Helping Ukrainian Refugees with HIV Treatment & Support in Berlin As reported by UNAIDS: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2022/may/2 0220520_helping-ukraine-refugeesberlin?fbclid=IwAR3IMNUVaYZmaNyoDbA3FxwzuOIDVXNoU45GVl1qaf611k A5hHQzcYwRCs4
More than 600 000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in Germany since the war broke out. Among them many people living with HIV – mostly women. In the beginning many needed shelter and then there were lots of requests about obtaining HIV treatment. Many refugees had left their supply behind or took the bare minimum. Vasilisa Sutushko, who was born with HIV, arrived in Berlin at the beginning of March and had only one month of HIV medicine with her. She also had no clue navigating the German health system. A local NGO, Berliner AIDS Hilfe, one of Germany’s oldest HIV organizations, was flooded with an influx of calls for help.
“I got these pills for €10 for three months,” Ms Sutushko said, pointing at a box of HIV treatment. “When I came to Berlin, I had to understand whether I received medicine for myself here for free or for a fee,” she said. Unlike in her native country, she explained, in Germany you need a prescription for almost all medicines. “In Ukraine, I can get any pills I need without any problems at the pharmacy,” Ms Sutushko said. Berliner Aids-Hilfe’s migration consultant, Sergiu Grimalschi, said when the first refugees began to arrive there were few organized structures, so they had to improvise across the country. “We had to find an urgent solution,” he said. They helped countless refugees with medicine, paperwork, housing, and other pressing health issues. According to Berliner AIDS Hilfe, most of the refugees living with HIV won’t be able to go back until the bombed medical facilities are rebuilt. Ms Sutushko, founder of Teens Ukraine – an NGO that helps young people who live with HIV- and others are now trying to set up a network to further help people living with HIV. Stigma and discrimination in Ukraine regarding one’s HIV status has made many refugees hesitant about seeking help or open about living with HIV in their adopted countries. "I'm happy to see people like me here who need help, I can also be helpful," she said. UNAIDS estimates that 260 000 Ukrainians live with HIV. Up to 30 000 fled their country since the start of the war and need HIV treatment. Interrupting treatment, even temporarily, can lead to drug resistance and increased risk of progression to AIDS.
Watch video here: https://youtu.be/WHrUmDCjnto Note: We as a community of people living with HIV are going through rough times everywhere, but if you are able to donate or help in any way please do. Every little bit helps someone survive and the refugees of Ukraine need help now.
https://thereddressball.ca
Fifth Annual Red Dress Ball Set to be Fierce In Support of People Living with HIV/AIDS June 1, 2022 (Toronto, ON) – As the world faces a more than forty-year pandemic, continued support is still needed for people living with HIV/AIDS, and The Red Dress Ball Foundation, a Canadian non-profit, with support from ViiV Healthcare & DCM, is committed to raising essential funds through the annual Red Dress Ball on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in Toronto, an event that has from its launch, raised more than $150,000. “The Red Dress Ball brings together a broad and diverse community to raise money and raise awareness,” said Barrett Morrison, one of the co-founders of The Red Dress Ball Foundation. “Together, we advocate for a world without HIV stigma, and come together as a community to give back.” The Red Dress Ball, which has held sold-out in-person and virtual events over the past four years, is a volunteer-run, completely grassroots initiative. The Foundation is working to create a space for both philanthropy and community-connectedness through its accessible events. “As the HIV community continues to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, events like these are an important reminder that there is still a need to provide critical support to people living with HIV/AIDS,” said Dacia Hibbert, General Manager for ViiV Healthcare Canada. “ViiV Healthcare is very proud to support this event and the Foundation’s mission to educate and raise awareness in support of people living with HIV.” In 2022, the Foundation officially became a non-profit, co-founded by Matt Hyams, Brandon Hamilton, Barrett Morrison and Priya Singh, and they are working their way to charitable status. This year, the Foundation will be donating proceeds to three community-focused organizations Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, PWA Toronto, and the HQ Toronto project.
