Christopher Barnhill - POZitive Impact

On Sunday August 12th at 9pm EST Robert & Jack will be speaking with Christopher Barnhill. Christopher Barnhill is an award-winning HIV/AIDS activist and Founder/CEO of POZitive Impact, LLC.

At 16 he discovered that he was infected at birth with HIV, which inspired him to dedicate his life to promote the awareness of knowing one’s status. For the past 8 years he has been speaking publicly about being positive and has been featured on numerous media outlets such as NPR, BET's 106 & Park, LOGO, MTV, ABC Nightline, Black Enterprise Magazine, and profiled in the book “Travels of a Gay Nation” by Phil Gambone. His goal is to be the hope for other young HIV-positive people, by demonstrating that you can live a productive life. In addition to his many accomplishments, he also has worked on the Obama Administration’s National HIV Strategy in regards to HIV and Youth and a licensed youth minister for The Community Church of Washington DC. 

2012 has been a wonderful year for Christopher as he was the National Spokesmodel for The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Organization (NBHAAD), featured in the International AIDS Society Documentary "Passing the Torch", and received "The Next Generation Award" from Metro Weekly.  Call the show with your questions for Christopher at 347-215-9442

Listen to the interview 

Maria Mejia - Out & Proud HIV+ Lesbian

On Sunday August 5th at 9pm EST Maria Mejia will be talking with Robert & Jeromy on the POZ I AM Radio Show. Maria Mejia is a a 39-year-old Colombian female who lives in Miami, Florida. She has been positive for 20 years. Although almost all my life she has been in long-term relationships with HIV-negative men,She is happily married to a woman who is wonderful and caring. We have been together almost three years and she is HIV negative. Maria is a activist, a peer educator, a caregiver. She volunteered for the Red Cross in education for the Hispanic HIV community and also the American community. She was a pre- and post-test counselor. She has spoke at many conferences and done a lot of outreach in the community, especially in the schools for prevention and education. It is part of her everyday life to educate everyone she can on this subject. Maria also blogs for TheBody.com - Check out her blog here

" Being HIV positive is nothing to be ashamed about! We are strong women, and we will take away all the stigmas slowly but we have to open up." - Maria Mejia 

Listen to the interview 

POZ I AM Radio broadcasting LIVE from IAC

For the first time in 22 years the International AIDS Conference is coming to the United States. Specifically Washington D.C.from Sunday July 22nd - Friday July 27th. To mark this special occasion Robert and Jeromy will be broadcasting live from Washington D.C.throughout the week of the International AIDS Conference.  With so much to do this week we want to try out best to cover as much as possible for those who could not attend the conference in person.

Here is the list of days and times we are broadcasting live next week from Washington DC.


Sunday July 22nd @ 5pm EST - Pre-IAC Show - Live with Robert & Jeromy
Monday July 23rd @9pm EST - Live with Robert,Jeromy& Mondo Guerra
Tuesday July 24th @9pm EST -Live with Robert, Jeromy & Daniel Bauer 
Wednesday July 25th - NO SHOW
Thursday July 26th -  NO SHOW
Friday July 27th - NO SHOW
Sunday July 29th @9pm EST - IAC Recap Show

You can listen to any of the above shows live by visiting www.blogtalkradio.com/poziam at the times listed above or as an archive at anytime afterwards. If you are attending the conference we want you to call into the show at (347)215-9442  and share your experience ?

Shawn Decker - The Rebel Returns

This Sunday July 1st at 9pm EST Robert and Jeromy will be speaking with the original "Positoid" Shawn Decker. Infected with HIV as a child through the contaminated blood products used to treat his hemophilia, Shawn learned early in life about discrimination. Within a month of testing positive for the virus, he was kicked out of the 6th grade. By all accounts, he wasn’t expected to live five years.

