World AIDS Day is on December 1st.
It has been around a while now, most of my lifetime. My first friend to became positive was when I was in university back in the year 2000. It was a bit of a shock then partly because of all the messages about it being a death sentence but also because none of us were thinking about it and it could have been any of us that got it. The good news is that he is still around the place and has become rather good at downing tablets.
Personally I don't know anyone in the queer community not touched by this in some way.
Recently with PREP and that with medication the viral load can be managed so that there is minimal risk of passing it on have made the goal to end HIV transmission in this country by 2020 possible. That would be worth celebration.
So December 1, leaves me thinking of that generation that we lost and all the positive people in our community, some of whom I am proud to have as friends regardless of where life has taken them.
Rob.
