Contributors

Brian Finch, founder and publisher of Positive Lite. I've had a blog since 2005 when I decided one day that I just wanted to write. Since then I've grown to writing for a local Toronto magazine, Fab, and contribute to MyGayToronto.com.

 

I first went public in the 1980s, and with the exception of a few years of taking a break, have not really stopped.

More recently (relative to twenty years ago) in 2006 I was featured in the Ontario HIV Treatment Network's documentary "Positive Voices" filmed during the 2006 International AIDS Conference. 

The very same conference where I organized an action against the Conservative government for our Prime Minister not showing up, which is now known as "The Pillow Case Project" approximatel 1000 message-stenciled pillow cases were held up at the moment the government representative stood up causing an international photography sensation. 

During these years I was on the board of Canada's treatment advocacy NGO, the Canadian Treatment Action Council, and have been privileged to have worked with great activists internationally such as Africa. 

Life is an evolution, and today my full time preoccupation is PositiveLite.com, an online project to bring people (and our allies) living with HIV together in Canada and abroad. The vision is to bring the world together with a uniquely Canadian perspective.

 

CATIE is Canada’s source for up-to-date, unbiased information about HIV and hepatitis C. We connect people living with HIV or hepatitis C, at-risk communities, healthcare providers and community organizations with the knowledge, resources and expertise to reduce transmission and improve quality of life. For more details, please visit www.catie.ca or call 1-800-263-1638.

CATIE est la source d’information à jour et impartiale sur le VIH et l’hépatite C au Canada. Notre but est de partager les connaissances, les ressources et l’expertise avec les personnes vivant avec le VIH ou l’hépatite C, les communautés à risque, les fournisseurs de soins de santé et les organismes communautaires afin de diminuer la transmission des virus et d’améliorer la qualité de vie. Pour plus de renseignements, veuillez consulter www.catie.ca ou appelez le 1.800.263.1638.

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Decisions about particular medical treatments should always be made in consultation with a qualified medical practitioner knowledgeable about HIV-related illness and the treatments in question.  CATIE’s full disclaimer

Toute décision concernant un traitement médical particulier devrait toujours se prendre en consultation avec un professionnel ou une professionnelle de la santé qualifié(e) qui a une expérience des maladies liées au VIH et des traitements en question. Déni de responsabilité de CATIE 

Daniel Uy is a Toronto-based Yoga Teacher and Practitioner. He teaches several different styles of yoga throughout the city and more information about his work can be found on www.danieluy.com. He has been HIV+ since 1997 at the ripe old age of 21yrs old. He has a light-hearted approach to life and is an eternal optimist.

He shares stories and information on health, wellness, and spirituality beyond the pharmaceutical and religious realms. And will also share and discuss some of his favourite pastimes – spinning poi, reading, yoga, meditation and hamburgers. Metta.

Danny Miller, still looking very rock star at 34 (as long as there is Botox and Miss Clairol, I will be young and beautiful forever) resides in his small hometown of Lusby Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, about an hour south of Washington DC. After roaming around the country from city to city for 15 years, he is back where he began.

Diagnosed with HIV and Hep B in April of 2007, and knocking on deaths door in the winter of 2008, Danny has a new purpose in life. THE EXTINCTION OF IGNORANCE!!

He currently works as a peer group facilitator/ outreach supervisor for a gay men's outreach program called RISE. The main goal of RISE is to reach out to gay men living in rural , oppressed areas and show them that "gay is OK". To teach them to combat both internal and external homophobia. To speak to themselves with kindness, and ways of living and enjoying life in a safe and healthy way.

Danny also sits as a co-chair for The Southern Maryland Regional Advisory Committee of the Infectious Disease & Environmental Health Administration.

Danny loves his books, his cat, and is addicted to black nail polish and eye liner, and of course, The Beatles.

My name is Denis Robinson.  I have been living with, and learning to understand, HIV since August 1st 2007. It hasn't always been the easiest of relationships, but with time we have come to an agreement. I make accommodations for it and it allows me to live my life as I see fit. At the ripe old age of 43 I like to think I have lived Half a Lifetime. And what a half it's been.

