Reflections from an HIV Advocate's Journey: Guy Anthony

By: Guy Anthony, Board Member, ADAP Advocacy Association, and President/CEO, Black, Gifted & Whole Foundation

I do not know for sure; but being silent about my HIV diagnosis may have been the easier path to take. But it surely would have been the less rewarding path. 

Shortly after I was diagnosed, I had a mentor tell me, “if we do not tell our own stories, then our stories die along with us, or others are left to determine the story about us.” At that moment, I knew that I had to tell my story. I knew that I could not let it die or let others write it for me. I knew what I was going through would help others, especially other Black gay boys. I had a voice to amplify the message of one of the most marginalized groups in society. I knew I could not be silent about my disease. 

The very moment I was diagnosed, I felt the weight of the stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS creeping upon me. That feeling was crushing yet I felt drawn to help stop the stigma. I have dedicated my adult life to neutralizing local and global stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS. 

Always an ARTivist (artist and activist), I released Pos(+)tively Beautiful: Affirmations, Advocacy & Advice, a collection of narratives, imagery, and affirming anecdotes, on World AIDS Day in 2012. I also began to work with newly diagnosed Black gay men to mentor them through the reality of their diagnosis, their health care options, and assist them with treatment adherence. By working with these men, I helped them achieve viral suppression and helped to reduce the stigma that HIV/AIDS is a death sentence. 

Seeing the tenacity, drive, and strong will of these Black gay men pushed me further and I began to receive recognitions for my work. I served on Washington, DC’s Ryan White Planning Council and helped to oversee the spending of millions of dollars in HIV funding for the city of Washington, DC. I have been invited as a regular contributor for AIDS.gov and POZ.com, where I have gotten to share articles about mental health and HIV, reflections to my younger self, and how art saved my life. 

Photo Source: POZ Magazine

In 2015, Brandon M. Macsata invited me to deliver the opening advocacy keynote at the ADAP Advocacy Association's 7th Annual AIDS Drug Assistance Program Conference in Washington, DC. "Your Seat at the Table" was my message back then to advocates living with HIV, and it remains so today. Only one year later, I was seated on the board of directors for the ADAP Advocacy Association.

I was named one of the top 100 HIV prevention leaders under 30 by POZ Magazine, one of the top 100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch by National Black Justice Coalition, one of DBQ Magazine’s LOUD 100, and one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers by Next Big Thing Inc. 

As a gay, HIV positive, Black man I knew I still had more to offer. I created Black, Gifted, and Whole to celebrate the brilliance and resilience of Black gay men like myself and provide scholarships to Black Queer folx attending college. Black, Gifted, and Whole was recently named one of the six Black Companies You Should Know by Ebony Magazine. I also currently serve as a brand ambassador for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies, to help ensure all HIV/AIDS positive gay men are aware of their pharmaceutical options. 

In 2020, I was included on Metrosource Magazine’s list of People We Love. While I am grateful for the love and recognition I have received, I am forever fulfilled and humbled by the opportunity to lift up gay, Black voices and show the world the power of my community.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.  

Reflections from an HIV Advocate's Journey: Arianna Lint

By: Arianna Lint, President and Founder, Arianna's Center/ Translatina Florida

Today, I am a proud Trans Latina, openly living with HIV, but my journey to get here wasn’t easy. Originally from Peru, I knew that to live life as my authentic self, I would need to leave, and that’s why I came to the United States. My American life began in New York, and as a someone navigating my transition and unable to speak English my options were limited and so like many trans women, I survived as sex worker. For several years I struggled, enduring stigma, discrimination, and violence, while I saved my money as best I could. What kept me focused was that I had a dream.

That dream was I would move to Florida and start a new life. My HIV diagnosis came at a very difficult time as I was finally realizing my move to Florida. It was during the process of attempting to purchase life insurance that I found out that I was HIV-positive. I was devastated, lost, and felt very alone. My saving grace was the love and support of my family. I’ve always been incredibly close to my family, in particular my mother. Their support and acceptance have played a huge role in my life and after my HIV diagnosis I was at a loss for how to disclose my status to them. I experienced feelings of shame and was terrified of disappointing them, and so for almost 4 years I hid my status from them. 

When I found the strength to confide in my mother, she shared with me that she knew I was HIV positive. Apparently, she had found my HIV medications some years beforehand but had never said anything, instead waiting until I was ready to share my status with her. This was heartbreaking, knowing that she had been living with this knowledge for so long and knowing the worry she had been carrying with her. I’m one of the lucky ones though because she is my biggest supporter in everything I do. Not everyone in our community is so fortunate though and much stigma and rejection continue to exist particularly from transgender women of color living with HIV. 

Above all else it was the strength afforded to me by my mother that inspired me to become the unrelenting HIV advocate and transgender leader I am today. Her love and support along with that of my chosen family has helped me realize my dreams. I have a strong support system of traditional family and those friends and allies that have become “family” along the way. From opening my own agency, Arianna’s Center, which has been uplifting the lives of trans women of color for the last six years,  focused on providing services and advocacy from the trans community in Florida and Puerto Rico,  to becoming an international ambassador for the U=U campaign, to speaking and leading sessions at conferences throughout the country and Puerto Rico, and also being a recognized media spokesperson nationwide for trans issues, that love of my family, biological and chosen, has been my fuel for success.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.  

