POZ April/May 2019 by Smart + Strong

A SMART+STRONG PUBLICATION APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ.COM $3.99

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CONTENTS

EXCLUSIVELY ON

POZ.COM

POZ founder Sean Strub launched the magazine in 1994.

#POZ AT 25

SILVER ANNIVERSARY When POZ launched in 1994, effective treatment was still two years away. Much has changed for the better since then, but as stigma and lack of access to treatment both demonstrate, Y E A R S many challenges still remain for people living with HIV. Go to poz.com/25 for a look back at our coverage over the years, from celebrity profiles to personal stories.

#UNDETECTABLE SCIENCE, NOT STIGMA

The science is clear: People who have an undetectable viral load can’t transmit HIV sexually. In addition to keeping people healthy, effective HIV treatment also means HIV prevention. Go to poz.com/undetectable for more information and the latest updates.

#ADVOCACY

Fighting against HIV/AIDS has always been a struggle. Much work remains to end the epidemic. POZ encourages you to get involved in advocacy. Go to poz.com/advocacy to find the latest news and learn how you can make a difference in the fight.

30 25 YEARS OF POZ Twenty-five advocates share what POZ means to them. BY CASEY HALTER AND TIM MURPHY

POZ DIGITAL

4 POZ Q+A

READ THE PRINT MAGAZINE ON YOUR COMPUTER OR TABLET

3 FROM THE EDITOR We Are the Champions

Remembering the late Pedro Zamora—his activism and his passion for life—in his own words from the third issue of POZ in 1994.

18 SPOTLIGHT

6 POZ PLANET

HIV meds have come a long way • universal treatment catches on • frailty risks • how HIV hits CD4s

A profile on the National AIDS Memorial • local communities commemorate loss • HIV themes in 1994 and 2019 • a very, very brief history of HIV

12 EVERYDAY Milestones in the epidemic Go to poz.com/digital to view the current issue and the entire Smart + Strong digital library.

Sean Strub and founding editor-in-chief Richard Pérez-Feria, plus Strub’s welcome letter from the 10th anniversary issue.

The social media buzz on young advocates

22 CARE AND TREATMENT

27 RESEARCH NOTES

Advances on an antibody vaccine • how treatment affects aging organs • the “block and lock” functional cure • stigma’s harms

14 VOICES

48 HEROES

In honor of our 25th anniversary, we reprint the 1994 welcome letters from founder

Sean Strub discusses his ongoing advocacy since he founded POZ magazine in 1994.

POZ (ISSN 1075-5705) is published monthly except for the January/February, April/May, July/August and October/November issues ($19.97 for an 8-issue subscription) by Smart + Strong, 212 West 35th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. Issue No. 235. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to POZ, 212 West 35th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Copyright © 2019 CDM Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher. Smart + Strong® and POZ® are registered trademarks of CDM Publishing, LLC.

(STRUB) JOAN LOBIS BROWN; (MAGNIFYING GLASS AND GAVEL/BOOKS) ISTOCK

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FROM THE EDITOR

Y E A R S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ORIOL R. GUTIERREZ JR. MANAGING EDITOR

JENNIFER MORTON DEPUTY EDITOR

TRENT STRAUBE SENIOR EDITOR

KATE FERGUSON-WATSON EDITOR-AT-LARGE

BENJAMIN RYAN COPY CHIEF

JOE MEJÍA

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

ALICIA GREEN ART DIRECTOR

DORIOT KIM

ART PRODUCTION MANAGER

MICHAEL HALLIDAY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

SHAWN DECKER, OLIVIA G. FORD, AUNDARAY GUESS, CASEY HALTER, DARYL HANNAH, MARK S. KING, ROD MCCULLOM, TIM MURPHY CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

JOAN LOBIS BROWN, LIZ DEFRAIN, ARI MICHELSON, JONATHAN TIMMES, BILL WADMAN FOUNDER

SEAN STRUB LEGACY ADVISER

MEGAN STRUB

ADVISORY BOARD

A. CORNELIUS BAKER, GUILLERMO CHACÓN, KATHIE HIERS, TIM HORN, PAUL KAWATA, NAINA KHANNA, DAVID MUNAR, DANIEL TIETZ, MITCHELL WARREN, PHILL WILSON PRESS REQUESTS

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POZ, 212 WEST 35TH STREET, 8TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10001, OR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF@POZ.COM

SMART + STRONG PRESIDENT AND COO

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

ORIOL R. GUTIERREZ JR. EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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We Are the Champions

WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE day I was told I have HIV. In 1992, the day after my 22nd birthday, I was informed by my commanding officer in the United States Marine Corps Reserve that I had tested positive for the virus. I sat and cried for a long time that day, then I told my best friend, and we sat and cried together. The advent of effective HIV treatment in 1996 was still a dream when I tested positive. I never expected to see 30. The next few years only reinforced that dread as I lost loved ones to AIDS. My experience is far from unique. The early ‘90s were trying times in the epidemic. The initial suffering of the ’80s had been compounded by the continuing crisis— with no end in sight. It was a challenge to believe that tomorrow would be better. POZ founder Sean Strub thought otherwise. Frustrated by the media’s coverage of the AIDS epidemic, he launched the magazine in 1994 to amplify the voices of people living with HIV. Sean, who tested HIV positive in 1985, sold his insurance policies to invest everything he had into the launch. As Sean tells it in Body Counts, his 2014 memoir, “We tried to tell the story of the epidemic in all its complexities, through the experience of those with HIV. And we would do so in an attractive, engaging, and hopeful format. On glossy paper.” Twenty-five years later, POZ persists. We’ve seen the fight for effective treatment lead to the fight for expansion of access to that treatment. We’ve gone from countering the fear of people who have HIV to promoting the fact that being undetectable means not being able to transmit the virus sexually. Through it all, the core of our mission has remained unchanged—to be a mirror for the HIV community. From cure research to celebrities, from treatment improvements to personal stories, our coverage reflects the journeys of all of us affected by the virus. In that spirit, for our 25th anniversary cover image, we created a collage of people

(as well as dogs, artwork, a Muppet and more) spotlighted on our covers through the years. Although it’s not comprehensive, the image is representative of our content. Go to page 47 for a complete list of names. For this special issue honoring 25 years of POZ, we caught up with 25 advocates who were deeply affected by their appearance on the cover. Whatever the effects, appearing in POZ marked a milestone. Go to page 30 to read more about what POZ means to them. I certainly know what POZ meant to me as a reader, well before I had the honor of being editor-in-chief. I don’t recall exactly which cover I saw first, but I can say for sure that I was captivated by the Pedro Zamora cover. That was the third issue of the magazine. Go to page 4 to read an excerpt of that interview. Our inclusion of the Q&A with Pedro is meant to honor all those lost to the virus. He is one of the countless people from the pages of POZ who are no longer with us. Remembering our history must always include keeping our late brothers and sisters in our thoughts. As a long-term survivor, Sean knows what it means to remember. He has certainly made the best of his survival—including serving as executive director of Sero Project and mayor of Milford, Pennsylvania. Go to page 48 to read more about our founder’s life after POZ.

ORIOL R. GUTIERREZ JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor-in-chief@poz.com

Want to read more from Oriol? Follow him on Twitter @oriolgutierrez and check out blogs.poz.com/oriol.

poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 3

POZ Q+A

From the original article in the Aug/Sept 1994 issue of POZ

PEDRO’S WORLD Remembering the late Pedro Zamora—his activism and his passion for life—in his own words from 1994

EDRO ZAMORA WAS ALREADY AN AIDS ACTIVIST BEFORE HE joined the cast of the third season of MTV’s The Real World. The reality TV show famously showed Pedro as he advocated for people living with HIV and struggled with his declining health. Pedro died of AIDSrelated illness in November 1994 at age 22 just hours after the final episode aired. Not only did the show depict one of the first openly gay men with AIDS in popular media, but The Real World also provided a platform for Pedro to share his romantic relationship with fellow HIV-positive activist Sean Sasser, who appeared on his own POZ cover in 1997. The Real World aired their same-sex commitment ceremony, considered the first such event ever televised. Sasser died at age 44 in 2013. Titled “Pedro Leaves Us Breathless,” the cover story from the August/September 1994 issue of POZ—our third—was a Q&A with Pedro by renowned writer and pop culture columnist Hal Rubenstein. The interview explores how a CubanAmerican boy from the suburbs of Miami became an AIDS activist. Below is an edited excerpt. What made you want to be on The Real World?

I thought it would be a great way to educate people. One of the problems I face as an educator is that I can get up and tell my story about not feeling well or having fun, about getting sick or going out dancing, but people can’t really see it, and I thought being on the series would be a great way to show how a young person actually deals with HIV and AIDS. And I also thought, It’s four or five months in San Francisco—how bad could it be?

4 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

Did MTV express any reservations?

No. During the interview process, they voiced some concerns, but they were related to me and to my welfare. They told me it was going to be a very stressful situation, and they were worried about the toll it might take on my health. And we discussed that my six roommates should know that they are living with an HIV-positive person. But that was about it. Why were you willing to risk the stress?

I thought about it, knowing that just being away from my family would be hard for me. But part of the changes I started feeling when I was diagnosed was my increased willingness to take risks. That may sound kind of odd, but I acquired this desire to experience things I hadn’t before. And it’s been very stressful at points. And during the filming, my T cells have dropped. And I got PCP [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia]. How did your roommates treat you?

They knew one person in the group was

HIV positive, but they didn’t know who. I told them the first night, and they asked a lot of questions; but there were questions about me, not the disease: “How did I feel when I found out?” “What did my family say?” Instead of “Can I get it from picking up a glass?” I was ready to answer that, but I didn’t have to, and that was very nice. They were pretty educated. How do you handle having HIV?

Without a doubt, the hardest part of being HIV positive, of having this lifethreatening virus, is that you can’t feel anything. You don’t feel sick. You don’t feel there is anything you shouldn’t be doing. Yet you’re supposed to plan your life around it. And think about life. The reality is, I’ll probably be dead in five years, but I try not to think about dying. But I do know the one thing I don’t want is a Cuban funeral. Latinos, especially Cubans, will lay you out for two or three days, then have open house for 24 hours a day. It’s three in the morning and you’re surrounded by these 80-year-old ladies who haven’t seen you since you were 7, sitting around making jokes, amid all those ugly flowers, thousands and thousands and thousands of the tackiest flowers you’ll ever see. A few months ago, I was at a CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] press conference, and they wanted to know why Latinos haven’t gotten it together. Why haven’t they heard the message? And I got annoyed. I said that the reason we haven’t heard the message is that up until now we haven’t been called. The message had never been said in a way that we could understand or relate to, in a language we could make sense out of. None of it seems to be about us. Take the simplest problem. It took us, what, 10 years to realize that you couldn’t find a pamphlet that wasn’t written for a white middle-class sensibility? Almost nothing was in Spanish and given out in communities of color. My reality as a young gay Latino man is very different than the reality of white America. That’s not necessarily bad or good. Just different.

How did you come out in Miami?

Tell us about Sean Sasser.