This year, The Red Dress Ball will take place at 8PM on June 11, 2022 at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas Street East, Toronto) and will feature performances by an array of local and international talent, including Ongina of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame. Tickets can be purchased and are available online here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-red-dress-ball-5th-anniversary-tickets310823851507 About The Red Dress Ball Foundation: The Red Dress Ball Foundation is a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to ensuring ongoing awareness of the continuing impact of HIV/AIDS in Canada, raising funds to support initiatives & organizations that help people living with, or at risk of HIV/AIDS. Learn more about The Red Dress Ball Foundation at www.thereddressball.ca. About ViiV Healthcare: ViiV Healthcare is the only company 100% dedicated to developing HIV treatments to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS and ultimately improve the health of those whose lives are touched by the virus. Learn more about ViiV Healthcare and how we are supporting the HIV/AIDS community at www.viivhealthcare.ca For more information, please contact: Leo Torosian leo@impactcanada.com | 514-503-2797
Today we are lucky enough to sit down with one of Canada's hardest working activists...Mr. Randy Davis. As someone who sits on several boards and helps gather important information to help our HIV+ Community across Canada, Randy was kind enough to make time for this interview. AK: Randy...thank you so much for doing this. You and I have crossed paths a few times in our work and activism, but I wanted to know more and introduce you to our readers. Would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Like where you're from originally? And if I'm not mistaken, you're a father as well... RD: Let me begin first by thanking you for inviting me to speak with you today. I have appreciated and admired the work you do for years now and am grateful for this opportunity! I grew up in the very small and conservative town of Shelburne, Ontario. There were only 500 kids in my high school back in those days, my dad was the president of the local minor hockey association, and I was the only one of his four sons who didn't play hockey. As a result, I was often labelled as the faggot despite being deeply closeted. I left in 1985 for university in Ottawa and never looked back! I was in a relationship for many years with a woman who became my wife and while that didn't work out for obvious reasons...lol, we were blessed with two amazing daughters who have grown into beautiful, intelligent and loving young women. They are truly the best parts of both of us. AK: So, I ask this of everyone who is featured in this column...when were you diagnosed and what was that experience like? RD: I was diagnosed in February of 2015. I hadn't been feeling well for several weeks and my family doctor diagnosed me with pneumonia and sent me home with a prescription for antibiotics. I had been prone to pneumonia and had been hospitalized with double lung pneumonia in 2012. So I didn't really question his diagnosis but when the medication he prescribed failed to make any difference, and in fact I continued to feel worse, I had the feeling that this was something different. As a single, sexually active, gay male in Ottawa, I was getting tested fairly regulary but decided to move up my scheduled testing date. When the public health nurse at the clinic told me that my rapid test showed I was HIV positive she said to me, "I can tell from your reaction that this wasn't the result you were expecting." She was right, but a part of me knew even before I was told the results. As I left the clinic I was asked if I was ok? I lied and said "Thank you, I'm fine," but what would normally have been a twenty minute walk back to my apartment took over two hours. I walked the snowy, cold and blustery streets of Ottawa aimlessly and took the long way home taking me on the overpass to the highway and down the streets of the busy bus route. I contemplated several options to end my life. Despite knowing enough about HIV to know that my diagnosis was no longer considered a death sentence, I still felt a profound sense of loss and shame, that no one would ever love me and that I was now destined to be alone for the rest of my life. Fortunately, by the time I got home, my emotional response took a back seat and my focus turned to next steps to ensure I found treatment and care that I knew would get me healthy again. Less than three months after
beginning treatment, my viral load was undetectable and has remained so ever since! And 13 months after learning I was living with HIV, I met the man who I married in July of 2018. Whenever I'm asked about Aaron I always begin with telling folx that he saved my life in every conceivable way one human can save another. I will forever be grateful for the forces that brought him into my life.