Reflections from an HIV Advocate's Journey: Maria Mejia

By: Maria Mejia, Board Member, Community Access National Network, and HIV advocate

Where do I start ? I dont want to sound tragic. I have lived so many things in these 33 years of living with this, hum, condition called HIV! I remeber being told as a little teen that I had AIDS in a time it was a death sentence...and people were dropping like flies. It was so scary for me, as a teen. I saw what was on television, with gay white men full of these black spots, and a little angel, Ryan White, who was constantly harassed just for wanting to go to school. I thought to myself if they do that to him what are they going to do to me? For the longest time, only my mother and little brother knew about my status.

I remember some television clips while i was living in my country, Colombia, where in my mind I returned to die! I saw marches. I saw much pain and sorrow! I witness people with AIDS being put into black garbage bags, and many funeral homes didn't even want to touch the bodies. The trauma has been described as a soldier coming back from war full of mental or physical wounds. We have lost so many brothers and sisters!!! 

I have survived, but like with many other long-term survivors, left with PTSD, anxiety, depression and survivors guilt. I urge people in the health system to make a special assessment for LONG TERM SURVIVORS and our unique needs. We are still here and we are still fighting. I remember in those early days, I had no medication, support system, support groups, social media or anything whatsoever.

After I almost died with 39 t-cells and Cancer in my uterus, I DECIDED TO LIVE! I started treatment here in the United States, retuning here because we had nothing in Colombia. I also started my grassroots work in activism ! Twenty-four years of hard work to help myself, and others all over the Globe. I am one of those examples that I wish would have been in my life after my diagnosis. Now, I have survived and I know exactly what my mission and purpose is until I go to the light.

Covid-19 came to trigger me and many of my friends! It is so horrible that almost 30 of my friends around of the Globe have passed away!!! Many left their meds form of suicide. Many from Cancer because they didn't get the proper diagnostics and treatment, including La Francis, who was one of my dearest friends from Spain. She basically had parallel stories with me. I don't know where to start to grief! 

I try to keep a positive mindset and push my spirit to go on. But, I hate Covid-19 !!! It has changed many peoples lives. 

The similarities with HIV/AIDS is scary. The stigma, shame, death, fear of the unknown, dying alone, and the black garbage bags. With all that being said. I urge everyone to help one another!!! Many of us are in isolation and many have relapsed on substances, and intimate partner violence is way up. It is so sad to see...but we must continue the fight and try to be strong.

It is hard to live with TWO pandemics at once, but it goes to show our resilience. Please continue pushing, continue fighting, and continue loving yourself and your brothers and sisters! I wish everyone much love and light. Until the next time...

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates. 

Reflections from an HIV Advocate's Journey: Theresa Nowlin

By: Theresa Nowlin, Board Member, ADAP Advocacy Association, and HIV advocate 

I have been living with HIV since 1986, and living my truth in recovery since 1995. Oddly, I didn't know anything about recovery nor did I think living life without self-medicating was even possible for me. In fact, I thought that it was my life, and that it was the way I would die.

At age 11, I started using heroin. I knew nothing about addiction or the fact that you can get addicted to heroin. I went through my first withdrawal at age 16. I didn't even know how it would feel to experience withdrawal because heroin had become such a 'normal' part of my life. My life would change...for the better.

In 1990, I got pregnant with my son, Mark. At the time, a child born had only a 60% chance of being HIV-negative and a 40% chance of being born HIV-positive. I got on methadone and that's when I learned recovery was possible for me. Though I got enrolled in the local clinic in 1990 it took me until 1995 to totally leave heroin alone. That's when my journey to recovery began, but not without many challenges. 

In 1993, I got pregnant with second son (my sunshine), Sean, but mother-to-child transmission positivity rates had only slightly improved - there was a 80% chance that he would be HIV-negative and an 20% chance that he will be HIV-positive. By the Grace of God, both of my boys are HIV-negative. And for that, I am very grateful.

Since the birth of my second son, I have become a strong proponent of anti-retroviral therapy because these medications have not only saved my life, but they helped me grow so much by building a life with my children. I'm not saying that my journey was easy, but it's a lot better than chasing drugs. I was on methadone until 2007, and that year is when I started taking Suboxone. For me, it was a game changer. I feel so much better about myself, because I don't have to go to the clinic every day and see everyone passing drugs and talking about we're going to cop. For me, it feeds into my addiction.

I participated in Narcotics Anonymous therapy group counseling and the Boston Living Center's group programs, which is where I learned about addiction and how to use recovery tools to help me. I don't think I could have ever stopped using drugs if it wasn't for medication assistance treatment. It changed my life...for the better! 

Since 1995, I have accomplished so much in my life. I have witnessed so many sunsets with clear eyes. Because of recovery, I raised my boys. Because of recovery, I have become a HIV peer advocate and activist. Because of my recovery, I have learned to use my voice to fight stigma and discrimination for both HIV and substance-use disorder. I'm now dedicating much of my advocacy toward Ending the Epidemic, such as participating in the Getting to Zero HIV Infection Academy (that's me on the left in the photo).

Today, advocacy is a central part of my life. I serve on my local hospital consumer advisory board. I belong to the Positive Women's Network (PWN), which is a national women's HIV advocacy organization. I serve on the board of directors for the ADAP Advocacy Association. I fight for more public health funding, locally and federally. I educate anyone who will listen that HIV isn't over and why it's important to know your status, get tested regularly, and get on PrEP, if possible.

I am proud to be sober in my recovery. I am adherent to my medication therapy and regular doctors visits. I am a voice for marginalized communities most-impacted by addiction and HIV/AIDS. And most important, I am the mother of two beautiful boys who helped to change my life. 

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.