As far back as when I was 7, I can remember experimenting with guys my own age. I knew there was a difference. But it wasn’t until I was 11 that it clicked in my mind, “Yeah, I might be gay.” A close family member, I think it was my brother, was watching some guy on TV and blurted out the word faggot, and I connected it to what I was feeling. So I knew right away that it might not be accepted. But I never went through the guilty feelings or the sense of being dirty that so many gays talk about. Somehow, I knew this is the way it was, and it was natural to me. I never dealt with it publicly until my mother died. I never told her, though I’m sure she suspected it, but I thought I would protect her. Now

We met at the March on Washington [for LGBT rights]. I had given a keynote address at a conference that he attended, and he came up afterward and told me how much he liked it. He was an AIDS educator too. Sean is the first HIV-positive person I’ve dated. And one of the things I loved was that when I first started talking to him, talking about my feelings, the changes in my body, how I react to the education, I could tell in his eyes, in his mouth, he knew exactly what I meant. It’s harder because now I’m not only dealing with my disease, I’m dealing with his. I have this person whom I adore, and I now have to spend time thinking that he can get sick. Before, all the focus was on me.

Pedro Zamora

“I’m dealing with AIDS, so I know I can deal with anything.”

I go back and hear stories and realize that she wouldn’t have had a problem with it. I was 14 when she died, and after that I didn’t care who found out. I told my father a few months later. I had met this guy who was 18 and we started spending a lot of time together. My father sensed something was odd, so I told him that I was gay. We talked for hours. He went back and forth between telling me it was a phase and then reciting a list of all the people in history whom he knew were gay. It was like he was processing everything and was thinking it out loud, but it was pretty much the same when he found out I was HIV positive. He said, “You’re my son, I love you and nothing is going to change that.”

I’m now in an intense environment, which makes everything in my life that much more important. I don’t have time to deal with bullshit, with games. I have to cut through things faster than other people. So does he. I’m not being cocky. I’m being efficient. You credit this efficiency to having HIV?

Without a doubt. HIV has given me a lot of freedom. [If you] say this is not acceptable in my life, I don’t want it, I don’t have room for it—if that’s what you’re bringing to the table—[then] I don’t have room for you either. It has given me the freedom to take more risks. My life is being threatened every day. I’m dealing with AIDS, so I know I can deal with anything. Q

poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 5

POZ PLANET BY TRENT STRAUBE

The National AIDS Memorial is much more than a grove. In the HIV community, we cannot mark milestones, such as the 25th anniversary of POZ, without contemplating those lost along the way. We spoke with John Cunningham, executive director of the National AIDS Memorial, for an update on the Grove in Golden Gate Park and the memorial’s various programs. For the full interview, visit POZ.com. What was the memorial’s genesis? The idea was born in 1988, in the darkest days of the epidemic. The de Laveaga family had bequeathed several hundred acres to the city [of San Francisco], and this dell—about 10 acres—was part of it. It had fallen into disrepair. In 1991, the city officially recognized and entered into a memorandum of understanding

6 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

with the yet-to-be-formed organization, and the restoration process was under way. As I like to say, the individuals not only transformed the landscape, they transformed each other’s lives by gathering together. The memorial, at its core, is about healing through remembrance. Our fearless leader Nancy Pelosi (now Speaker Pelosi), who ran for Congress on an AIDS platform, saw the power in this space and wrote a bill for Congress in 1996 [that designated this as a national memorial], and it was signed into law by President Clinton. The Grove never wanted to compete with our sister agencies doing direct AIDS services. We’ve never taken public money. We’ve never sought grants from the state, but we have received one that was given to us

Clockwise from top left: two images from the Light in the Grove; the Artists Portal, with its tall emperor chime; the Hemophilia Memorial Circle

for a feature dedicated to women and children.

A focal point in the Grove is the Circle of Friends, with over 2,500 names etched in a flagstone floor. In recent years, you added the Hemophilia Memorial Circle, dedicated to a group severely affected by the virus, and the Artists Portal, honoring the creative people and art we’ve lost. Do you still add names? Yes. Keep in mind that the memorial is created in the middle of what it is memorializing. In advance of World AIDS Day [December 1], the new names are

(AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE) COURTESY OF NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL

HEALING THROUGH REMEMBRANCE

LEGACIES OF LOSS Throughout the epidemic, communities both large and small have honored their losses. AIDSmemorial.info collects data about memorials across the globe, including movable displays, such as quilts, and digital efforts like @theaidsmemorial on Instagram. More than 50 permanent monuments across the United States can be found on AIDSmemorial.info. These include gardens, parks, sculptures, chapels and artworks—like the murals of The Wall Las Memorias Project in Los Angeles dedicated to the Latino community or the glass disks of the New Orleans AIDS Memorial depicting the cast faces of locals diagnosed with the virus. Some memorials are intimate and offer places for quiet contemplation. Others, like those in New York City and Dallas, also serve as meeting places and backdrops for political protests and press conferences. AIDS isn’t over, and new memorials are in the works, notably in San Diego, Seattle and West Hollywood. Visit POZ.com/25 to check out images of memorials from across the country.

(DALLAS) TWITTER/@AMORYTX; (NEW ORLEANS) TWITTER/@DAVID_DREXLER; (LOS ANGELES) INSTAGRAM/@THE_WALL_LAS_MEMORIAS; (NEW YORK CITY) INSTAGRAM/@NYCAIDSMEMORIAL

Clockwise from right: Posts on social media depict AIDS memorials in Dallas, New Orleans, Los Angeles and NYC.

formally dedicated and read, about 200 to 400 a year. And it’s about 50 percent local [names] and 50 percent national. We also memorialize and empower those who survived. Elton John is right next to Ryan White because the two were so close [White, who had hemophilia, became an activist after contracting HIV via a blood transfusion; he died at age 18 in 1990]. The physical grove is just one part of the national memorial. Tell us about some of the other programs. Each year, the Surviving Voices project documents [through digital videos] about 15 to 20 deep dives into a population. Last year, we did the Asian and Pacific Islander community. Go to our website [AIDSmemorial.org] to see the stories. For the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarships, we give away about $60,000 a year. The Light in the Grove [fundraising event] takes place on the eve of World AIDS Day, with candlelight and performances. And we are [in the planning stages of] the Center for Social Conscience. We take seriously the responsibility to tell the story not only of what happened but also how the power of community and individual activism and compassion and social engagement can improve the fabric of society. As Nancy says, when the last life is lost and when AIDS organizations have moved on to do other things, we will be the only organization left standing that will be forever telling this story. poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 7

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.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, 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. 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 effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

` Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. 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.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. 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,

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

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.

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

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

` Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

GET MORE INFORMATION

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. ` BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect 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.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at

MyDailyCharge.com

` 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, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP PUSHING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: December 2018 © 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0102 01/19

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ESA

KEEP PUSHING. Because HIV doesn’t change who you are. BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. To learn more, visit BIKTARVY.com.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

PZA508650B.pgs 03.05.2019 16:10

ESA

POZ PLANET BY TRENT STRAUBE

THEN & NOW A glance at HIV-related themes as they appeared in 1994, the first year of POZ, and during the past year ADVOCATES

Then: Our third issue included a feature titled “The POZ 50,” which profiled people directly influencing federal AIDS policy. Now: For the past nine years, we’ve devoted our year-end issue to The POZ 100, each time spotlighting members of a specific community, including Southerners, long-term survivors, youth and women—as nominated by you, the POZ reader.

CELEBRITIES

Then: Basketball icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson shocked the world in 1991 when he announced he had HIV. Three years later, when POZ debuted, he remained the most famous person in the world living with the virus. It could be argued he still is. Now: A handful of other sports icons, reality TV stars, artists and TV personalities have publicly disclosed their HIV status, but in November 2015, one household name came close to making Magic-sized headlines: actor Charlie Sheen.

A VERY, VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF HIV Discover more HIV milestones at POZ.com/ aidsiseveryday.

June 5, 1981: The CDC publishes the first official report on what became known as AIDS.

10 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

March 2, 1985: The FDA licenses the first commercial blood test, ELISA, for HIV.

May 1, 1986: The virus that causes AIDS is officially called human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.

March 19, 1987: The FDA OKs the first AIDS med, AZT (zidovudine).

1996

1995

1986

1985

1981

Then: As our first issue went to print, Philadelphia was up for several Oscars (Tom Hanks won Best Actor). A POZ article

1994

MOVIES

pondered which AIDS film could be the next big hit: Boys on the Side, Jeffrey, The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, Angels in America (which became an HBO miniseries in 2003) or The Normal Heart (eventually made as an HBO movie in 2014). Now: This year, two actors happened to be nominated for

1987

Then: Several pages in each issue were devoted to Letters to the Editor, which had to be snail mailed or emailed and offered a window into discussions among the community. A section of the magazine called POZ Partner included hotlines and listings. Now: Feedback arrives instantly via comments, shares and likes on social media. Our website houses the directories (no longer in our print version), plus POZ Personals, POZ Forums, blogs, daily news and all content from the past 25 years.

April 1994: POZ magazine launches.

(PILL, CONDOM, ELISA, STAMP, FLAG, PLANE AND MAN) ISTOCK; (JOHNSON AND SHEEN) DREAMSTIME

COMMUNICATIONS

Clockwise from far left: the opening spread of a POZ article from the September 1994 issue, Magic Johnson, Charlie Sheen, two posters for Oscar-winning HIVrelated films, an image promotes PrEP and condom use, the opening spread of the POZ 100 feature from the December 2018 issue

PREVENTION

Then: The POZ buzzword of 1994 was condomania. The prophylactics were promoted everywhere, including on New York City subways thanks to a progressive GMHC campaign, which the Catholic League was quick to denounce as promoting promiscuity. Now: PrEP and PEP, or pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, are finally getting the attention they deserve via social media campaigns, TV commercials and, yes, subway ads.

TREATMENT

Then: Effective treatment didn’t exist in 1994. Activists urgently prodded for research, but they were suffering from burnout and creeping cynicism. “ACT UP is dead,” pronounced Larry Kramer. Now: We have several treatment options, many in one-pill-aday formulations. High costs and access remain challenges. But the good news is we know treatment also acts as prevention, a fact referred to as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).

THE WHITE HOUSE

Oct. 31, 1995: Thus far, 500,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the U.S. It’s the No. 1 cause of death for Americans ages 25 to 44.

1996: The FDA OKs Viramune and Norvir, launching the era of highly effective HIV treatment. Within a year, AIDS-related deaths in the U.S. decline 47 percent.

Jan. 4, 2010: U.S. lifts its HIV travel ban; visitors and immigrants with HIV can enter the country.

2017

2012

For a more detailed look at these topics, visit POZ.com/25.

2010

Academy Awards for playing real-life HIV-positive men who died in the 1990s. Richard E. Grant received a Best Supporting Actor nod for the role of Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me? And Rami Malek, who played Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, took home the Best Actor trophy. Rock on!

Then: Our debut issue profiled Bob Hattoy, a longtime friend of the Clintons who was HIV positive and worked in their White House. In terms of politics, 1994 was a hopeful time for those with HIV, considering they had been shut out by the two previous presidents, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Now: President Trump announced a plan to end the U.S. HIV epidemic by 2030. Though it’s feasible, skeptics point out that he spent the prior two years attacking health care and effectively firing the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

U=U July 16, 2012: The FDA approves Truvada as PrEP.

Sept. 27, 2017: There’s “effectively no risk” of sexual transmission of HIV if undetectable, says the CDC, confirming the message of U=U.

