two daily pills will treat HIV in most people, and new advances are on the horizon — including monthly shots to keep the virus at bay.

These scientifi c innovations are incredible, but they haven’t defeated another scourge of HIV: stigma. Thankfully, more and more icons of TV, fi lm, music, and sports are speaking freely about living with the condition. Pose star (and Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner!) Billy Porter (page 8) may be the most famous person to recently come out about his positive status, but our cover star, talk show host Gracie Cartier (page 12), spoke publicly about her life with HIV before she was a household name. Cartier told us that it wasn’t until her mother reminded her that she’s healthy and successful that she began to see herself in a di erent light — and realize that HIV would not be an impediment to her dreams.

As we move forward into an uncertain future, people like Porter, Cartier, and the scientists and doctors who made HIV treatable and COVID defeatable fi ll me with hope. It feels like we’re living through a memorable era of history — another favorite subject of mine.

Be well,