AK: How did your activism start? What made you decide to come out about your status and use your voice to make a change? RD: When I was diagnosed I never had any intention of publicly disclosing my status. My stance was that the only people that need to know my status were those that I was sexually active with
and that's it! My hand was forced just a few months after my diagnosis when my status was disclosed without my consent by someone I trusted and the person they told threatened to tell my children, who were 16 & 12 at the time. I was given two weeks to tell them I was HIV positive or they would be told anyway! This was my first exposure to the fear and ignorance of HIV from others and the insidious nature of this threat still makes my stomach turn and my blood boil to this day. Not wanting to give MY power to anyone else, I had an honest and frank conversation with my girls and hoped that they would understand that I was healthy and no threat in any way to theirs or anyone else's safety. To the credit of my babies...they only cared that I was getting the care I needed to ensure I'd be in their lives for a very long time! This was back in 2015, but it wasn't until 2017 when a work promotion found Aaron and I moving from Ottawa to Barrie, that I made the decision to share my story publicly and proudly. I was watching a local newscast that was highlighting the local AIDS walk that was coming up and it really pissed me off that the folks living with HIV that were interviewed had their image distorted and their voices altered. I couldn't believe that in 2017 there wasn't anyone living in Simcoe/Muskoka willing to show that a person living with HIV could pass you on the street and you'd never know it!! And just like that, with the love and support of my husband and family, I became "The Accidental HIV Activist!" AK: For our readers, you might have noticed U=U ads like this throughout most of our publications...Well, Randy Davis is the creative force behind this campaign. How did you come up with this idea and when did the campaign start? RD: The idea for this campaign honestly came to me in a dream. I'm not one to dream, or at least if I dream, I never remember them but this one stuck! I became a loud and proud supporter of the U=U message and movement when I first heard Bruce Richman speak at a community forum in Ottawa in 2017 and he honoured me with the unofficial title of "Pride Coordinator" for the Prevention Access Campaign when I took the initiative to get pride organizations, initially locally and then internationally, to endorse and promote the U=U consensus statement. I was on the board for Barrie Pride at the time and am proud to say that they became the first Pride organization to sign the consensus statement and even made "U=U" the grand marshal for that year's festivities. There are quite a number of prides now partnered with PAC. Sometime later, Aaron and I were a featured couple for CATIE's "Can't Pass It On" campaign and while I was incredibly proud that we were asked to participate, I started to think that all the messaging around being undetectable focused on the one thing we CAN'T give others, HIV. With the "I Can Give U campaign," I wanted to highlight all the wonderful gifts and attributes that folx I had met who live with HIV, CAN and do contribute to the world. It initially started with a poster featuring yours truly that I shared on my social media and on the Undetectable = Untransmittable Facebook group back in October of 2020.
AK: How do you find your models for the campaign? RD: I had a tremendous response from my original post and had a few individuals ask me to make posters for them. It was then that I decided to formalize the campaign and recruit others to send me three words beginning with H, I and V, that highlighted what they give our world. This was all done through my social media channels and sharing on other pages and groups frequented by folks living with HIV. I knew the campaign had made a global impact when my husband woke me early on the morning of World AIDS Day 2021 to show me an article in Italian Vogue that featured my little dream come true. I'm super proud of the diversity displayed throughout the campaign and the fact that I had participants from every continent on the globe except for Antarctica. And I am grateful to POZPLANET for continuing to feature the "I Can Give U" campaign. AK: What are some of the projects and work you are doing right now? What organizations are you partnering with? RD: I have a number of projects on the go this summer now that COVID restrictions are lifting. I will be one of the chefs for June's HIV+ Eatery with Casey House running June 14, 15 & 16. I'm
also a first-time rider in the Friends For Life Bike Rally from Toronto to Montreal and I'm really looking forward to attending the IAS AIDS 2022 conference in Montreal. My work at the Gilbert Centre is also keeping me busy along with managing our sexual health clinic, the InclusHIV Care Clinic and my work on the board of the Ontario AIDS Network. AK: One last question...if you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be? RD: As cliche as it sounds, it really does get better, you just need to be patient and trust that you are deserving of all the good things to come.