EVERYDAY

BY JENNIFER MORTON

ACT UP member BOB RAFSKY CONFRONTS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BILL CLINTON at a New York City fundraiser to demand executive action on AIDS. (1992)

RYAN WHITE dies of an AIDS-related illness at age 18. (1990)

NATIONAL YOUTH HIV & AIDS AWARENESS DAY

May 7

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the FIRST FEMALE CONDOM. (1993)

SUSANNE BARTSCH HOSTS THE LOVE BALL and raises more than $300,000 for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. (1989)

PRINCESS DIANA makes international headlines when she is photographed at a London hospital shaking the hand of a patient living with HIV. (1987)

Larry Kramer’s play THE NORMAL HEART premieres at The Public Theater in New York City. (1985)

THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE make their first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday. The queer nuns of this international order devote themselves to promoting human rights and raising money for AIDSrelated causes. (1979)

NATIONAL TRANSGENDER HIV TESTING DAY

One of the first feature films about AIDS, LONGTIME COMPANION is released in theaters. (1990)

The U.S. Public Health Service adds HIV as a “DANGEROUS CONTAGIOUS DISEASE” to its immigration exclusion list. The HIV travel ban is not lifted until 2010. (1987)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues the first national treatment guidelines for the use of ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY in adults and adolescents living with HIV. (1998)

HIV VACCINE AWARENESS DAY

NATIONAL ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES is the first mainstream paper to print a front-page story on AIDS. (1982)

AIDS is an everyday experience. These dates represent milestones in the AIDS epidemic. Some dates are known globally; others commemorate individual experiences. AIDS Is Everyday is an ongoing art project produced in conjunction with Visual AIDS to help break down the silence, shame and stigma surrounding HIV. Add a date about your history with HIV to our online calendar at poz.com/aidsiseveryday-submit.

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(CLINTON) DREAMSTIME.COM; (FEMALE CONDOM AND TIARA) ISTOCK; (SISTER) WIKIMEDIA

April 2

U.S. Representative HENRY WAXMAN convenes the first congressional hearings on AIDS at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center in Hollywood, California. (1982)

Y E A R S

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Recover Girl

Former pop star and former heroin addict Sherri Lewis has been to the brink and back during her 20-year trip with HIV. Today, the new media maven jolts people into awareness with her podcast, Straight Girl in a Queer World. Oh, Sherri!

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Bay Watch

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Oakland long-term survivor Kehn Coleman

San Francisco and Oakland sit on different sides of the same bay. But when dealing with AIDS, they are worlds apart. Rich, experienced, largely white San Fran meets HIV head-on, while underfunded, understaffed and heavily African-American Oakland battles the epidemic underground— or out on its streets. How Oakland became the new epicenter for the black AIDS epidemic.

A SMART+STRONG PUBLICATION APRIL/MAY 2015 POZ.COM $3.99

A SMART+STRONG PUBLICATION JUNE 2014 POZ.COM $3.99

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Louder Than Words Healing through artistic activism Life Altering Spencer for AIDS activist Spencer Cox, 1968–2012 from Leaves, an AIDS memorial, by Eric Rhein

EMPOWERING THE HIV COMMUNITY SINCE 1994

VOICES

DEAR READER The April/May 1994 print issue of POZ was our inaugural edition. Below are the welcome letters from that issue by POZ founder Sean Strub and POZ founding editor-in-chief Richard Pérez-Feria.

SOS

Despair to hope. Fear to knowledge. Dear Reader, Which is it? (Choose one.) 1. There is no cure. There won’t be one. AIDS has become “cancerized.” AIDS activists are dead, burned-out or bored. Families and friends have convinced themselves of their own helplessness, feeding the hopelessness felt by people with AIDS. AIDS groups are marked by dissent and despair. Too much of the fight against AIDS is driven by greed, ego and power. 2. People with AIDS are living longer and healthier lives. More treatments are available today. A vaccine is around the corner. New treatments are coming online soon. AIDS researchers work selflessly for long hours. AIDS activism has helped drive the campaign for reform of the health care system. Astounding individual stories of courage, compassion and commitment abound. 3. A lot of both. Hope and despair. Excitement and depression. Greed and generosity. Anger and gratitude. Fear and courage. That about sums up AIDS, doesn’t it? But it is not that black-and-white. The fight against AIDS has been made of thousands of small steps forward and thousands of small steps

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backward. POZ intends to be one of the steps forward, to provide a better understanding of the disease and its impact on our society. POZ will cover AIDS from the eyes of everyone affected by the disease, including families, friends, neighbors, coworkers and caregivers of persons who are HIV positive. Anyone impacted by AIDS will benefit from POZ. Through POZ, we hope to shed light on the policies, people and practical issues involved with AIDS and, in the process, help people with AIDS lead longer and healthier lives. In my view, for a newly diagnosed person with AIDS, information is a more important first step than any pill, potion or prayer. Thank you for joining us with this inaugural issue. We look forward to your comments, ideas and involvement as we continue to shape POZ editorially. —Sean O’Brien Strub Publisher/Executive Editor

POZ, Day One

The human touch When Sean Strub asked me to join him in helping create his vision of a magazine that could simultaneously provoke, inform and entertain in the vast arena that is AIDS, I knew that

I would forever be changed as an editor. What I did not fully expect, however, was to be changed as a person as well. I am a better person, a more compassionate person, a more knowledgeable person because of POZ. There are many who unselfishly gave of their time, expertise and counsel along the way. Most of those people appear in our magazine’s masthead as POZ editors, writers, artists and staff. All of the editorial contributors have gone far and beyond the call of duty when it came to helping us. I will always be grateful to these talented individuals. Others who have been invaluable in the creation of POZ include so many friends who have helped us in a million different ways: Greg Calejo, Terry Zarikian, Patti Escoto, Joe Pena, Clifford Finn, Shirley Brooks, Andy Bernstein, Geoffrey Blatt, Jim Long, Charlie Cinnamon, Mirna Ramiro Hernández, Michael Grumet, Katie Kahn, Greg Tiplady, Roberto Posada, Glenn Albin, Janice Lusky and, of course, H. Richard García. I am proud to be a part of something so important, so necessary and, ultimately, so very human. —Richard Pérez-Feria Editor-in-Chief

FOUNDER’S LETTER The May 2004 issue of POZ marked our 10th anniversary. Below is the welcome letter from that issue by POZ founder Sean Strub. Go to page 48 of this issue to read about Sean’s journey since he left the magazine.

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decade ago, when POZ launched, the media, popular culture and even many in our own communities had all but taken away the possibility of survival from those of us with HIV. They assumed we were destined for awful, painful deaths. HIV was typically described as a “ticking time bomb” inside us; AIDS was “inevitably fatal,” “dread” and “incurable.” Who could survive in the face of such imposed hopelessness? Remarkably, we could. We have survived by refusing to hide in silence. By fighting those who would divide us into risk groups and manipulate us as political categories. And by together creating first the belief in survival, then a movement to support it and finally the science and services to treat the virus. We have created an extraordinary community—one that transcends many differences and boundaries—and that, at its best, cares not only about AIDS but about one another. In the process of our survival, we have learned a lot. We have learned especially that our lives are most meaningful when we use them to care, teach and love. We have witnessed what it means not to have access to treatment that

could save our lives. We understand dying young and alone. We have wondered why we were chosen to survive. No matter how much health the new therapies bring, we have learned that we will not truly be well until we take on the agonizing burdens of addiction, homelessness, mental illness, poverty, racism, sexism and homophobia. The power of POZ is in our commitment to tell the truth about the epidemic, no matter how painful or costly, whether about treatment philosophy or sexual responsibility, activists or the drug industry. The truth has often been ugly, accusing a culture and political leadership, in particular our current president, of having values more dangerous than AIDS itself. But POZ isn’t the magazine it was 10 years ago. Nor should it be, as AIDS isn’t the epidemic it was 10 years ago. As you read this special 10th anniversary issue, I hope you’ll agree that year after year, issue after issue, we’ve gone where our integrity, determination to tell the truth and unique ability to inspire one another have been most needed. Survival is cause for celebration—for a magazine as for an individual. But every celebration in the AIDS epidemic is also a memorial. For we cannot

celebrate without recalling the sacred memories of those we have lost. We celebrate because it gives meaning to the sacrifice, activism, prayer and dedication they expended on our behalf. So in celebrating, our spirits are nourished, as are those we remember. Our celebration is infused with the pride of a community that has shown itself to be an inspiring example of love and caring, even in the face of intense hatred, ignorance and indifference. The men and women who came together to mark POZ’s 10th anniversary— and to help create the cover for this issue—express in their nakedness the pride and defiance, gratitude and grieving that make up our celebration. Their descriptions of what the experience meant to them also bear eloquent witness to this. To editor-in-chief Walter Armstrong and the entire staff, to our readers and friends, I want to say thank you for what together we are able to achieve with POZ. Disease is not destiny. Seeing ourselves not just as people with HIV but with hearts, minds, bodies and lives is healing. Our ability to act every day from that common humanity can heal not only ourselves but our diseased and endangered world. Q

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Even if you are taking HIV meds and your virus is undetectable, you may still be experiencing HIV-associated wasting. HIV-associated wasting is defined by three key symptoms

Decreased energy •

As you lose weight, you may find yourself getting tired more quickly than you used to

•

Even simple, everyday tasks can be difficult for you to do

•

Loss of lean body mass •

Lean body mass (LBM) includes your muscles, organs, blood, bone, and water

•

You may feel tired more quickly or notice that you have less physical energy

You find that you don’t have enough energy to do the things you’ve always loved to do

Weight loss •

You’re losing weight, but you aren’t trying to

•

As your weight changes, your appearance may change

•

Friends, family, and coworkers may notice and express concern

Serostim® is the only FDA-approved treatment that is proven to help increase energy, lean body mass, and weight, 3 key symptoms of HIV-associated wasting. You must be on antiretroviral therapy while you are taking Serostim®

I gained...

... the energy to get back on two wheels

...the strength to focus on what’s important again

Serostim is a human growth hormone. In clinical trials, Serostim improved symptoms of HIV-associated wasting after 12 weeks. The most common side effects occurring in more than 10% of patients included swelling of the hands or feet, and joint pain or stiffness. Connect with us for tips on healthy living with HIV and to learn more about SEROSTIM.

Let’s get social

www.Facebook.com/Serostim

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ESA

BRIEF SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS What is SEROSTIM (somatropin) for injection? SEROSTIM is an injectable prescription medicine used for the treatment of HIV-positive patients with wasting or cachexia to increase lean body mass and body weight, and improve physical endurance. Treatment with antiretroviral therapy at the same time is necessary.

You should not take SEROSTIM if you have: • • • •

Other less common but serious side effects of SEROSTIM are:

A critical illness from surgery, serious injuries, or a severe breathing problem Cancer or undergoing treatment for cancer Eye problems caused by diabetes Allergies to growth hormone or other ingredients in SEROSTIM vials

• • • •

What should I tell my doctor before using SEROSTIM? • •

• •

•

If you have cancer or had cancer in the past. If you have diabetes, are at risk for getting diabetes, or have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal. New cases of type 2 diabetes have been reported in patients taking SEROSTIM. If you are allergic to growth hormone, benzyl alcohol, sucrose, phosphoric acid or sodium hydroxide. If you are taking any other medicines (both prescription or over the counter), vitamins, or supplements because these medicines may affect each other. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of SEROSTIM or other medicines you are taking If you are nursing, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if SEROSTIM passes into your breast milk or could harm your unborn baby.

