The first day of fall—the autumnal equinox—is one of only two days out of the year when night and day are of equal length. In some ancient cultures, the equinox not only marked the changing of the seasons, it signified a change in thinking. What better day to fight stigma?
A Day with HIV is POSITIVELY AWARE’s annual anti-stigma project. Now in its 15th year, it portrays 24 hours in the lives of people living with—and affected by—HIV with selfies and other photos all taken on the first day of fall, September 22. The pictures are posted on social media with a caption giving the time and location they were taken, accompanied by the hashtag #adaywthhiv.
For long-term survivor T.J. Elston, A Day with HIV is significant for many reasons. September 22 is his birthday and wedding anniversary with his husband, James. “Eighteen years together,” he says, “our fifth wedding anniversary is today!”
In Puerto Rico, Jacqueline Sepulveda took a selfie with family members. “Compartiendo con familia y viviendo una vida de ayuda y abogacía para la comunidad VIH positiva,” she posted in Spanish. Sharing with family and living a life of helping and advocating for the HIV community.
Melvin Wright’s picture is a tribute. “Telling the story of my sister, whom I lost to AIDS,” he says.
That Sunday was an opportunity for quiet time for Patrick Ingram. “After a tough week I spent my day with HIV exercising radical rest,” he says. “It’s so important for people of color thriving with HIV and advocating for community to never forget that freedom is a constant struggle.”
With his photo, Marco Mays acknowledges that not everyone living with HIV might feel comfortable enough to be so visible, especially in the current political climate. “It seems no matter what state you live in, there are things at work to push our HIV community to the shadows to be unseen,” he says. “I challenge each and every one of you who feels unseen to start making your silhouette just as powerful as your presence showing up in the light!”
Everyday moments in extraordinary lives is one of the project’s taglines, and Paul Edmond’s picture is one example. “I’m the fifth person in the world that has been cured of HIV after a stem cell transplant,” says Edmonds. “Now, my purpose is to inspire people worldwide that a cure for HIV is possible and to help to stop HIV stigma. The HIV community has been my community for the past 36 years and that will never change.”
Another everyday moment was shared by Jyoti Dhawale in Bangalore, India. “It is festival season in India and around this month, there is a tradition of deep cleaning the house,” she says. “So here is me, doing the chores, with a coffee break in between.”
An online gallery is on display at adaywithhiv.com.
Follow @adaywithhiv on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky. A Day with HIV will return on the first day of fall, Monday, September 22, 2025.