After beating the odds and graduating from high school, Shawn opened up about his life, creating one of the first “poz blogs” in 1996 describing his life as a then twenty-year old dating with HIV. He penned a column for Poz Magazine, entitled “Positoid”, and his first book, My Pet Virus: The True Story of a Rebel Without a Cure, was published by the Penguin Group in 2006. He tours the United States with his wife partner, Gwenn Barringer, discussing sexual health and HIV issues and also fronts his band, Synthetic Division, giving out ONE Condoms at their live shows.

Listen to the interview 

Michael Kearns - The Truth is Bad Enough

On Father's Day Sunday June 17th POZ I AM radio will be speaking with Michael Kearns a HIV+ Father. Michael Kearns is an American actor, Author, director, teacher, producer, and activist. Long before coming out of the closet was considered a career move in the entertainment industry, Kearns was the first Hollywood actor on record to come out in the mid-seventies, amidst a shocking amount of homophobia. He subsequently made television history 1991 announcing on Entertainment Tonight that he was HIV positive.

In 1992, as an openly HIV+ actor, Kearns starred in a segment of ABC's  Life Goes On in which he played a character who had the HIV virus. He also played Cleve Jones in the HBO adaptation of Randy Shilts' And the Band Played On, appeared in A Mother's Prayer, It's My Party and had a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210. Other television and film credits include Cheers, Murder, She Wrote, The Waltons, L.A. Tool & Die, Knots Landing, General Hospital, Days of our Lives, and Brian De Palma's Body Double.

In 1995, Kearns began proceedings that resulted in his adoption in 1997 of a child. He presently lives in Los Angeles with his daughter who turned seventeen in August 2011. Kearns will be sharing about his new book  “The Truth is Bad Enough: What Became of the Happy Hustler” (now available on Amazon) and what it is like to be an HIV+ Father. Visit Micheal's website for more information

Listen to the interview - Click here 

Straight to the Point with Michael Lloyd

On Sunday June10th at 9pm EST,the POZ I AM Radio Show will be speaking with Michael Lloyd. Michael Lloyd an outspoken young man, from Orlando, Florida. He seems too young to be such a regarded leader when it comes to HIV/AIDS in the Orlando, and the central Florida area. For the past two and a half years and not only has he been an inspiration to others by fund raising for Hope and Help, a local HIV service organization but also through the efforts to share his story of his struggle after being diagnosed with HIV, on January 26, 2010. He simply presents himself as a confident man with the desire to improve the lives of all those dealing with the struggle of HIV.

Michaels own struggle wasn't the easiest although after hard work, tough love, and a very strong support group, Lloyd says that he accounts everything to God and his family. "If it wasn't for them I'd have to say I wouldn't really be here today"

Michaels battle with methamphetamine as a cloud to cover the inability to accept himself with HIV is the reason he's on the show today, it his mission to be an example to other gay men his age that they don't have to fall in step with the societal norm the gay community has set.

Listen to the interview - Click here

Kevin Maloney - Rise Up to HIV

This Sunday June 3rd ay 9pm EST - Robert Breining & Jeromy Dunn will be speaking with Kevin Maloney the founder of Rise up to HIV on POZ I AM Radio. In March 2010, Kevin learned he had contracted HIV, and one month later with follow up labs was told he has also contracted Hepatitis C. Kevin was not an intravenous drug user. The hepatitis C piggy backed onto the HIV virus. Kevin was seroconverting at the time he found out of his HIV diagnosis, and fortunately caught his hepatitis C early too. That diagnosis was his rock bottom.

He had been dealing with an addiction, and these diagnoses gave him reason to pause and reflect on his life. He set in motion a series of action plans to combat his HIV, his addiction, and his Hepatitis C. With treatment, Kevin cured hepatitis C. During the past 2 years he was laid off from his job in NYC, and his mother is currently connected to a respirator, it’s been 7 months now. He’s taken a job in Washington, DC where he has been the past 4 months working for a non-profit that advocates for people living with HIV/AIDS. It’s been a whirlwind of 2 years, but in hindsight he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Kevin will also be talking about the @HashTagHIV Campaign. Seven HIV/AIDS Activists have come together to assemble a team of faces and voices who will encourage the global community to Tweet heavily  using the hash tags, #HIV and #AIDS during the International AIDS Conference (IAC) You can learn more about the campaign here.