• •

These are not all of the possible side effects. Let your doctor know about any side effects you experience. Your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever or may decrease your dose of SEROSTIM to help manage some side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should you administer SEROSTIM? Patients and caregivers should be trained by a healthcare professional on how to mix and inject SEROSTIM prior to use. Never share SEROSTIM with another person, even if the needle is changed. Injection sites can include arms, legs, abdomen and should be changed daily. Avoid injecting SEROSTIM in areas that are sore or bruised.

What are the most common side effects of SEROSTIM reported in clinical trials in patients treated for HIVassociated wasting or cachexia? •

• • •

Bone, muscle, and joint pain or stiffness Swelling, especially in the hands or feet or around the eyes Tingling, numbness and pain in the fingers, thumb or wrist Unusual skin sensations Breast enlargement in men Nausea Extreme tiredness

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia/diabetes) which can include symptoms of increased thirst and urination, tiredness, or trouble concentrating Headaches, changes in vision, nausea or vomiting, which requires immediate medical attention Serious allergic reactions that require immediate medical attention Pain and tenderness in the abdomen

Please see Full Prescribing Information available at www.serostim.com for a complete list of Serostim risk information

Support through every step of treatment •

•

A dedicated case manager who will manage the reimbursement process, assist with paperwork, and be the single point of contact for you and your care team Payment assistance programs, which, if you are eligible, may help cover out-of-pocket costs related to your Serostim® prescription

•

In-home or in-office injection training to teach you how to take Serostim®

•

24/7 phone support to answer all of your Serostim® product-related questions

Ready to take advantage of the AXIS Center®? If you’ve been prescribed Serostim®, then call the AXIS Center® at 1-877-714-AXIS (2947) and start getting treatment support today.

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ESA

SPOTLIGHT BY JOE MEJÍA

Youth and Advocacy A lot has changed since 1994, the year POZ was founded. That was two years before antiretrovirals ushered in the era of effective treatment for HIV and 10 years before the launch of Facebook gave rise to social media’s domination. Back in 1994, gay white men in urban centers were the face of the virus. Today it’s young people of color in rural areas—namely, men who have sex with men and trans women—who are disproportionately affected by HIV. In response, young people are pursuing careers in HIV, forming their own AIDS service organizations and using social media to organize, protest and educate. Whether they’re tweeting their critiques of the president’s HIV policies or using Instagram to share their HIV stories or to promote adherence, today’s youth are taking the mantle from their activist forebears to become the next generation of those acting up to end the epidemic. April 10 is National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day; search #NYHAAD on social media to see what the youth are up to.

Posts may be edited for clarity and/or space. 18 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

So I had been having trouble with adherence and I was like maybe I should start this new page on World AIDS Day as a little campaign to remember to take my meds. And that’s where the handle @takemymeds came from. . Before, if I forgot to take my meds, I wouldn’t know if I forgot. I would have to dump out my whole bottle of pills and count them. So the page serves as a reminder for me to take my meds. . That was its purpose but then after however long, people would send me messages like, “Oh my god, you reminded me to take my pills.” Or they will send an image through Instagram messenger of them taking their pills. Like from all over the world! I love it so much. . The pictures of me was a way to connect with people with the same experience. I didn’t really announce or “promote” the page. I just used a whole bunch of hashtags. So anyone who found the page found it because they wanted to. They were searching for something. . There is a community of folks that are looking for that. So it’s been great and I have to be as transparent as possible on that page. Some days, I forget to take my meds and if I do that, I have to tell folks that and I say, “This what you can do to take your meds. Put it in a keychain or have a pill box. Or find a way to add it to your routine like brushing your teeth in the morning or at night or whatever.” Carlos, He/Him/His Los Angeles, CA

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CARE AND TREATMENT BY BENJAMIN RYAN

HIV MEDS HAVE COME A LONG WAY The success rates of antiretroviral (ARV) medications have steadily improved, according to a systematic review of HIV treatment outcomes among 78,000 people with the virus who participated in 181 studies (divided into 354 treatment groups) between 1994 and 2017. For virtually all treatment groups there were data on treatment efficacy, defined as the proportion of participants with a fully suppressed viral load, at week 48. Average 48-week efficacy was 57 percent in studies beginning between 1994 and 2000, 69 percent in those beginning between 2001 and 2005, 76 percent in those beginning between 2006 and 2010 and 84 percent in those beginning between 2011 and 2015. The comparable respective efficacy rates at week 96 (41 percent of treatment groups reported data) for studies launched during these time periods were 52 percent, 61 percent, 65 percent and 80 percent. The comparable respective figures at week 144 (14 percent of groups reported data) were 45 percent, 55 percent, 72 percent and 77 percent. “Most of the improvement since 2010 appears due to integrase inhibitor therapy, the single strongest predictor of greater efficacy,” says study author Andrew Carr, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of New South Wales in Australia, referring to the newer class of ARVs. “But even with an integrase inhibitor, initial [ARV treatment] fails in 25 percent of adults within three years, so the glass is only about three-quarters full.”

Universal Treatment Catches On In the current era of universal treatment, fewer and fewer clinicians caring for people with HIV are advising their patients to delay taking antiretroviral (ARV) medications. Before 2009, U.S. treatment guidelines recommended beginning ARVs when CD4 counts dropped below 350; then, in 2009, treatment was suggested when CD4s dropped below 500; and finally, in 2012, treatment was advised at any CD4 count. Deferral of ARV treatment can apply to those who have and have not yet taken HIV treatment. Researchers analyzed 2009 to 2014 data on a cohort of 28,000 individuals who represented a cross section of the population receiving care for HIV in the United States. During this time, the proportion of people with HIV who received a deferral for ARV treatment decreased from 12 percent to 4 percent. In 2009, reported reasons for delaying HIV treatment included the health care provider’s recommendation (67 percent), feeling healthy (9 percent), medication side effects (7 percent) and other reasons (13 percent). In 2014, reported top reasons for treatment deferrals included the provider’s recommendation (40 percent), feeling healthy (14 percent), side effects (7 percent), other reasons (25 percent) and money or insurance (14 percent). “People reporting non-provider-advised ART [ARV treatment] deferral were more likely to be depressed, binge drink, use illicit drugs and not be virally suppressed,” says the study’s first author, Linda Beer, PhD, an epidemiologist in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. “As such, increased access to mental health and substance counseling and treatment could be critical to improving treatment adherence and achieving universal ART for all clinically eligible people with HIV.”

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How HCV Hits CD4s

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FRAILTY RISKS People with HIV who develop frailty have a higher risk of multiple health problems as well as an elevated risk of death. HIV-positive individuals tend to develop frailty at a younger age than those in the general population, for whom surpassing age 65 is associated with a greater risk for the condition. Researchers studied a cohort of 1,016 people with HIV who had a median age of 51 years old and almost all of whom were on treatment for the virus; 19 percent were female. Participants were considered frail if they had at least three of five conditions: weak grip, slow gait speed on a four-meter walk, self-reported weight loss, exhaustion and limitations in the ability to engage in vigorous physical activity. At their first assessment, 38 percent of the participants were considered pre-frail (they met one or two of the frailty conditions) and 6 percent were frail. Nineteen percent of the participants saw an increase in their frailty score on one or more conditions during the first 48 weeks of follow-up. After adjusting the data for various factors, the researchers found that having frailty at the study’s outset was associated with a 3.8-fold increased risk of a cardiovascular disease diagnosis and a 2.3-fold increased risk of diabetes during a median 4.0 years of follow-up. Frailty was also associated with a trend toward bone-related health events, but this finding could have been the result of chance. An increase in frailty during the first 48 weeks of the study was associated with a 3.8-fold increased risk of death. “Since frail individuals are more likely to experience serious health consequences, persons with HIV, particularly those who are in their sixth or seventh decade, should be aware of any changes in their strength and activity and report these to their health care providers,” says study author Sean G. Kelly, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “Staying active is the key to avoiding or improving frailty,” Kelly adds. “Regular participation in exercise programs, particularly those aimed at improving strength and balance, such as aerobics and resistance training, can prevent and reduce frailty, no matter one’s age.”

Contracting hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with a sustained, albeit impermanent, decline in CD4 cells among people with HIV. Researchers assembled a cohort of HIV-positive men who have sex with men who contracted HCV while participating in various long-term studies. A total of 147 men were taking antiretrovirals (ARVs), and 214 had never taken HIV treatment. These two groups were matched with a control group of men monoinfected with HIV (they had only HIV and not HCV) according to the duration of their HIV infection and their ARV treatment status. The control group consisted of 5,384 men on ARVs and 3,954 men not on ARVs. CD4 levels declined during the first two to three years after HIV-positive men contracted HCV, even when they were on ARVs, and then became comparable to those of men monoinfected with HIV. The duration that men had been living with HIV before contracting HCV was not associated with their subsequent HIV viral load or CD4 count. Study author Daniëla van Santen, PhD, MSc, a postdoctoral fellow at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, suggests that routine hepatitis C testing among people with HIV could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of coinfections with HCV in this population, perhaps ultimately yielding a beneficial effect on CD4 count. “However,” van Santen says, “we currently do not know the clinical, longterm implications of the temporary CD4 decline following HCV infection.” “Preventing an HCV infection in the first place could prevent a temporary CD4 decline among people living with HIV,” she continues. “Hence, preventive precautions to contract HCV such as condom use and harm reduction strategies— for example, using clean needles when injecting— should always be considered.”

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Introducing the new and improved

POZ.com

WEBSITE FEATURES INCLUDE: • Responsive design optimized for smartphones and tablets • Faster site for quicker load times • Redesigned for easier readability and navigation • Improved search function

RESEARCH NOTES

BY BENJAMIN RYAN

PREVENTION

TREATMENT

CURE

CONCERNS

Researchers have crossed a major hurdle by finding a way to stabilize the shapeshifting protein on the surface of HIV known as Env. This feat allowed them to more easily produce copies of Env, which served as the basis of an experimental vaccine. They injected this vaccine into monkeys, which, as a result, developed a range of levels of neutralizing antibodies to SHIV, an HIV-like virus. Next, they revaccinated six monkeys that had developed low levels of neutralizing antibodies and six that had developed high levels. Twelve other monkeys served as controls. The monkeys were then exposed to SHIV. The vaccine prevented infection among the animals that had developed high levels of neutralizing antibodies, marking the first time a vaccine study achieved such a result in an antibodybased vaccine. The vaccine’s protection, however, waned during the months following its injection.

A group of 1,500 largely middle-aged Italians with HIV experienced increasing rates of numerous health conditions as they aged a decade. One third of the cohort was female, and the vast majority were on antiretroviral treatment. Between 2004, when the median age was 41 years old, and 2014, the proportion of the group who had irregular cholesterol or triglycerides rose from 75 percent to 91 percent; high blood pressure prevalence rose from 67 percent to 84 percent; cardiovascular disease rose from 18 percent to 32 percent; and reduced kidney function rose from 5 percent to 30 percent. Additionally, the proportion considered to be at high risk for a cardiovascular health event rose from 13 percent to 45 percent. The study authors concluded these increases were likely driven both by aging and HIV.

