Quarter Pounder Deluxe, fries, Dr Pepper and apple pie for lunch after seeing my dentist. At least I took my #HIV medication.
Rick Guasco
@rickguasco.bsky.social
Living with HIV since at least 1992. Lifelong Chicagoan. Gay. Latino. Star Trek fan. Editor-in-chief of @PosAware magazine. Creator of @adaywithhiv.
Fashion and self-expression came together at #aids2026 to create a sense of freedom and community, advocates told @marksking.bsky.social for @posaware.bsky.social. positivelyaware.com/fashion-and-flair-aids-2026
One of the things that has made the U.S. “great” is having been a world leader in innovation in so many fields. Well, until now.
Stand Up for Science!@standupforscience.net · 3d agoBy politicizing the federal grant process, the OMB Grant Proposal will substantially weaken our scientific enterprise that has made the United States a global leader in innovation. Take action against the proposal the link: zurl.co/Au4wk Article: zurl.co/dGIrM
@marksking.bsky.social talks with former #PEPFAR chief science officer Dr. Mike Reid at #AIDS2026 for @posaware.bsky.social: “The last 18 months has been awful for many people working in the U.S. government, people who gave their whole careers to serve on PEPFAR...” www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkKQ...
The PA Chat | Mark S. King talks with former PEPFAR chief science officer Dr Mike Reid
YouTube video by Positively Aware
youtube.com
My Friday starts with a yogurt parfait made with fresh fruit and an iced lavender latte to go with my #HIV medication.
The State Department said it takes "full responsibility" for "hastily" altering and then presenting a map of Africa at a global AIDS conference that mislabeled every single country it highlighted. An analysis by Reuters found a watermark in the map image that suggests it was made with OpenAI.
“We have the right to have health access, to access prevention, to access treatment, to access vaccines, and that those same treatments should not be used to criminalize us,” Mpact Global’s Andrew Spieldenner tells @marksking.bsky.social at #AIDS2026. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vpb...
The PA Chat | MARK S KING interviews Mpact Executive Director Andrew Spieldenner
YouTube video by Positively Aware
youtube.com
Woke up earlier than usual and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I made scrambled eggs and french toast. Time now for my #HIV medication.
“You cannot win the war with old means,” @iasociety.bsky.social president-elect Andriy Kelikov tells @marksking.bsky.social at #AIDS2026. “Outdated means the same in public health. We cannot end AIDS epidemic with old means.” bit.ly/the-pa-chat-andriy
The PA Chat | MARK S KING interviews IAS President Elect Andriy Klepikov
The PA Chat | MARK S KING interviews IAS President Elect Andriy Klepikov
bit.ly
At #AIDS2026, activists interrupted a U.S. State Department pre-conference session to protest #PEPFAR cuts and the Trump administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy.” “We will not be erased!” activists said. positivelyaware.com/pepfar-protest-at-aids-2026
A steep decline in government support has put #HIV prevention and services under more strain than at any point in nearly a quarter century and threatens to stall or even reverse decades of progress, according to a report released by UNAIDS at #AIDS2026. www.positivelyaware.com/innovation-w...
At my doctor’s office this morning for my regular appointment; it seemed like a good time to take my #HIV medication.
MPact Global’s Andrew Spieldenner warns of cuts to #HIV funding. At #AIDS2026, @unaids.org and @kff.org will release reports examining the impact of those cuts. Also at the conference, MPact will stage a “kiss-in” demonstration. positivelyaware.com/mpact-20-years
Ahead of #AIDS2026, researchers report that a once-weekly oral combination of islatravir/lenacapavir maintained viral suppression through 48 weeks, was well tolerated and performed as well as standard daily #HIV treatment in two phase 3 studies. positivelyaware.com/islend-phase-3-results
Once-weekly pill matches daily oral HIV treatment in phase 3 studies
positivelyaware.com
Over coffee this morning, my friend Charlie was making a point about something while I was taking my #HIV medication.
Ahead of #AIDS2026, new findings show over 1,700 clinic closures, staffing losses and reductions in HIV prevention services; a separate analysis found 77,000 fewer children receiving PEPFAR-supported HIV treatment in 2025 than the year before. positivelyaware.com/pepfar-cuts-threaten-global-response
Working from home today, I took a coffee break to get my favorite—an alliterative large lavender latte with almond milk—with my #HIV medication.
Coinciding with #ZeroHIVStigmaDay today, @aidsfoundationchi.bsky.social hosted an #HIVStigmaSummit, and I got to speak as a panelist. What better place to take my #HIV medication.
Met up this morning with my friend Charlie for coffee; a good time to take my #HIV medication. I needed to chat with him to get over my nerves about taking part tomorrow in an intergenerational panel discussion about HIV stigma.
“If surveillance is not built on the core principles of informed consent, bodily autonomy and sufficient privacy protections, it increases the risk that people’s private information will be publicly exposed or used against them,” says HIV BASIC. positivelyaware.com/hiv-basic-collective
A demand for bodily autonomy—and data privacy—for people with HIV
positivelyaware.com
If it’s Tuesday, I’m probably taking my #HIV medication during one of the Teams meetings I have in the morning.
“HIV has too often been framed as somebody else’s issue,” writes social worker Ebony C. Barney, MPH, MSW, LSW, CPH. positivelyaware.com/black-social-workers-and-hiv