Listen to the interview - Click Here

Robert Suttle - HIV Criminalization

Tonight I will be speaking with Robert Suttle on POZ I AM Radio. Robert will be sharing his experiences of being subject to HIV criminalization and how he is advocating for change. Robert Suttle was convicted under Louisiana’s HIV-specific criminal statute after accepting a plea bargain and served six months in a Louisiana prison for HIV non-disclosure to a former partner, with whom he had a contentious relationship. Upon his release in January 2011, he has become engaged in anti-criminalization advocacy work.

Today he is now assistant director of The SERO Project, a new nonprofit initiative combating HIV criminalization, stigma, and discrimination, promoting the empowerment of people with HIV, providing support to those charged or at risk of being prosecuted.

Jeromy, Robert & Robert

Prior to joining, SERO in March 2012, Suttle was a case manager and prevention specialist at the Philadelphia Center, a local AIDS service organization in Shreveport, Louisiana, working with other positive young African American men who have sex with men.

 Robert is also featured in the documentary film HIV is Not A Crime, has traveled abroad to Geneva, Switzerland to speak at the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board’s meeting in December, 2011, and Oslo, Norway for UNAIDS High Level Consultation on HIV criminalization in February, 2012, sharing his story. Robert is active with the Positive Justice Project and the HIV Justice Network.

Listen to the interview - Click here

Robert Breining - My Letter to HIV (poem)

This video was created to take part in Justin B. Terry Smith's 

Write a Letter to HIV Campaign in partner with TheBody.com

Dear HIV,
Funny meeting you here
Since these are our first words spoken in over 10 years.

But listen to my words, because this is the truth.
I've had a love/hate relationship with you since my youth

When I first met you, Pedro was his name.
The man on a mission to spread that having HIV didn't mean - living in shame.
and that AIDS is real - not a game.

The second time I met you, was basketball tragic.
You slam dunked over and infected the one they call Magic.

The third time was the movie Philadelphia that featured Tom Hanks
It brought awareness to AIDS stigma for that I say thanks.

For my fourth introduction, I can't say the same.
I was taught you were a curse, for my being gay was to blame.

But it wasn't until 2001 when we first starred into each other eyes.
When you were finally acknowledged, It wasn't a lie.
I hated you, I thought I would die
I kept you a secret held deep inside.
It took me over 5 years for me to accept you with pride.

Our 10yr relationship has forced me to reflect.
On friends and family the people I used to reject.

Its the Jacks, Mondos, Onginas and Jamars
That inspire me to keep reaching for the stars.

So thank you HIV for giving me a purpose.
I refuse to give up and lay down like a carcass.

So Today I sit here and have nothing but respect.
For the virus that changes you the moment it infects

- Robert Breining

Check out the POZ I AM social support network and radio show -http://www.poziam.com

Monique Moree - Living Inside My Skin of Silence

On Easter Sunday April 8th at 9pm EST, I will have the pleasure of speaking with Monique Howell-Moree. Monique was born in Oklahoma City, Ok. in April 1981. She is a 1999 graduate of Summerville High School and after graduation; Monique enlisted in the United States Army. As a member of the U.S. military, Monique worked as an Administrative Clerk assisting fellow soldiers to ensure that their personnel were maintained accurately and were always up to date. She completed four years of military service and during these four years, she traveled all over the world. During the cycle of her life, Monique has many experiences that have made a dramatic impact on her life today. During a low point in her life, Monique faced an experience that forever changed her life. This experience was in finding out that she was HIV positive. As a result, Monique had to learn how to gain the strength from God necessary for her to walk out of the valley and climb back to the mountaintop. She relied on God to take the pain away, and she began to work in the church that her father Bishop Howell founded, Solid Rock Outreach Ministry. Monique's story is told in "HIV is NOT a Crime" - A Film by Sean Strub, Edit by Leo Herrera/HomoChic

Monique is a new author, with her first book titles "Living Inside My Skin of Silence", which was released late in August 2010. This book is a leadership and self-reflection testimony. Her story is moving beyond her local community, and is now reaching out to the nation. Monique also host her own radio show "The Monique LIVE Show". Monique is also the Founder and CEO of Monique’s Hope for Cure Outreach Services" in Holly Hill, SC where her organization provides assistance to include food, clothing, counseling services, referral services, HIV/AIDS & STD testing, as well as providing outreach health education and promotion services to individuals to help stop the pandemic of HIV/AIDS.