Scientists have identified compounds that inhibit the reactivation of cells latently infected with HIV, meaning the cells are not replicating and producing new copies of the virus and therefore remain under the radar of antiretrovirals. In theory, “blocking and locking” HIV in cells indefinitely could yield a form of a functional cure of the virus. Researchers tested 418 compounds known as kinase inhibitors on an HIV-infected cell line. These compounds target various signaling pathways within cells, including those that can reverse latency of HIV in infected cells. These tests were conducted with and without the addition of any of a trio of latencyreversing agents. The study authors found that 12 of the kinase inhibitors blocked reactivation of the virus, regardless of which latencyreversing agent was also used. Two of these kinase inhibitors were associated with minimal toxicity to cells.

Stigma related to HIV compromises the mental capabilities of older men living with the virus, according to cognitive tests that assess facets like memory and attention. Researchers studied 512 older white men who were receiving care for HIV in clinics across Canada. The participants were given questionnaires about their experiences with HIV-related stigma and their mental health. They also underwent cognitive testing. The study authors found HIV-related stigma contributed to lower performance on such cognitive tests as well as anxiety. There was also evidence, albeit weaker, that stigma led to depression. These negative effects in turn impaired the men’s everyday functioning and, for example, led them to withdraw from social activities.

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Antibody Vaccine

Aging Organs

Block & Lock

Stigma’s Harms

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What is SYMTUZA® Used For? SYMTUZA® is a prescription medicine that is used without other antiretroviral medicines to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults who: • have not received anti-HIV-1 medicines in the past, or • when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). It is not known if SYMTUZA® is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. Take SYMTUZA® exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Do not change your dose or stop taking SYMTUZA® without talking to your healthcare provider. If you have difficulty swallowing, the tablet may be split using a tablet-cutter. After splitting the tablet, the entire dose (both halves) should then be taken right away. Do not miss a dose of SYMTUZA®. When your SYMTUZA® supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to SYMTUZA® and become harder to treat. What are the most serious risks with SYMTUZA®? SYMTUZA® can cause serious side effects including: Worsening of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV before starting treatment with SYMTUZA®. If you have HBV infection and take SYMTUZA®, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking SYMTUZA®. If you stop taking SYMTUZA®, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection or give you a medicine to treat your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking SYMTUZA®. What are the important warnings? • SYMTUZA® may cause severe liver problems that 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, vomiting, or stomach area pain • SYMTUZA® may cause severe or life-threatening skin reactions or rashes. Stop taking SYMTUZA® and call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any skin changes with the following symptoms: fever, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, blisters or skin lesions, mouth sores or ulcers, and/or red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye” (conjunctivitis) • SYMTUZA® can cause new or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure What should I tell my healthcare provider? Before taking SYMTUZA®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • have liver problems (including hepatitis B or hepatitis C) • have kidney problems

• are allergic to sulfa (sulfonamide) • have diabetes • have hemophilia

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. SYMTUZA® should not be used in pregnant women. It is not known if SYMTUZA® will harm your unborn baby

• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV to your baby. Do not breastfeed if you take SYMTUZA®

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 SYMTUZA®. Keep a list of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Who should not take SYMTUZA®? • Do not take SYMTUZA® with any of the following medicines: alfuzosin, carbamazepine, cisapride, colchicine (if you have liver or kidney problems), dronedarone, elbasvir and grazoprevir, ergot-containing medicines (such as: dihydroergotamine, ergotamine tartrate, methylergonovine), lomitapide, lovastatin or a product that contains lovastatin, lurasidone, oral midazolam (when taken by mouth), phenobarbital, phenytoin, pimozide, ranolazine, rifampin, sildenafil when used for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), simvastatin or a product that contains simvastatin, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) or a product that contains St. John’s wort, or triazolam • Serious problems can happen if you take any of these medicines with SYMTUZA® What are the possible side effects of SYMTUZA®? SYMTUZA® may cause serious side effects including: • Immune system changes (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines • 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 • Diabetes and high blood sugar • Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV-1 medications • Increased bleeding in people with hemophilia, which can happen when taking protease inhibitors. The most common side effects are: • diarrhea • gas • stomach problems • nausea • rash • headache • fatigue These are not all of the possible side effects of SYMTUZA®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. What important facts should I know? This information is not complete. To get more information: • Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist • Visit www.SYMTUZA.com to read over the FDA-approved product labeling and patient information cp-60855v4

Please read above Important Brief Summary, including important warnings for SYMTUZA®, and discuss any questions you have with your doctor. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or to Janssen Products, LP at 1-800-JANSSEN (1-800-526-7736).

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STAY YOU

BE RESILIENT

Your resilience matters. So does your HIV treatment. It’s important to take your HIV medication every day, because missing even a few doses may lead to drug resistance and may cause it to stop working. SYMTUZA® is a treatment with a high barrier to drug resistance to help you keep ﬁghting HIV with just one pill a day. Ask your doctor about

DON’T RISK RESISTANCE. TAKE THE KNOW YOUR RISK QUIZ—visit SYMTUZA.com/Quiz

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TWENTY-FIVE ADVOCATES SHARE WHAT POZ MEANS TO THEM. BY CASEY HALTER AND TIM MURPHY HEN POZ ARRIVED ON WKH VFHQH LQ H HF tive HIV treatment didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist. That wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come to pass until two years later. The successful launch 25 years ago of a magazine for people living with HIV/AIDS was, to say the least, not assured. And yet, despite all the naysayers and challenges, POZ has endured. Recounting the magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission in his 2014 memoir, Images of Counts, POZ Body Counts the 25 founder Sean Strub advocates as they writes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We tried to appeared tell the story of the in POZ

epidemic in all its complexities, through the experience of those with +,9 $QG ZH ZRXOG GR VR LQ DQ DWWUDF tive, engaging, and hopeful format. On glossy paper.â&#x20AC;? From the beginning, POZ has strived to live up to that mission every day, LQ SULQW DQG RQOLQHÂłIURP Ă&#x20AC; JKWLQJ IRU H HFWLYH WUHDWPHQW WR Ă&#x20AC; JKWLQJ IRU WKH H[SDQVLRQ RI DFFHVV WR WKDW WUHDW ment, from diminishing the fear of people living with HIV to promoting the fact that being undetectable means not being able to transmit the virus sexually. Over the years, readers have shared

with us how much they value POZ in their lives. We are humbled by the SUDLVH DQG WDNH VHULRXVO\ WKH UHVSRQVL bility of serving the HIV community. For a few readers, however, being VSRWOLJKWHG RQ WKH FRYHU RI WKH PDJD ]LQH KDV KDG DQ HYHQ GHHSHU H HFW )RU VRPH EHLQJ RQ WKH FRYHU VXSHU charged their advocacy. For others, WKH FRYHU FRQĂ&#x20AC; UPHG WKDW WKHLU DGYR FDF\ KDG PDGH D GL HUHQFH )RU DOO RI them, appearing in POZ marked a milestone in their lives. +HUH ZH KRQRU RI WKHVH DGYR cates. We thank themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and all of youâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for continuing to support POZ.

poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 31

JUNE 1998

Michelle Lopez (left) with her daughter, Raven (right), and grandson Royal Makai

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1996

Michelle and Raven Lopez “I remember going to a park in the Bronx and the photographer telling my mother to put me in the swing and put her face next to mine.” That’s how Raven, 28, remembers her 1996 POZ cover shoot. She was 5 years old, and her well-known HIV activist mom, Michelle, posed with her to show the world that both an HIV-positive mom and child could lead happy and healthy lives with the virus—even in what was then only year one of the era of highly effective antiretroviral treatment for the virus. “That cover led me to come out publicly with my HIV status later in life,” says Raven, who still lives with her mom in Brooklyn. “I even met and became friends with [fellow HIV-positive POZ cover kid] Hydeia Broadbent. We have the same birthday.” Raven is studying to become a phlebotomist and is the proud mother of an HIV-negative 2-year old son, Royal Makai. Of course, that also means Michelle, 52, is a proud grandma—and, as ever, a fiercely outspoken HIV activist, currently consulting for GMHC/ACRIA on issues of HIV in women over 50. “My program’s going to be called Pussy Talk 50, all about our sexual health,” she declares. Lest you think such talk embarrasses Raven, she has this to say about her mom: “She’s taught me how to become a strong, independent woman. That’s why I’m comfortable talking about my status with anyone—even on a date.” And, she says, when uninformed men tell her she looks too sexy to have HIV, she just shows them her POZ cover!

32 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

Playboy magazine’s Miss September 1986, Armstrong had gone public with her 1989 HIV diagnosis four years before she appeared on POZ’s cover, but the bisexual bombshell, now 52, still remembers that “life-changing” moment. “For Playboy, I was showing you my body and some of my brains, but with POZ, I was actually showing the world who I was with a really intense purpose, which was empowering,” she says. “People would come up to me and say, ‘Oh my God, I had no idea you had AIDS’ or ‘This is what AIDS could look like.’ It gave me a whole new platform to educate people.” She was also getting seriously sick at the time, but today, she says, she’s in great health. “I’ve been sober 13 years now,” says the former speed user. Plus, she’s in business with Buck Angel, the former porn actor she calls her “chosen dad,” selling her own line of healing balms and tinctures containing CBD oil. The line is BuddhaTrees.com and is produced by and with Angel’s business PrideWellness.net. A portion of all sales are donated to AIDS service organizations. A former professional bodybuilder, Armstrong is now a personal trainer and sports therapy aide who, despite having had shoulder surgery, still lifts weights—though they’re lighter these days. She spends much of the rest of her time walking her four rescue dogs in the hills of Los Angeles with concert rigger Anthony DiSpirito, her partner of 11 years. “He’s the love of my life,” she says. Oh, and she’s still looking sexy on those massive AIDS Healthcare Foundation billboards in LA. “Thriving,” they read. And is she ever.

(LOPEZ, CHEEKS, RODRIGUEZ) COURTESY OF INDIVIDUALS, (ARMSTRONG) COURTESY OF AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION

Rebekka Armstrong

OCTOBER 2001

PREVIOUS PAGES: (ARMSTRONG) CAROLYN JONES, (BROWN) TOBY BURDITT, (CHEEKS) D.A. PETERSON, (CHUNG) JEFF SINGER, (COLEMAN) IAN MARTIN, (FLEURY/MALAVE) SCOTT PASFIELD, (HOFMANN) JACK LOUTH, (HORN) KEVIN MCDERMOTT, (HOWARD) JONATHAN TIMMES, (JOHNSON) DAN CHAVKIN, (KING AND TERRY) JONATHAN TIMMES, (J. LEWIS, O. LEWIS, MUÑOZ, SANCHEZ AND SHABAZZ-EL) BILL WADMAN, (LOPEZ) JOHN BONDELLIO, (MORELLET) ANDREW EINHORN, (RAJNER) BRIAN SMITH, (RODRIGUEZ) ROBIN HOLLAND, (TIN) ARI MICHELSON, (WOODS) LYNN LANE

Susan Rodriguez

JANUARY 1999

Bishop Kwabena Rainier “Rainey” Cheeks “I was surprised by how people responded to it,” says Cheeks. That’s how the Washington, DC– based founder of the pioneering Black gay AIDS agency Us Helping Us and the LGBT-affirming Inner Light Unity Fellowship Church remembers his POZ cover appearance 20 years ago. “I thought I was very public with my status, but many people who knew me thought it was quite bold of me.” He says it also helped with fundraising and landing more speaking engagements. “Having that kind of national exposure was a powerful thing.” In 1999, Cheeks, now 66, had already been living with HIV for several years. He remains the pastor of Inner Light, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, and is looking forward to hosting more workshops and seminars to empower gay Black men, who still have the highest HIV rates in the United States. “I do a workshop called ‘The Arc of Loving Yourself.’ How can we gay men respect, and not objectify, each other?” In recent years, he has worked extensively to try to get mainline churches to become LGBT-affi rming. “I started my meetings with all of them by asking, ‘Tell me who’s not welcome to the table of God?’” The result? A bunch of ministers held a service during which they stood in the pulpit and apologized to their LGBT churchgoers for not having explicitly embraced them in the past. When Cheeks, the author of Reclaiming Your Divine Birthright, isn’t working, he hikes in Rock Creek Park, participates in an African drumming circle and enjoys time with his beloved collection of elephant figurines. “Elephants are family,” he explains. “They take care of one another.”

