stigma | The Graying of AIDS

Gerome, age 51 / Abbotsford, Australia

December 15, 2014 by admin

I think that my story is personal, it’s unique, and it is not tragic. And, I think it’s something that is probably a little bit different from other people’s stories, because I took it more as a relief that I don’t have to fear HIV anymore. I don’t have to – there was no fear […]

Categories: Age 50-54, Asia-Pacific, Male • Tags: Australia, celibacy, dating/relationships, disclosure, faith/spirituality, family, fear of transmission, France, Healthcare access, homophobia, love, Philippines, pre/post-test counseling, Recent diagnosis, relief, serodiscordant couple, sex/sexuality, stigma, Tanzania, treatment access, Viral load/”undetectable”

Dave, 68 / California, USA

December 2, 2014 by admin

We got kicked out of our church. We got kicked out of our small group. The pastor was in visiting me when the doctor told me, and he told his wife. And so we ended up having to leave the church, and then about a year later we walked into our small group that we […]

Categories: Age 65-69, Male, North America • Tags: faith/spirituality, helping others, married/life partner, stigma, support, support group, United States

Michael, age 62 / Auckland, New Zealand

December 2, 2014 by admin

I was diagnosed in September 2010. I’ve only had it 4 years. It couldn’t have been much earlier than that. Because I was in a relationship, and then after that relationship finished I got promiscuous and thought to see if I still had it at my age. And yeah, then started experimenting again. I’m a […]

Categories: Age 60-64, Asia-Pacific, Male • Tags: children/parenthood, disclosure, family, grandchildren, HIV, HIV/AIDS education, New Zealand, Recent diagnosis, sex/sexuality, stigma, support

Luwiza, age 51 / Lusaka, Zambia

December 1, 2014 by admin

Despite the health personnel saying that, “You isolate her,” my sister was there for me. My mother was there. Would sleep in the same room. My sister would be next to me on the same bed, you know. And that helped a lot. Because when your close relatives neglect you: Oooh! That is the worst […]

Categories: Africa, Age 50-54, Female • Tags: ACTIVISM, advocacy, children/parenthood, cost of treatment, employment/retirement, exercise/fitness, faith/spirituality, family, grandchildren, helping others, HIV/AIDS myths, keeping busy, NGOs, stigma, support, treatment access, Zambia

Meng Lin, age 53 / Beijing, China

December 1, 2014 by admin

I told my family, and I do not have a full knowledge about HIV/AIDS, but I tell them I’m HIV-positive. The same day I’ve been kicked out by the family. And all my friends get away from me. But I am so lucky that I meet a very good doctor. She’s just like my mother. […]

Categories: Age 50-54, Asia-Pacific, Male • Tags: ACTIVISM, China, death/dying, depression, doctor/patient relationship, family, stigma, support, treatment access

Katherine, age 56 / Adelaide, Australia

December 1, 2014 by admin

I always wanted a big family, you know – four to six children. My career was in childcare. I found out that I was positive and pregnant at the same time. My partner came with me, and we found out that he was also positive. And they basically said three things to us: “Don’t tell […]

Categories: Age 55-59, Asia-Pacific, Female • Tags: Australia, children, death/dying, family, grandchildren, grief/loss, guilt, jail/incarceration, joy, married/life partner(s), pre/post-test counseling, stigma, substance use/recovery, support, working in HIV/AIDS community

Bill, age 64 / Cairns, Australia

December 1, 2014 by admin

It’s very difficult to meet positive people, because mostly, they’re still too afraid to come out and disclose their status to almost anyone. And I really would like to have a positive partner. I don’t ever want to infect anyone with this thing – because although it’s not a death sentence anymore, it still is […]

Categories: Age 60-64, Asia-Pacific, Male • Tags: Australia, children/parenthood, companionship, dating/relationships, disclosure, family, fear of transmission, libido, love, married/life partner(s), positive partners, stigma, support

Doris, age 58 & Randy, age 48 / Canada

November 30, 2014 by admin

Doris: I was caught up in my addictions, and I thought the weight loss was connected to my substance use, until I started seeing other complications with my health. And that’s when I went for an HIV test. While waiting for my HIV test, I made the decision to go back home, because […]

Categories: Age 55-59, Female, North America, Trans / Non-Binary / Two-Spirit • Tags: Aboriginal/Indigenous/First Nations, ACTIVISM, anger, Art/creativity, Canada, children/parenthood, death/dying, domestic violence, faith/spirituality, family, grandchildren, HIV/AIDS education, love, moving home, NGOs, sexual violence, stigma, substance use/recovery, support, trauma, weight

The Graying of AIDS

Stories From An Aging Pandemic

image Archives

Gerome, age 51 / Abbotsford, Australia

Dave, 68 / California, USA

Michael, age 62 / Auckland, New Zealand

Luwiza, age 51 / Lusaka, Zambia

Meng Lin, age 53 / Beijing, China

Katherine, age 56 / Adelaide, Australia

Bill, age 64 / Cairns, Australia

Doris, age 58 & Randy, age 48 / Canada