Listen to the interview - Click Here

Amanda Brown - HIV Positively Positive

This Sunday April 1st at 9pm EST -  Robert and Jeromy will be speaking with Blogger Amanda Brown. Amanda was born in Hyannis, Massachusetts. In 1998 at the age of 18, she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints against her parents wishes, packed up and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. Not long after graduation in 2002 she left the Church , accepted the fact that she was gay and came out of the closet to her friends and family.

A few months later she joined the U.S. Army with hopes of attending Medical School on their dime. She was raped nearing the end of Basic Training, tested HIV positive shortly after and was discharged. After being on the patient side of the fence, she decided a career in the medical field would not be in her future. She attended the University of Utah where she earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. In 2005 she succumbed to religious peer pressure that the rape happened because she wasn't living the "right" way.She decided to leave her gayness in the closet and go back to Church where she married a young Mormon man, only to come to her senses a year later and leave both the man and the Church for good.

 She decided that HIV would not prevent her from doing the things she loves and never has allowed it to get in the way of her ambitious dreams. In 2010 and 2011 she played for the Utah Jynx (a Women's full contact Semi-Pro Football team). If you ask her what her greatest accomplishment in life is... she will proudly say, "I ran a marathon in 2008, it took me six hours... but I did it." She is currently writing a children's book called "The Monster Under My Bed." A story about an 11-year old boy with HIV/AIDS. Aside from maintaining her own website with a personal blog and a free text message service for individuals with questions related to HIV/AIDS, she volunteers for her local AIDS Foundation.

Listen to the interview - Click Here 

My Reflection of Positive Living 15

This past week I had the opportunity to present and attend the Positive Living 15 Conference in Fort Walton Beach Florida. I arrived on Thursday night and found myself very excited. I was like a 6 year old on Christmas eve. You see when I attended this conference last year it unexpectedly changed my life. So this year I wasn't nervous. I knew I was about to have an amazing experience. Plus I knew more people attending the conference this year then I did the year before. So I didn't have to stay in my hotel room and be anti-social. I spoke there last year but this year it was going to be different. Since my friend Dab Garner wasn't able to make it this year. I promised to spread his 30+ year message and take plenty of pictures with my Dab the AIDS Bear. I and many other Ambassadors of Hope were there representing for Dab the AIDS Bear Project.

 

 

Purchase your own Dab the AIDS Bear - click here

This year I had the pleasure of having my POZ I AM Radio co-host Jeromy Dunn join me on stage. Can you believe that Jeromy and I have been hosting the show together for almost 4 years and never met face to face before this conference. So after registration and getting settled in my room I was off to meet my co-host for the first time. I went down to the lobby bar and had beer while I was waiting to meet Mr. Dunn. Then Jeromy entered the lobby. I excused myself from the conversation I was having and ran up behind him and gave him a hug. When he turned around it was like seeing an old friend from high school. It felt like I knew my whole life. After 4 years of talking on the phone almost every Sunday meeting Jeromy alone made the trip to the sunshine state worth it.

Fridays Brunch was at 10am. Then it was time for Activate U Advocacy Academy presented by Jesse Fry, Butch McKay and Rick Vitale. This is one of my favorites parts about the conference. The half-day event presented us with the latest information and techniques for effective advocacy to help shape the future of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. They taught us about the history and continued importance of HIV/AIDS Advocacy. They covered how to build  meaningful relationships with your representatives. They also gave updates on important issues like the AIDS Drug Assistant Programs.(ADAP) Medicaid and Housing. This will kick start the advocacy in anyone. After Activate U we had the opportunity hear Kali Lindsey on NMAC covered the Epidemic from start to finish.I thought Kali was a great speaker. He made me make a promise to myself to never be silent in a room full of activist. 