Rodriguez, 59, originally appeared on the cover of POZ in 1997 for a story about folks with HIV quitting their jobs and going on benefits to take care of themselves. That fi rst cover “played a major role in shaping my life and activism,” she says—so much so that she went on to found SMART (Sisterhood Mobilized for AIDS/HIV Research & Treatment) University in New York City to provide support, education and advocacy for women living with HIV. In the fall of 2001, she appeared on the cover again, fl anked by four of her fellow SMART ladies, for a story about new data confi rming that it was nearly impossible for women to transmit HIV sexually to men. But her most vivid memory of that issue of POZ is that it came out on 9/11, after which SMART had to temporarily vacate its downtown Manhattan offices as a result of the wreckage and pollution from the terrorist attack. “A sense of hopelessness set in [during] the days and weeks afterward,” she recalls. “Continuing SMART became my focal point to get out of despair.” And Rodriguez has done so to this day. She recently started SMART HEART, which fuses activism and creativity for women with HIV via sign-making parties for protests and a meditation/healing component. “Our participants are primarily low-income women of color, and we felt that it was important to build a foundation of civic engagement leading to the midterm elections and now beyond,” she says. A breast cancer, stroke and depression survivor, she adds, “It’s important that I keep my life balanced and take care of myself mentally and physically.”

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2006

MAY 2004

Florent Morellet POZ’s 10th anniversary cover garnered global attention after famed artist Spencer Tunick created an image of 80 naked men and women living with HIV—some of them now deceased—one frigid early morning in New York’s Meatpacking District. The setting? Florent, the longtime beloved bohemian diner and onetime POZ magazine unofficial canteen, which closed in 2008. Its namesake proprietor is the iconic HIV-positive French activist, artist and provocateur Florent Morellet, who was known to track his T cells on the diner’s letterboards alongside the menu. He also was at the photo shoot. Morellet, 65, now lives in Bushwick, an arty Brooklyn neighborhood whose vibe echoes that of his diner’s 1980s and ’90s heyday. “It was fantastic,” he remembers of the shoot. “I think it was one of the restaurant’s greatest moments. People called me about it from all over the world. It was political and sensational—but with humor. It was a wonderful reminder that so many of us had survived together, as a family, up to that point.” He lives a much quieter life these days. “It’s difficult to be retired and not be at the center of the world anymore.” Not completely separated from his past, he’s still good friends with his ex, the novelist Peter Cameron. Last year, Morellet moved longtime Florent employee Harry Eriksen into his apartment and coordinated Eriksen’s hospice care. Eriksen died of cancer in November. “He was my right hand at the restaurant and my soul mate,” says Morellet. “People tell me they’re sorry, but, actually, he died in my arms, and it was one of the most beautiful things in my life.”

34 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

Fleury appeared on the cover of POZ with the love of his life and fellow advocate Malave. Both say their romance is stronger today than ever. “Being in the magazine was the fi rst time either of us went public [about living with HIV] and was the greatest decision we ever made,” says Fleury, an HIV prevention educator who lives in Massachusetts. The article told the stories of five couples—both positive and negative—who found love in the face of HIV. “It gave so many people hope that true love exists, plus we were one of the very fi rst heterosexual couples put on the cover,” Fleury says proudly. To this day, he says his love story is a staple of his sex-ed curriculum in schools. His advice for keeping the flame alive all these years? “Keep yourself undetectable, adhere to your meds, enjoy a happy sex life,” he jokes. “Even though I live in New York,” says Malave, “Bryan and I take turns traveling back and forth to Massachusetts to be with each other.” As was the case for Fleury, Malave’s decision to appear on the cover was an easy one. “I wanted other HIV-positive people to know that they also can fi nd love after HIV.” Malave, a former nurse, has traveled the world with Fleury, setting sail on five cruises tailored to people living with HIV. Unlike her boyfriend, Malave isn’t as vocal about living with HIV in her everyday life but still considers herself an advocate. “My role has been mostly trying to stay healthy for my three daughters,” says Malave. The couple recently took a big new step in their relationship when they adopted two rescue dogs. “They give me such unconditional love,” says Millie, “but, most importantly, I just enjoy being alive and being with my family.”

(MORELLET) JERRY FELIX; (FLEURY/MALAVE, HOFMANN AND COLEMAN) COURTESY OF INDIVIDUALS

Bryan Fleury and Millie Malave

APRIL 2006

JUNE 2008

Regan Hofmann

Kehn Coleman

Hofmann had been writing an anonymous column for POZ (“In the Closet”) about living secretly with HIV for a few years before she became the magazine’s editor-in-chief. She came out with a splash, not just on our cover but also in the pages of Vogue, New York magazine and The New York Times. (All that was followed by her 2009 memoir, I Have Something to Tell You.) As POZ’s first HIV-positive editor-in-chief, the stylish, horse-riding Hofmann brought new attention to the magazine during her six-year tenure, often appearing in gowns on red carpets for HIV galas for groups such as amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, whose board she joined. “Being on the cover of POZ, while initially terrifying, was the most liberating, empowering thing I have done,” she says. “I lived in emotional isolation for nearly 10 years, keeping my HIV status a secret from most people. Telling my truth publicly felt like being born again—into a huge family of people just like me.” Currently, Hofmann is the policy officer of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Liaison Office in Washington, DC, where she works with the U.S. government “to encourage continued strong bipartisan American leadership on AIDS.” She also supports UNAIDS executive leadership and country teams in their work around the world. The former New Jersey girl now lives on a small farm outside DC with her beloved horse and her Muscovy ducks. “Which,” she points out, “I raise for eggs, not meat!”

“Things are a lot different since I did that interview,” says Coleman, when asked about the time he appeared on the cover of POZ. The article addressed the incredible difference in HIV care between San Francisco and Oakland, two California cities separated by just eight miles— and decades of racial and socioeconomic disparities. “At that time, I was not working yet. I had just finished my associate’s degree and was just looking for something positive to give back,” he says. A survivor of not just HIV but also of homelessness, Coleman was one of many people struggling to find care who were profiled for the article. Today, Coleman has a job assisting special-needs children in San Francisco, a post he has held proudly since 2009. “It’s my way of giving back,” says the quiet advocate, uncle and educator, who has been living with HIV since 1993. “I feel as though I’ve been given so many options as a longterm survivor. I figure sometimes that I’ve been given a chance to survive to help others.”

poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 35

YOU MATTER AND SO DOES YOUR HEALTH Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why starting and staying on HIV-1 treatment is so important. WHAT IS DESCOVYÂŽ? DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people who weigh at least 77 lbs (35kg). DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. DESCOVY combines 2 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day. Because DESCOVY by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1, it must be used together with other HIV-1 medicines.

DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking DESCOVY. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance QH UGZWCN EQPVCEV YKVJ DQF[ Ć&#x192;WKFU 0GXGT TGWUG QT UJCTG PGGFNGU QT QVJGT KVGOU VJCV JCXG DQF[ Ć&#x192;WKFU QP VJGO

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about DESCOVY? DESCOVY may cause serious side effects: â&#x20AC;˘ Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking DESCOVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking DESCOVY YKVJQWV Ć&#x201A;TUV VCNMKPI VQ [QWT JGCNVJECTG RTQXKFGT CU they will need to monitor your health. What are the other possible side effects of DESCOVY? Serious side effects of DESCOVY may also include: â&#x20AC;˘ Changes in your immune system. Your immune U[UVGO OC[ IGV UVTQPIGT CPF DGIKP VQ Ć&#x201A;IJV KPHGEVKQPU Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking DESCOVY. â&#x20AC;˘ Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking DESCOVY if you develop new or worse kidney problems. â&#x20AC;˘ 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. â&#x20AC;˘ 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;tea-coloredâ&#x20AC;? urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. The most common side effect of DESCOVY is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go away. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking DESCOVY? â&#x20AC;˘ All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. â&#x20AC;˘ All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how DESCOVY works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take DESCOVY with all of your other medicines. â&#x20AC;˘ If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if DESCOVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking DESCOVY. â&#x20AC;˘ If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. 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. Please see Important Facts about DESCOVY, including important warnings, on the following page.

Ask your healthcare provider if an HIV-1 treatment that contains DESCOVYÂŽ is right for you.

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

(des-KOH-vee) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DESCOVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF DESCOVY

DESCOVY may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking DESCOVY. Do not stop taking DESCOVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

DESCOVY can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About DESCOVY” section. • Changes in your immune system. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • 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 effect of DESCOVY is nausea. These are not all the possible side effects of DESCOVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking DESCOVY. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with DESCOVY.

ABOUT DESCOVY • DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people who weigh at least 77 lbs (35kg). DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others.

BEFORE TAKING DESCOVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical condition. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with DESCOVY.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. • Go to DESCOVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit DESCOVY.com for program information.

HOW TO TAKE DESCOVY • DESCOVY is a one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine that is taken with other HIV-1 medicines. • Take DESCOVY with or without food. DESCOVY, the DESCOVY Logo, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: September 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. DVYC0085 11/17

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JULY/AUGUST 2008

(SHABAZZ-EL) COURTESY OF WAHEEDA SHABAZZ-EL; (JOHNSON) SEAN BLACK

Jeremiah Johnson Shortly after Johnson, 36, appeared on the cover of POZ to protest being sent home from Ukraine by the Peace Corps because he tested HIV positive, another foreign aid organization saw the magazine and reached out to him, offering him a similar position in Lima, Peru. But in addition to that concrete outcome, “being on the cover was transformative for me,” he says. “It elevated my activism and contributed to my resilience, because I was in a state of shock at my dismissal.” It was this resilience that led him, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and POZ, to successfully pressure the Peace Corps to end its policy of sending members home for testing positive for the bythen easily treatable virus. (Unfortunately, that policy has recently reemerged; see Romany Tin on page 46.) At the time of the cover shoot, Johnson was depressed and waiting tables back in his native Denver. But since then, he’s thrived as a person and an activist. Since 2011, he has lived in New York, where he was recently promoted to HIV project director at the venerable think tank Treatment Action Group. He also played a large role after the 2016 election in founding the ACT UP–like direct-action collective Rise and Resist, whose members have been arrested several times while protesting Trump and the policies of the right-wing 115th Congress. He’s in a long-term relationship with dancer and massage therapist Tym Byers, who joins him for work conferences. And Johnson says much of his current activism can be traced back to that POZ cover. “With my face suddenly out there,” he says, “it helped me get around any inhibitions I had about being public and hence talk about discrimination and stigma openly.”

