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.