 

Photo Credit Mario Ferri

Next was a bunch of breakout sessions. With so many amazing presentation it can difficult to decide what to go to. One of my favorite activist, Joey Wynn of the ADAP Advocacy Association  presented on the ADAP Crisis. At the same time Robert Suttle was presenting "HIV is Not a Crime" a documentary on HIV Criminalization. This issue is a hot topic right now in our community. SoI knew it was going to be well attended. I was right I walked in and the room was packed. I wanted to be there and support Robert during his first time presenting. Monique Moree and Robert ,who both appear in HIV is Not a Crime, are scheduled to share their story on an upcoming  episode of POZ I AM radio. Meeting the both of them in person after knowing them online for awhile now was refreshing. They both could of chose to hide and not talk about their situations but they chose to stand up and be a voice for all of us living with HIV. I respectfully applaud them both for the work they do.

      

Heart Rock

Before our dinner on Friday we held a Heart Circle on the beach. It was the most amazing this I ever experienced. Those that participated stood in a circle on the beach and held hands. We passed a Heart shaped rock around, the person with the heart in their hand was able to speak freely about loved ones they have lost. It was a very touching and emotional moment. While listening to others share stories of their loved ones it allowed me to reflect on mine. When the heart entered my hand, I felt a sense of calmness come over me. My heart stop pounding out of my chest just enough for me to feel the ocean breeze on my face. I lifted my head and then I felt this amazing sense of unity. I wanted to remember so many people that I lost in that moment. At first while trying not to cry I mentioned my father. I lost him over a decade ago and I wished he could see the man I have become. I know he would be proud. Then I took a moment to remember a friend named Richard. Richard was in my weekly support. I wasn't real close with Richard but in the brief time I knew him, he always went out of his way to thank me for advocating and ask me how my day was. His gentle demeanor reminded me of my father. The Heart Circle even included children and teenagers who shared in  support of and in memory of their HIV+ parents. It was truly a moment I will never forget.

While on the beach I had some young ladies who were attending the conference 

with their mother take this photo of me. 

After the Heart Circle we all piled back into the hotel for dinner. While everyone was socializing and eating we enjoyed some musical entertainment. The a capella group Harmonic Distractions sang some songs and even performed a few numbers using iPads as instruments. It was pretty cool. During their act I noticed they had 2 huge  blow up microphones. When I saw them I knew I wanted to take a photo of Jeromy and I with one of them. During the dinner they also presented the Martin Delaney - Power of One - annual award to Mississippi Activist Robin Webb for his tireless efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Congrats Robin it is well deserved. Also during the dinner they announced that Tom Liberti is retiring this March, after 38 years of service to the Department of Health, and is Chief of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS. In this celebration they awarded him a fishing pole,hat and cooler to enjoy during his retirement. Thank you Tom for all your hard work you done over the years.

 

Saturday morning 8am came early. I got up had some breakfast and attended a session on Harm Reduction & Drug Interaction (HIV Drugs & Street Drugs) that was given by George Burges. I purposely went to this breakout because as an addict ,even with 10 years clean from meth, I need to remind myself how bad it was so I never go back. The breakout hit the spot.

 

Then it was off to find Jeromy to prepare for our presentation that was at 1pm. We brainstormed for a bit then headed down for lunch. Before we knew it we had to go back upstairs. Of course we went up to every table and shamelessly plugged our presentation that was in 30 minutes. Once we reached the last table we headed to the room to set up.  This was the first time Jeromy and I were speaking together so it could of went 2 ways. Really good or really bad. Overall we got some great feedback form those who attended our session. We will of-course reflect and critique but I thought we did pretty good for first timers. What I love about presenting at the Positive Living Conference is getting to meet POZ-I-AMers. People who I chat with everyday and who listen to my radio show every week. Meeting all of them is what makes my heart smile. The 1 on 1 conversations with them are priceless. We even got a POZ-I-AMers group photo which is always fun.