NOVEMBER 2008

Waheedah Shabazz-El “To this day, 10 years later, people still remember me from the cover of POZ magazine,” says Waheedah Shabazz-El, HIV survivor, mother of three, grandmother of four and outspoken advocate in America’s Muslim, LGBT and Black communities. “I’ve had the opportunity to speak a lot since then, and I’ll still wear the same garment,” she says. “When I do that, I’m like: ‘You’re getting it all today, you know!’” Back then, Shabazz-El was just starting to share her HIV diagnosis, which she received while in jail in 2003. She has since catapulted into a renowned advocacy career working with the likes of ACT UP Philadelphia, Positive Women’s Network–USA, Women of Color United Against Violence and HIV, CHAMP and the Philadelphia Network of Care for Prisoner Reentry in her hometown of Philly, among many others. Today, her fight is about more than just a serostatus. “All my advocacy was around HIV,” Shabazz-El recalls. “Now, my advocacy is around human rights. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to see things that have increased my awareness and broadened my perspective. There are intersecting oppressions.”

poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 39

NOVEMBER 2009

Michael Emanuel Rajner

JUNE 2010

Tim Horn Horn’s history with POZ goes way back. “I authored its first feature on the development and launch of protease inhibitors,” he recalls. He then went on to edit Physicians’ Research Network Notebook, a quarterly magazine for HIV care providers, and AIDSmeds.com before helping to lead the Treatment Action Group for several years as a writer and activist. Needless to say, a lot has changed both for him and in HIV research since those early days. “It’s weird to think of HIV as a ‘career,’ but it has been at the center of my work for my entire adult life thus far,” says Horn, who currently works on HIV prevention and treatment access at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD). His cover story was about the countless ways our fourlegged companions keep us happy and healthy. He remains an animal lover but has expanded his interests. “I’m an amateur photographer and am attempting to tackle the dark arts of bread baking,” says Horn. “I’m still here continuing the challenge of living my best life.”

(RAJNER, HORN) COURTESY OF INDIVIDUALS

As the legislative director of the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus, Rajner was constantly emailing POZ to feed editors tips for potential stories and to ask whether anyone on staff wanted to press presidential candidates on AIDS. That was in 2009. “But around and leading up to 2016, I stepped away more and more from engaging with HIV/AIDS issues,” Rajner explains. “I’m now going on 25 years living with HIV, and I think that a shift has been happening. Minority communities are finally having greater opportunities to have their voices heard, and people like me have had to step back so others can step up and have that opportunity.” But that doesn’t mean the former policy powerhouse has gone completely silent. Last year, Rajner connected with students from Parkland, Florida, to share old-school HIV activism advice after they stepped into advocacy following one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. “Activism doesn’t mean you have to be attending a conference or be the person on the front line,” says Rajner. “Sometimes it’s more important to be available to people as a resource or to help guide new people who are stepping forward. And that’s what I’m trying to do.”

JUNE 2011

Timothy Ray Brown

(BROWN) JENNIFER MORTON; (CHUNG) JEFF SINGER

By the time Brown, 53, was featured on the cover of POZ, he had already been famous for about three years as the first—and still only—person in the world known to have been cured of HIV. Diagnosed with the virus in 1995, he was undergoing a stem-cell transplant for cancer in Germany in the 2000s when he agreed to let the doctor infuse him with cells harvested from a donor with a genetic mutation that blocked HIV. He has been HIV negative ever since. “They’ve tried to do it to people with HIV who were in my situation, but none have survived,” he laments. Researchers are still a long way from transforming what Brown’s extraordinary case taught us about HIV eradication into a workable large-scale cure. Dubbed “the Berlin Patient” by global media because he was living in that city at the time, the Seattle native is back in the United States living happily and healthily— despite some neuropathy and joint stiffness—in Palm Springs, California, with his boyfriend, Tim Hoeffgen, and their cat, Penny. He does yoga weekly, volunteers via Desert AIDS Project to provide resources for locals struggling with meth addiction, including a potential needle-exchange site, and is involved in the area’s HIV & Aging Research Project (harp-ps.org). He still regularly attends conferences about an HIV cure, including one in Seattle in early 2018. “I gave a short speech and said to the researchers, ‘Hurry up!’ I’m basically the cheerleader for an HIV cure.”

SEPTEMBER 2012

Cecilia Chung “Things have changed since then, but they haven’t changed that much,” says Chung when asked about her 2012 POZ cover story. The article came out the same year the trans community noted a significant increase in violent attacks on trans women across the country, and advocates like Chung were looking to fight back. “I had been visible for quite a while by that time,” Chung recalls, adding that appearing on the cover seemed like a natural progression of her career as a positive trans activist. At the time, she was serving as a health commissioner in San Francisco, a post she still holds, and was a senior strategist at the Transgender Law Center, which remains the nation’s largest trans-led advocacy organization. In the past six years, “I’ve spent a lot of time nurturing the next generation of leaders,” says Chung, who’s ready to pass the torch after nearly 30 years of speaking out. “I really believe that in order for us to break down stigma, we have to be able to see others who look like us and who can share our stories.”

poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 41

JUNE 2013

Mark S. King An LGBT advocate, King is the creator of the HIV blog My Fabulous Disease. But it wasn’t until this cover story, which he penned, that he saw himself as a writer. “That article changed the way people viewed me, and it changed the opportunities that I got in terms of being able to speak out as a person living with HIV,” he says. Since then, the blogger/activist has written about almost everything: crystal meth addiction as a gay man; positive relationships; the often dicey HIV politics of America; iconic AIDS history; and more. His byline has appeared in such outlets as The Advocate, Newsweek, Queerty and TheBody.com. “As a writer, activist and longterm survivor, I view every opportunity to share my voice on the pages of POZ as a privilege and something I consider to be an important piece of my legacy,” he says. Find him online, on social media and in future issues of POZ magazine.

SEPTEMBER 2014

Julie Lewis Diagnosed with HIV in 1990 after contracting the virus via a 1984 blood transfusion, Lewis—the mother of Macklemore’s musical partner DJproducer Ryan Lewis—had taken a years-long break from HIV activism and education when she graced our cover. “It was me coming back to HIV activism after 10 years of not being too involved,” Lewis, 60, recalls. To show gratitude for surviving 30 years with HIV, in 2014 Lewis started the 30/30 Project, aiming to build 30 health care centers around the world to last for at least 30 years. The first to open was in Malawi. Five years later, Lewis is proud to say that, working alongside respected global aid groups like Partners in Health, she’s expecting to fully fund all 30 of her facilities. “It’s been very fulfi lling, but it’s also been a ton of work,” she says. With four grandkids and another on the way, “I’m ready to put some time into my personal life.” She laughs at how she imagines the HIV community reacted to her cover appearance. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, who’s this new person?’ It was like, ‘Oh, she’s back.’ I’m so excited to not have to be a public person anymore.” For more information and to donate, go to 3030project.org.

42 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

(KING) HOLLY CLARK; (LEWIS) ZOE RAIN

Julie Lewis (left) with her son Ryan

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MARCH 2015

Octavia Lewis “That article opened many doors for me,” says Lewis about her 2015 cover story, which details her HIV journey. A lot has changed for her over the past years—she separated from her husband, Shawn Lopez (who also appeared in the article), adopted her foster son, Ethan (“He’s now 5!”), and has become one of the nation’s leading transgender activists. “That article proved so many things that a lot of trans people are told are not possible: a) you can live with HIV; b) you can be a wife; c) you can be a mother; and d) you can be gainfully employed.” But having it all was just the beginning. Lewis is now on the board of Positive Women’s Network– USA, is a founding member at Positively Trans and has traveled the world sharing her story. “I’m also still doing stuff locally,” she says, donating a lot of her time mentoring trans youth, “just telling them that you can be whoever you choose to be.”

44 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

“It wasn’t my idea to appear in POZ,” says Woods, one of Houston’s foremost Black Lives Matter [BLM] activists, when asked about his cover story. “I actually heard through [a friend] that you guys were interested in navigating the BLM movement while HIV positive and Black.” In fact, Woods had a long history with organizing before gracing the cover of POZ, having started out as an activist in the late ’90s after founding one of the fi rst gay-straight alliances in Texas. His aim throughout the years? To ensure that Black people, particularly LGBT Black people, are engaged in politics and viewing their work intersectionally. Appearing in POZ was perfect. “My reaction when the article came out was the same as everyone else’s: How did this happen? Congratulations!” Over the past two years, Woods has continued to organize with BLM and beyond. He has even fi led to run for Houston City Council this year. “Election Day is on my birthday,” Woods jokes when asked about his future plans for intersectional advocacy. For the latest updates about his campaign, fi nd him on Facebook.

(LEWIS. WOODS, MUÑOZ, TERRY) COURTESY OF INDIVIDUALS

Ashton P. Woods

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017

Marvell Terry

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016

Javier Muñoz Muñoz was already famous by the time he appeared on POZ’s cover, having succeeded his good friend and fellow Puerto Rican New Yorker Lin-Manuel Miranda in the title role of the Broadway blockbuster musical Hamilton. In fact, Miranda had bestowed him his own hashtag, #Javilton. And Muñoz had already made a splash—and been honored by GMHC—for coming out as both a cancer survivor and a person living with HIV in The New York Times right before he stepped into the lead role, saying he wanted newly diagnosed young folks to have the kind of role model he lacked when he was diagnosed in 2002. Since leaving Hamilton in early 2018 after a year-plus run as the lead and finishing up a stint on the TV show Shadowhunters, “I’ve spent time nurturing my relationship with my partner while reconnecting with family and friends,” he says. “A show like Hamilton takes over your entire life, so this year has been about finding balance with my personal life as well as my professional life.” Muñoz says being on POZ’s cover “was an honor and [led to] the greatest show of support I could ever wish for. That energy fed me, and I hope to keep returning that support to others living with HIV or AIDS for as long as I live.”

Terry was one of the folks spotlighted in the cover story, which addressed the structural, social and health barriers that challenge Black gay and bisexual men at the center of the epidemic in the South. “I was excited and nervous,” he says about his decision to speak out in the article. But the value of the work Terry continues to do on behalf of men who have sex with men in the South is undeniable. The 33-year-old advocate is the creator of the Red Door Foundation, an HIV advocacy group in his native Memphis, and founder of the annual Saving Ourselves Symposium, a conference by and for Black LGBTQ living in the South that’s focused on health, wellness and social justice. “My advocacy and activism have certainly expanded since I was last featured in POZ,” he adds. “I now look at HIV at the intersection of so many other issues that impact Black and brown communities, such as homelessness, food deserts and poverty. You see I am Black before you know I am living with HIV or gay—and that reality has fueled me in broadening by coalition building and joining other movements.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

Achim Howard

JULY/AUGUST 2018

Romany Tin “I felt proud and empowered knowing that I was fighting for the rights of HIV-positive individuals,” says Tin, 24, of his POZ cover. “But at the same time, it frightened me that everyone would know about me and my status. The stigma around it has changed my life, and that is something I would really like to change.” At the time, Tin was in limbo back in the United States after the Peace Corps sent him home from Cambodia, his father’s homeland, for testing HIV positive while serving. That move on the part of the agency belied its promise a decade before (see Jeremiah Johnson on page 39) that it would not dismiss members who test HIV positive home if their treatment and care could be reasonably accommodated. Like Johnson, Tin fought the rejection, reaching out not only to Johnson via Treatment Action Group but also to the ACLU and Lambda Legal—all of whom pressed the Peace Corps on why it had to send Tin home from a country with solid access to HIV meds and care. The pushback paid off: The Peace Corps once again said it would no longer send members with HIV home unnecessarily. Tin is back in Cambodia, teaching English. “I get my treatment and labs here at the hospital in Phnom Penh,” he says. “Overall, I’m doing well. Living with HIV hasn’t changed much of my habits.” Once back in the United States, Tin wants to find decent-paying work, go to grad school for public health and continue working in HIV activism. His appearance in POZ, he says, “was the fi rst time I felt part of this community. It gave me the confidence to continue my advocacy to fight for people with HIV.”