I have been very fortunate to have a fabulous life so far, with the exception of a couple of years learning to accept my new reality. But I now look forward with excitement to everything in front of me, having learned oh so many lessons from the past. Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, I visited London in 1988 for a 3-month working holiday, and never went home.

After 23 years I think my mother has finally accepted that I am here to stay. I am fortunate to live my life as an openly gay and openly poz man. i hope that my posts give you an insight into ME and my journey. And feel free to check out my other blog Half a Lifetime.

A lady through and through, Denise Becker brings feminism back to feminist. She lets humour and candour be her guide. Her M.O. is to call it like she sees it. She exudes class but can get downright devilish and dirty. Her blogs will mix lady and tramp; Thelma and Louise; kitten and cougar. Darlings, fasten your seat belts for one crazy ride.

Devan Nambiar, a free spirit, living in Canada. Over the last 30 years, I have spent 18 of those years immersing my studies in complementary medicine (CAM), HIV treatment and expansion of my mind-body and spirit.

My travels to far away countries and cultures, allows me to live, breathe and soak the essence of traditional practices, ethno-botanicals, ancient wisdom, and understand with my heart and mind, the various intersectional identities I carry with me. My career path has led me to initiate a 5 year ARV program at Tambaram Hospital, Chennai, India. I have co-authored, edited and contributed to three of the Practical Guides at CATIE (www.catie.ca) and contribution author to Managing Your Health (2009). I currently work full time at Rainbow Health Ontario, www.rainbowhealthontario.ca ,a provincial program on LGBT health and as a consultant on health and mind-body modalities at www.ghis.ca

Alphonso King has built quite a name for himself as DJ Relentless. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Relentless started in radio with his uncle Herb King in 1980.

With 30 years of DJ experience under his belt and a vast wealth of musical knowledge, Relentless is still very much in demand. From radio mixshows to international gigs all over the world, Relentless has forged a signature style that has influenced the music industry. Having witnessed the landscape of New York nightlife’s ebb and flow over the past 17 years, he recently relocated to Toronto.

As a recording artist King began his career in 1997 as his alter ego, Jade Elektra, with the release of his first 12” single “Why Are You Gaggin’?” . Soon after, “Bitch You Look Fierce” and “How Do I Look” became underground dance and runway favorites from New York to London, and as DJ Relentless he released “House Is Alive” with UK producers Loop Da Funk in 2008. (all available on iTunes).

You can currently hear Relentless spinning around Toronto at George’s Play, Gladaman’s Den and The Barn.

To learn more, visit his website http://www.djrelentless.com.

Don Short now lives near his birthplace of Toronto, to work, rest and prepare for another stage in life’s transition. He brought his toolbox with him, and continues to build a kaleidoscope of projects that combine art, writings, and public speaking. To peek into his typical work day, he would be wrapping his head around the ongoing complexity of the HIV experience, while helping others to do the same.

With over 20 years in the visual arts, Don’s portfolio has resulted in provincial and national recognition for his paintings, murals and art instruction. He holds two certificates in visual arts, a diploma in graphic layout and design, and has received many awards for his accomplishments. His output of artwork results in enjoyable, relevant images that present a positive, poetic interpretation of life.

After being diagnosed HIV Positive in January 2006, Don realized that Art and HIV can mix. Don was the winner of the 2009 Scotia Bank AIDS Walk for LIFE Artwork Competition and also the CAS 2010 Polar Ice Vodka Label Competition (Special Edition bottle available in Sept 2010). Both of these winning images reflect snippets of the HIV experience in Canada. You will see his latest graphic image on the cover of CATIE’s revised Practical Guide to HAART publication.

Don currently works as caseworker for The AIDS Committee of Durham Region.

The Revolving door is a new PositiveLite.com space for various writers to share a space to post on a wide variety of subjects from an equally varied authors.

 

If you would like to submit a post, please contact the editor at EMAIL: THE REVOLVING DOOR

HivisHilarious is a 26 year old, recently diagnosed, HIV positive, one woman show! Though she never met a piece of pizza she didn't like and is always looking to lose another 10lbs, HIV wasn't exactly next on her list of diets. But what the hell! She's learning to do yoga, drinking kombucha and working her way down to one turkey burger a week. This happily married Mother of one very high maintenance domestic short hair is making the most of it, or at least making jokes.

