POSITIVELY AWARE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
A Day with HIV in America
What does it mean to live with HIV?
Positively Aware asked that question, and
received dozens of responses for a photo
essay entitled “A Day with HIV in America.”
To view more photos, go to ADayWithHIVinAmerica.com
AUSTIN, TX: Darryl Takushi, “I still wake up with a smile.”
8:31 A.M., CHICAGO, IL: Evany Turk, HIV-positive. “This is a photo of me and my children, DeShawn Turk (oldest) and Kywon Nelson (youngest). This is why I work so hard to live a healthy life with HIV.”
9:00 A.M., WASHINGTON, DC: Raul Posas gets ready for another day working at NAPWA (National Association of People with AIDS).
9:30 A.M., FAIRFAX, VA: Chuck Panozzo, bassist and co-founder of Styx, HIV-positive, before his presentation as guest speaker at the Virginia Organizations Responding to AIDS.
10:00 A.M., RUNYON CANYON, OUTSIDE LOS ANGELES, CA: Christopher Wilson, HIV-positive. “Running and hiking is what I do to feel that much needed release.”
10:02 A.M., CHICAGO, IL: Andrew Espinosa, HIV-positive for 13 years, enjoying an “Uncle Day” with nephew Beni.
12:00 P.M., PHILADELPHIA, PA: Mark Davis, HIV-positive 22 years. “My life has been blessed being in many right places and times with mouth wide open, speaking from left of center, finding a voice to advocate, educate, and make change happen.” Peer friends at the PA Mental Health Consumers’ Association created a special red carpet ceremony for Mark.
12:46 P.M., OREGON: Jennifer Jako, HIV-positive 20 years, 13 years living with AIDS, swings her daughter, Bianca, 4, born free of HIV thanks to HAART. “My HIV-negative husband and I are so grateful to have a life together with our beautiful little girl thanks to my adherence to life saving medications.”
1:35 P.M., CHICAGO, IL: Greg Sanchez, HIV-positive 26 years, with his doctor Kaleo Staszkow at Northstar Medical Center. “Sometimes juggling various doctors appointments can be hard, but I do what I have to do, as often as needed, to be on top of my health and continue living my life. I became HIV-positive at the age of 19, and am now approaching 45. Who knew I’d still be alive? The beat goes on and I’m grateful to still be alive.”
2:00 P.M., WASHINGTON, DC: National AIDS Fund president and CEO Kandy Feree (right), vice president of External Affairs Victor Barnes, and vice president of Programs and Evaluation Vignetta Charles meeting to discuss NAF’s $3.6 million grant from the Social Innovation Fund for its Access to Care Initiative.
2:30 P.M., ENGLISH BAY, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Bradford McIntyre, HIV-positive 26 years, celebrating the last full day of summer.
SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA: Robert Breining HIV-positive, HIV/AIDS cyber-activist, blogger at www.poziam.com. “AIDS is a HUGE issue!”
2:44 P.M., ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST ABOVE LOS ANGELES, CA: Faith (HIV-negative) and Michael (HIV-positive) have been married 10 and a half years.
3:00 P.M., WASATCH MOUNTAINS, UTAH: Patricia Pond, who has been HIV-positive seven years, walks with her dog Rusty.
3:02 P.M., NEW YORK CITY: “I’m taking the M4 bus down Fifth Avenue to work, wondering if people still think they can tell who is poz or neg just by looking at them. I prefer to leave my status ambiguous, and not say whether I am poz or neg.”
3:35 P.M., SEATTLE, WA: Michael Louella at work for the University of Washington’s AIDS Clinical Trials Unit.
3:58 P.M., CHICAGO, IL: Kevin Irvine, HIV-positive 25 years, shopping at Trader Joe’s with daughter Dominika Tamley.
4:08 P.M., GREENSBORO, NC: Alicia Diggs at work at John Neal Book Seller.
4:30 P.M., CONNECTICUT: Alex G., keeping afloat, paying bills.
5:30 P.M., DENVER, CO: Ann Wright and twins Sade (left) and Mya; each with their own dog (from left), Chip, Pluto, and Dale. Both girls are HIV-positive. “We are committed to our family and our love for animals; our girls want to be veterinarians.”
5:45 P.M., SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Martin Mace, HIV-positive, visiting from England, now that the U.S. has lifted its travel ban on people who are HIV-positive.
6:00 P.M., TEXAS: The reality of the financial cost of staying alive. “This is the receipt for my threemonth supply of Atripla, showing the cost of my medication. If it weren’t for my insurance, I would never be able to afford this (my co-pay is $120). This is a daily reminder of how much being positive costs me in health and finances.”
6:25 P.M., LONG BEACH, CA: The Salcido family outside their church.
7:20 P.M., MADISON, WI: Teresa Reed-Bowers is HIV-negative; Bob Bowers has been HIV-positive 27 years. “LOVE in the face of AIDS. Serodiscordance rules!”
10:30 P.M., PORTLAND, OR: Michael Lee Howard, who has been HIV-positive five years, at work at a call center.
11:58 P.M., PALM SPRINGS, CA: “My Gorgeous Negative Lover” by photographer Tom Bianchi. “My partner and I were thinking about being a sero-discordant couple and wanted to make a conscious statement that we were not afraid of one another or sex. And that allows us to love safely and extraordinarily lustily. So near midnight, we went out to the pool to see what we’d see in moonlight. This picture is about the beauty I found.”