Photo Credit JT Talley

After our presentation I went down to support my fellow TheBody.com blogger Mark S. King On my way to Mark's presentation I spotted a panel of the AIDS Quilt. I took that as a sign to take a picture. So me and fellow advocate, Kevin Maloney did just that. Mark did a presentation on "Bridging the Viral Divide between Positive & Negative People". Mark used role playing as a way to have the audience interact with one another. I left that breakout with a better understanding of just how divided Positive and Negative people are and how much us living with HIV/AIDS still need to do. I got so wrapped up in Mark's presentation that I totally forgot to run back upstairs and see my friends Jim Geary and Jeff Allen present on Faith Based HIV Prevention Efforts. At conferences like this one it is so hard to experience all the great breakouts it has to offer. It gives me a reason to go back next year.

Purchase your own HIV Anti-Stigma T-shirt - click here

During Saturday nights dinner we had the pleasure of hearing the hilarious River Huston. River is an HIV+ Comedian, Blogger and Safer Sex Educator. I spoke to her on my radio show before but never met her face to face. I was thrilled about the opportunity. Before she started I introduced myself and had a pic taken with her. Once she got on stage and opened her mouth she had us all captivated. She literally had everyone on the edge of their seats and laughing so hard that we were crying. I don't remember if I ever laughed that hard before in my life. I laughed myself a headache. My T-cells must of multiplied within those 90 minutes. She was just what the doctor ordered.

I then met up with Jeff and Jim after the dinner. I wanted to reconnect with them again since I missed their breakout earlier that day. When I get a chance to speak with activists like these 2 guys I hang on every word they say. These moments and these conversations are priceless. These two guys gave me some incredible feedback on our presentation and my work as an activist. I was on cloud nine after my visit with them. Later that evening they held a Dance Party in one of the conference rooms. People get the chance to dance, relax or just socialize. It was also when I took the time to say good by to every since I was leaving in the morning.

Jeromy and I had an early flight on Sunday. We met Wendy in the lobby at 9am and then off to the airport. Jeromy and I were on the same flight to Atlanta. Once there we had lunch, took one last photo and then parted our separate ways. Only to pick up the phone in 4 hours to host a  POZ I AM radio show that night. We did a full show of Reflecting on the PL15 Conference. We had people call in and share their experience at PL15 conference. We even had one group call in who were still traveling home from the conference. They stopped in a McDonalds in Mississippi and opened their laptop to listen to the show live. I was so touched by them doing that.

I honestly met and reconnected with so many incredible people. The diversity of this conference is another bonus if you ask me. The conference was attended by at least 400 people living with HIV/AIDS. There were attendees from 22 states and from all walks of life. Gay - Straight - Transgender We were all were represented at PL15. That's because HIV/AIDS is a HUMAN issue. I met this one guy named Will who has been living with the virus for 33 years. That is longer then I have been on this earth. The next day I turn around and met someone who was diagnosed 3 weeks ago. I was shocked. The amount courage it took for him to go to a conference after 3 weeks of knowing his HIV status is tremendous. I couldn't think of a better place for him to be. I also met a hilarious group 5 individuals from Alabama who traveled to the conference together and were all first time attendees. Meeting these people and making life long connections with them is what Positive Living is all about.

   

The Positive Living conference is something that has changed the lives of those that have attended. If you are able to attend this conference in the future I highly recommend it. It is like no other I have attended. I wanted to send a special thank you to Butch Mckay, Rachel and the entire staff of OASIS (Okaloosa AIDS Support & Informational Services) for all the hard work in putting this fabulous conference together. This fantastic conference is in need of some major funding in order to return next year for a PL16. Jeromy and I took a pledge to help raise funds for Positive Living 16. If you or someone you know would like to make a donation toward helping PL16 happen next year . Please contact Butch McKay and tell him Robert & Jeromy sent ya.

Listen to the history of the Positive Living Conferences with Butch McKay 

Listen to the Reflections of PL15  - POZ-I-AM Radio Show