(HOWARD, TIN) COURTESY OF INDIVIDUALS

“I’m just standing up for the trans men who can’t stand up for themselves,” says Howard when asked about his cover story about fighting erasure and HIV in the transgender community. A few months before the article’s publication, he and other trans activists made waves when they stormed the stage at the United States Conference on AIDS to demand better representation at the conference. “I remember sitting at a table with all of my sisters at Positively Trans and seeing over and over again that the data for transgender people was just not there. I couldn’t take it anymore.” More than a year later, Howard is still hard at work in the community, continuing to advocate both as the founder of DC’s Trans Men Rising and a Positively Trans board member. “We are still not being counted. We still need health care that is adequate to us. The studies, the data, need to be for us.” Because at the end of the day, says Howard, a cover story might be great, but for much of the HIV-positive community, the work has just begun.

A SMART+STRONG PUBLICATION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 POZ.COM $3.99

H E A L T H ,

L I F E

H I V

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018

(SANCHEZ) BILL WADMAN

Charles Sanchez

Charles in Charge

How one man turned his HIV story into a starring role

By the time Sanchez made the cover of POZ, he’d been running the blog circuit promoting his now-hit web series, Merce —a self-described “sparkly, show tune-y, jazz-handy, middle-aged” extravaganza about what it’s like to live with HIV today. “One of the major impetuses of [starting Merce] was that every time I saw a character with HIV on television or in a movie, it was always sad,” Sanchez recalls. Fast-forward to today, and the show—which includes everything from musical interludes about HIVrelated diarrhea to heart-wrenching stories about love and acceptance—is in postproduction for its second season, set to debut later this spring. Sanchez can also be found on TheBody.com, where he is currently a contributing editor, as well as at various HIV-related events like AIDSWatch and the United States Conference on AIDS. “That cover story really validated our project,” says Sanchez. “It introduced us to the HIV community in a lovely way so that when I started doing more writing and other kinds of advocacy work, people knew who I was and listened to what I had to say.”

Charles Sanchez, creator of the web series Merce

ON THE COVER 37 H E A L T H ,

L I F E

13 17

69 66

24 26 27

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

68 67

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

18 22

44 45

43 50

53 52

42 49

4 10

41 40

H I V

Thom Collins Jesus Sanchez Mary Fisher Charles King Antonio Muñoz Larry Kramer Jamar Rogers Marvelyn Brown Barb Cardell Sharon DeCuir Adonis Porch Sean Strub Hydeia Broadbent Greg Louganis Sherri Lewis Vicki Derdivanis

31 29

36 71

16. Lisa Tiger 17. Mila Vreeland Memory Amya Hunte 18. Kami the Muppet 19. Alee Stirling Mitchell Stirling Yonas Stirling 20. Brian Grillo 21. Lafayette Sanders 22. Shana Cozad 23. Jane Fowler 24. Elizabeth Taylor 25. Giuliani Alvarenga 26. Tim Murphy 27. Rep. Barbara Lee 28. Kory Montoya

29. Song Pengfei 30. Reginald T. Brown Wanda Brendle-Moss 31. Emily Carter 32. L’Orangelis Thomas Negrón 33. Jake Glaser 34. Whitney Joiner Alysia Abbott 35. U=U 36. Jason Villalobos 37. Stephen Gendin 38. Broadway Cares dancers 39. Sean Sasser 40. Kiyoshi Kuromiya

41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.

Jeffrey Jenest Peter Staley Tony Valenzuela Larry Bryant Jay W. Walker Anna Fowlkes Paul Johns Dog in wig Bob Bowers Shane Theriot Andy Bell Life Altering Spencer Pedro Zamora Moisés Agosto-Rosario Linda Scruggs Nathaniel Scruggs

CREDITS: (1) Andrew Melick, (2) Brian Smith, (3, 20) Greg Gorman, (4, 5, 26, 27, 34, 45, 58, 61, 62, 64, 69, 70) Bill Wadman, (6) Ethan Hill, (7, 14, 33, 41) Toky, (8, 48) Scott Pasfield, (9, 54, 63) Jonathan Timmes, (10) Rafa Alvaraez, (11) Joan L. Brown, (12) Jacop Kepler, (13, 43, 71) Blake Little, (15) Toby Burditt, (16, 40) Carolyn Jones, (17) Ronnie Arden, (18) Dean Macadam, (19) Kristina Marie Krug, (21) Steve Morrison, (22) Jeremy Charles, (23) Roy Inman, (24) Roddy McDowall, (25, 68) Jeff Singer, (28) Chris Corrie, (29) Frederic Brown/Agence France-Presse, (30) Jensen Larson, (31) Ann Marsden, (32) Angel Valentín, (36) Kevin Steele, (37) Ben Watts, (38) Peter James Zielinski/BC/EFA, (39) Troy Plota, (42, 49) Dean Kaufman, (44) Andrew McLeod, (46) Justin Tsucalas, (47) Meredith Parmelee, (50) Dirk Lindner, (51) Eric Rhein, (52) Ken Probst, (53) Euclides Santiago, (55) Clay Patrick McBride, (56) Scott Morgan, (57) Robin Holland, (59) Todd Selby, (60) Naomi Harris, (65) Kyle Froman, (66) Dean Williams, (67) Ryan Ketterman, (72) Bryan Regan

View this guide on POZ.com for links to all the cover articles. 55. Stacey Latimer 56. Joseph Sonnabend 57. Anthony Salandra Marsha Burnett Ruben Rodriguez 58. Kim Hunter Cesar Carrasco Perry Halkitis 59. Chloe Dzubilo 60. John Muhammad 61. Nancy Duncan 62. Luz de Jesus Roman 63. Shawn Decker Gwenn Barringer 64. Robert Chodo Campbell

65. Salim “Slam” Gauwloos Carlton Wilborn 66. Michael Jeter 67. Charles Tripp 68. Rob Newells 69. Fred Hersch 70. Eileen Mitzman (Marni Mitzman) 71. Mondo Guerra 72. Janet Kitchen Pat Kelly Lepena Powell-Reid Juanita Williams Margot Kirkland-Isaac Vanessa Johnson Stephanie Laster

poz.com APRIL/MAY 2019 POZ 47

HEROES

BY ALICIA GREEN

In 1994, frustrated by the media’s coverage of the AIDS epidemic, activist Sean Strub started a magazine to amplify the voices of people living with HIV. He named it POZ. “Almost no one knew what ‘POZ’ meant when we launched,” Strub recalls. “It had the advantage of serving as a double entendre, meaning both ‘HIV positive’ as well as ‘thinking positive and taking control of one’s life,’ which was central to the magazine’s message.” Many people at the time doubted that POZ would last. But Strub, who tested HIV positive in 1985, had sold his insurance policies and invested everything he had into the start-up, which was produced in his New York City loft. “When I was really sick, POZ gave me a purpose that was crystal clear,” he says. “That purpose was important to my survival during a time when I might just as easily have died.” Strub served as publisher and executive editor of POZ until he sold the magazine in 2004, at which point he relocated to Milford, Pennsylvania, a small town he grew fond of in the late ’90s. Milford also piqued his interest in historic preservation. “Twenty years later, I’ve restored or improved 20 buildings and helped launch festivals, a community foundation and other endeavors,” Strub says. One of the buildings he renovated was the Hotel Fauchère. In 2001, Strub and a partner acquired the defunct landmark hotel. Five years later, it reopened for business. The hotel continues to operate today with Strub as owner. He recently created the Hotel Fauchère Fund to help support local charitable efforts. But Strub’s most important role in Milford is serving as its mayor. In 2016, he was unanimously appointed mayor by the town’s council before getting elected by its residents the following year. Strub is no stranger to politics. He was the first openly HIV-positive person to run for U.S. Congress in 1990, and he details his candidacy in his 2014 autobiography, Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival. His mayoral responsibilities notwithstanding, Strub still advocates for people living with HIV. He is the executive director of the Sero Project, a network of people living with HIV working to fight stigma and HIV criminalization. The group produces the biennial HIV Is Not a Crime Training Academy as well as a health and wellness resource guide for prisoners with HIV and hepatitis. “I have learned so much and become a better person through my work with other people with HIV, and that is no different today than it was 25 years ago,” he says. Strub’s advice to people living with HIV is: Make connections, be of service and have hope. As for POZ commemorating its silver anniversary, Strub is proud of “the community of people living with HIV, our closest friends and allies who have helped sustain the magazine and carry forth the values we espouse to a broader world.”

48 POZ APRIL/MAY 2019 poz.com

Sean Strub is the founder of POZ and mayor of Milford, Pennsylvania.

BILL WADMAN

Life After POZ

SURVEY

On a scale of 1 to 5, rate your interest in the following topics (1 = not very interested, 5 = very interested):

READER SURVEY For 25 years, POZ has been covering the HIV epidemic, and your opinions have always been very important to us. We want to know what topics matter to you and which sections of the magazine and website you enjoy. Please take our survey and let us know what you think about POZ and POZ.com. 1

Where do you get your copy of POZ magazine?

T AIDS service organization or community organization T Doctor’s office or other health care facility T Pharmacy T Church T School or other educational institution T Government institution T I’m a subscriber. T I read it on POZ.com. T Other 2

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How would you rate the overall content on POZ.com?

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How long have you been reading POZ?

T 20–25 years T 5–10 years T 15–20 years T Less than 5 years T 10–15 years 6

Have you ever visited POZ Personals?

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Have you ever visited the POZ Forums?

ISTOCK

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Criminalization

5 5

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On a scale of 1 to 5, rate your interest in the following topics (1 = not very interested, 5 = very interested): 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Ask POZ

Conference Coverage

5 5

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5 5

POZ Stories

Surveys/Polls

Treatment News

30 Do you follow POZ on any of the following social media platforms?

T Facebook T Twitter

In general, how often do you visit POZ.com?

T Once a day T Several times a week T Once a week T Less than once a week 4

Advocacy and policy

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T Excellent T Fair 3

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Do you receive the POZ email newsletter?

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What year were you born?__ __ __ __

32 What is your gender?

T Male T Female T Transgender T Other 33 What is your sexual orientation?

T Straight T Bisexual T Gay/lesbian T Other 34 What is your ethnicity? (Check all that apply.)

T American Indian or Alaska Native T Arab or Middle Eastern T Asian T Black or African American T Hispanic or Latino T Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander T White T Other (please specify): ___________________ 35 What is your ZIP code? __ __ __ __ __

Please fill out this confidential survey at poz.com/survey or mail it to: Smart + Strong, ATTN: POZ Survey #235, 212 West 35th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10001

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