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My Fabulous DiseaseIs There Pride in Being HIV Positive?
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Wow to the guy who only 6 months later is making a difference for others already! As usual, Mark, your video made me laugh to the point of tears (flight attendants, Ben Cohen) (and I noticed "St Mark's Church" banner in the parade!). And delved into the deeper issue. I thought the Pride Guide was going to have NOTHING cut out of it.
Being proud about what I'm doing now to make a difference--that is what I need to do. It is so hard when there is so much invisibility and denial. I guess acceptance and visibility are needed, to lead by example.
Bravo Mark! this helped you to live positively and get over the problem.By disclosing you saved many some also learn to be positive while others could have learnt alot. keep the fire burning.
GREAT topic. For me I am not proud about contracting HIV but I am immensely proud of the type of man I have become BECAUSE of HIV. I have turned my life around and now I am living a very healthy life. Before HIV I would always think...I'll start the diet on Monday....OR......I'll start working out next week.....OR I'll start really taking care of my mental being some other time. So many thoughts go through my head. I recently ran into the husband of my wife's sister who couldn't believe how great I looked....His comment was..."If getting HIV makes you look like that..." Well not the best comment but I knew what he meant.
I exercise everyday and eat a very healthy diet. I am med compliant (only missed two doses since July 2010). I make sure I do whatever makes me happy and focus on teh good things in my life....My soon to be ex wife and my three kids have become my focus......I still have yet to find a man but who knows.......dating with HIV is tough...I met a guy at my gym recently who has become my workout partner and recently I disclosed was gay and turns out he is too. Nothing happened for awhile but when he asked me out for coffee and we talked I disclosed my hiv status becasue I felt there was something there between us. He rejected me in a very polite way but it was still rejection....We still workout together but don't see eachother outside the gym. He did say that it was too bad I was Poz because he thought I was hot. I did tell him that I was proud of the way I have handled my post diagnosis life and he was impressed with my outlook.
What made me recall this experience was that guy "Steve"(the guy with the bluetooth in his ear) you interveiwed in the video. He looks very much like my workout buddy........
Would love to see you do a piece on dating and disclosure. Interested in your thoughts.....
Thanks for all your great work.
Absolutely "dating & disclosure" would make a great blog topic. Sometimes I just figure the big topics have been thoroughly examined by other people, but there's nothing wrong with putting my spin on the issue. Consider that topic green-lighted!
if HIV is nothing to be ashamed of, can it be something to be proud of?
I think that people can become proud of beinb HIV+ if they are accepting enough of themselves and it. One of my friends is quite open about HIV and recently told me that he feels proud of being HIV+!
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My Fabulous Disease
Mark S. King has been an active AIDS activist, writer and community organization leader since the early 1980s in Los Angeles. He has been an outspoken advocate for prevention education and for issues important to those living with HIV.
Diagnosed in 1985, Mark has held positions with the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation, AID Atlanta and AIDS Survival Project, and is an award-winning writer. He continues his volunteer work as an AIDS educator and speaker for conferences and events.
Speaking engagements: Mark King is available to speak to groups. Contact Mark about speaking at your organization or event!
More About Mark:
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Recent Posts:
February 27, 2013 - HIV and Gay Media: The Vanishing Virus
January 16, 2013 - Treating My Facial Wasting With Artefill: A Video Blog by Mark S. King
December 13, 2012 - The Night Don Lemon Hugged Me: A Blog Entry by Mark S. King
November 7, 2012 - On Board the 2012 HIV Cruise Retreat: A Blog Entry by Mark S. King
View an excerpt of Mark's book
To read PDF, click here
Interviews With Mark:
Mark King Looks Back at the AIDS Epidemic's Darkest Hour in the U.S. (May 14, 2008)
This Month in HIV: Crystal Methamphetamine and HIV (August 2007)
Articles by Mark:
Meth Burial (May 2008)
Once, When We Were Heroes (June 2006)
Outliving My Father (May 22, 2001)
Mark recounts how years of caring for friends dying of AIDS prepared him for taking care of his dying father
From The Advocate
AIDS Always Benefits from What We Don't Talk About (April 2001)
For the rest of Mark's articles, click here.
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The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself.
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