Listen to the mix here: https://www.mixcloud.com/djrelentlessny/ear-candy-june-2022 Download the video of this mix here: https://krakenfiles.com/view/FdNbwsH5Kx/file.html Check out DJ Relentless’ Mixcloud page: https://www.mixcloud.com/djrelentlessny Check out DJ Relentless’ HearThis page: https://hearthis.at/djrelentlesstoronto It’s PRIDE month and many are excited to celebrate in person again. So in honour of our diverse community, I have chosen a little something for everyone! We’ve got twenty-one tracks ranging from Moombahton to K-Pop to Hip Hop to Remixed Retro to House to Club! So fasten your seat belts cuz’ it’s gonna be a bumpin’ ride! Let’s kick off our mix with the latest from one of the LGBTQ2+ allies who I always try to support..Bad Bunny. His new song is “Moscow Mule”. Not sure I would be referencing anything that has to do with Russia right now, but the music video features a nude Bunny and that sold the song for me. Moombahton has become a staple in the Pop charts and Bad Bunny definitely has influenced that change. Our second selection is “Voodoo” by Badshah featuring J. Balvin & Tainy. Another hot bangin’ Moomba Latin track that I assume will be very popular over the summer. Last month I talked about Ed Sheeran doing Latin music. This month he’s back with his Hip Hop track “2step” featuring Lil Baby. I have to say…Mr. Sheeran is definitely making sure he is not pigeon-held in one genre. And that’s a good thing! Versatility is always welcomed.
“Baby” is the first single I’ve heard by Manchester rapper Aitch, but apparently, he is a platinum-selling artist over in Britain. The first thing you’ll notice about the single is the sampling of Ashanti’s hit “Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)”. Always a good way to catch everyone’s attention with a throwback to a hit before. My verdict is still out on this one. But It’s a smooth production and I could see it getting some radio play. I guess my verdict is out because I’m wondering about the word “appropriation”. Folks who really have no connections to the source of what they are imitating are coming in and making money off of Black Music. Not sure how I feel about that since it’s Black Music Month. Which brings us to the new swing in K-Pop music. Suddenly all the girls are getting hit by the Hip Hop bug. And now we have tracks like “Chuck” by CL and “ZOOM MV” by Jessi. I remember when Iggy Azalea came on the scene. Folks like Eve and Jill Scoot complained about her “blackcent” (meaning that she has put on a black girl accent to rap). But this is a tough one to call. I grew up with Teena Marie and that girl could sing! I didn’t care if she was white…she sang Black Music. But in a world of posers who will do and say anything to sell records, it’s hard to decide to embrace this music or to be concerned. Will we have another Elvis situation happening where these artists outsell black artists? Only trends and charts will tell. Our seventh selection is a cover of the 80s classic, “Buffalo Stance” by Robyn and the original artist Neneh Cherry featuring Mapei. While Aitch got the official approval for the samples by Ashanti and credits her (which is what you are supposed to do), I love that Robyn invited Neneh to do the cover with her. That’s even better! And to make it even more potent, the video is lip synced by all trans people! Love it – love it – love it! When I heard it I knew I had to
give it a Relentless edge. So, I took some Tipsy beats and pumped her up to the original’s speed and the energy and sass came pouring in! And the Relentlessly Tipsy Edit was born! Ninth on our playlist is “I Look Good” by Lakeyah. YAWN! If you have been following my articles for the past few months you know that I am growing tired of this formula of female rappers bragging about their bodies and their sexual antics. I guess I’m missing the days of female rappers actually addressing issues and standing up for something. I came up with Queen Latifah, Monie Love and Lauryn Hill. Hell, even nasty girl rapper M.C. Choice had socially conscious lyrics about AIDS. It’s okay to be proud of your body and such…but when everyone is doing the same thing there’s nothing special or unique about what you’re saying.
And speaking of nasty girl rappers, I decided to dig up the 90s classic “Crush On You” by Lil Kim featuring Lil Cease & Notorious BIG when I realized that there are no party Hip Hop tracks out now. Everybody is either talking about their pussies or stuck in Trap land at 70 BPMs. So, I grabbed “Try It Out” by Gino Soccio and mashed up the two to create an old skool jam that should remind you of the days of rolling skating and boom boxes. Hope you enjoy the Relentless Tries It Out Remix. As for Kim’s pic…it’s also a throwback. And our tenth track is Latin Pop meets 80s. “Quiero Decirte” by Abraham Mateo featuring Ana Mena sounds like it could have been on Pop stations during the 1980s. I don’t speak a word of Spanish but the sentiment seems clear. Even the video seems to be Retro.
