Illinois: Sex and Seniors in Chicago -- Forum and Film on HIV/AIDS and Older Gays

The LGBT community space Center on Halsted (COH) in Chicago drew more than 75 people to its May 23rd premiere of "Aging POZitively," a new documentary about three older adults living with HIV.

"We know that people are still having sex at 50, at 60, at 70," said Hope Barrett, COH's senior director of public programs. "It was very difficult to find folks to come put a face to this," she said ahead of the screening.

"I moved here [to the Beverly neighborhood and] pretty much resolved to die," said Helena Bushong of her diagnosis 13 years ago at age 47. Bushong now is active in HIV prevention advocacy and transgender organizing, but she still struggles over when and how to tell people she has HIV. She loves to go to the theater on the North Side, but cannot do so as often because it can interrupt her antiretroviral schedule.

Though only 50, Walter Maul sometimes has to recuperate for an entire day after being just a little busy. But he has moved past embarrassment over HIV, he said, and now is involved in HIV prevention work.

The 34-minute film, directed by Dennis Belogorsky, will soon be available for free online through COH's website; visit www.centeronhalsted.org.

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