I know that a lot of people couldn’t wait for the new TOP GUN sequel. Forgive me but it ain’t that serious for me. In fact, Tom Cruise and host of others like Tom Hanks, The Rock, Kevin Hart and Liam Neeson don’t EVER have to make another movie for me and I’d be just fine. But many DJs were waiting with bated breath for the theme song “Hold My Hand” by Lady GaGa. It’s a ballad but you knew there were gonna be remixes immediately. I’ve listened to some ridiculous Circuit mixes that I would put in the category of “sneakers in a dryer” but the one that I thought was fitting was Liam Pfeifer Remix. It’s got a commercial Pop House sound and sticks with the narrative of the lyrics. Our twelfth selection slides us right into our Pop section of the mix. “You Were Loved” by Gryffin & OneRepublic definitely sounds like radio friendly song that won’t go to the top of the charts but might be in the Top 40. And Shawn Mendes has jumped into that slight 80s production for his latest “When You’re Gone”. Thank God the Ultimix version slowed it down to Club speed so if I had to play this song I have a mix that I can work with. But I do have to mention that Shawn’s cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark” for the new Tommy Hilfiger YouTube commercial is really a great fit for him. He looks great and he should probably do the full song for a release. He could pull it off.
Years ago back in the 2000s I attempted to do a House mix of Ashanti’s “Foolish”. I need to look through my old library of CDs to dig it up to compare. But the new Shift K3Y Remix reimagines this song with a little more energy than I would have put on it. It’s cute and I can see some
scenes embracing this version, but I think die-hard fans of the original will be like “What hell is this shit!” One of my new favs is our fifteenth track, “Cheque” by Don Diablo. When I first heard it, I immediately started having fantasy of mixing it with the White N3rd Remix of “Bitch Better Have My Money” by Rihanna. Love the production and it’s got just enough sass to the lyrics to work a floor. I don’t know what it is about Jack Harlow but I find him really sexy. Probably because he doesn’t look like he sounds. His latest single, “First Class” heavily samples Fergie’s “Glamorous” and in my opinion he should have added her name to the credit as an artist. I chose the Ryan Arnold Remix video because Back2Back actually used footage of her singing the hook…the way it should have been. Oh and Jack…don’t worry about not knowing who Brandy was. You were just being born when. “Moesha” was at its height of popularity. And her little snapback of “First Class” is cute but this is just a relevance game at this point. Err-body is tryna keep they name out there! Don’t sweat it!
Next up in the seventeenth spot is “Make Me Feel Good” by Irish electronic collective DJ Conor Bissett & Robbie G better known as Belters Only featuring Jazzy. It’s nice to get back to some party anthems! With my Pride bookings coming up I have all kinds of plans of servin’ up some
bangas to help everyone celebrate and this track along with the next one are definitely on my playlist! The DJ Bam Bam Remix of “Drag Me Out” by Kah-Lo is giving me life right now! This will be my go-to track to get the floor started. Great energy and the video is fun. Definitely a party anthem! And our nineteenth track is the Ardent B-more Flavor Remix of “Hot” by Daddy Yankee & Pitbull. Can’t have a party without a good Latin Club track! I can already hear this blasting out of car windows as summer heats up. Our next two remixes are of a couple of Classics. Both were huge hits in the 80s. Up first is the Guztav Siema & Masquraid Club Mix of “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang. I really love the stripped-down feel of the production with a hint of Soca. For me it brings a new flava to the song and opens the door for a great crossover track to switch gears in the mix. Can’t wait to use it on Pride Sunday here in Toronto!
And to close out our EAR CANDY mix is the Brett Brisbois 2k22 Remix of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”. If you’re looking for a new take on this 80s hit, Brett has served up a Club version that keeps the feel of the original but infuses a hint of Circuit elements to energize your floor. And like I always say “What’s old is new!” You can’t have today’s music without the hits from the past. So, let’s celebrate all music and find a way to not only entertain our audience but also educate them of where we came from. See you next month with a new mix and hopefully some fun stories of Pride Week!