British by birth and upbringing, Canadian by choice, John McCullagh is an HIV-positive gay man who has been an active member of Toronto’s LGBTQ community since moving to the city in 1975.

A social worker by profession, he was one of the founders of the Toronto Counselling Centre for Lesbians and Gays (now known as David Kelley Services, a program of Family Service Toronto), which opened its doors shortly after the infamous bathhouse raids of 1981. Subsequently, in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, the Centre became one of the first organizations in Toronto to offer professional counselling to those infected with and affected by HIV.

More recently, John was instrumental in assisting children’s aid societies across Ontario to offer programs and services that are accessible to, appropriate for and supportive of LGBTQ youth.

Now retired from his work in child welfare, John is currently the assistant editor of PositiveLite.com. He writes about his personal experiences of living with HIV, about issues relevant to Canada’s HIV and LGBTQ communities and about Toronto’s arts and culture scene.

Louis "Kengi" Carr is a California native, born and raised in Santa Monica. He is a published photographer, writer and guest speaker. Formerly a private chef and events caterer, this formerly homeless, HIV positive, proud Angelino is now a activist and advocate for people with HIV and homeless individuals. He is the creator/founder of Project Kengikat, Do Something Saturday, Unplugging HIV and the author of 29 Months.

A lover of photography, blogging and vlogging and USC Football, Kengi has been rediscovering his love for Los Angeles, ceramics, painting and cooking while elevating the conversations of HIV and homelessness. He enjoys being outdoors, spending quality time with his friends and his amazing rescue dog Dodger.

Louise Binder is widely known for her long-time AIDS activist work most notably women's issues and access to treatment. If asked, "What is your addiction?" The answer would be a tie between shoes and movies.

Editor's Note: I personally do not know anyone who has such eclectic taste of genres - from opera to ghosts. P.S. Louise even has tickets to Lady Gaga, and I don't!

Mark S. King and his very funny site "My Fabulous Disease" must share some DNA with Positive Lite, because his light-hearted approach to living with HIV feels just like family. "My Fabulous Disease" has the authority of Mark's lifelong HIV activism mixed with the wit of your favorite gay uncle.

Check out his full blog and more at: My Fabulous Disease

Falling into the awkward category on Positive Lite of “ally,” Megan is the Positive Prevention Coordinator at the AIDS Committee of Guelph & Wellington County, where she struggles to define her position in under 100 words.  Suffice it to say, she counts herself among a lucky few who can sincerely say “I love my job.” 

Although Megan is five kinds of geek (Star Trek geek, Sociology nerd, Mac evangelist, a lover of physicists and the kind that doesn’t own a television,) Megan balances out her nerdy side with rock climbing and a deep rooted appreciation for punk rock and hardcore.  She’s an athiest, a feminist, and an enthusiast of avocadoes, cheese and wine.  On the blog, expect to read about stuff that happens in the field of HIV&AIDS that activates & aggravates her social activist senses

 

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Michael Burtch is a Taurus, and as such, is opinionated, self-indulgent, argumentative, bull headed, modest and extremely good looking. He put that trait to use in January of 2010, becoming one of the first openly HIV+ Fab Boys in the Toronto Magazine’s 16 odd year history. His handsome mug has appeared all over the blogosphere as well, including Macleans.ca. His fundraising and grassroots activism has landed him multiple times in newspapers such as 24 Hours and Capital Xtra.

t was actually in the pages of the community newsletter The Blackburn Banner that Michael’s poor Mother first learned her son was positive. She had to read it, along with 4000 other people, in black and white one morning over her bacon and eggs. Shamefully, Michael will go to great lengths to avoid confrontation, twice breaking up with boyfriends by text and e-mail. He is also a ‘star fish’ in bed (he just lays there) but being so handsome, the tattooed hunk has never needed to be particularly good in bed. Michael’s life ambition is to learn how to play the guitar

I am Nicholas Wise, an HIV+ gay man who is a constant work in progress.   I am a U.S. Marine, HIV/AIDS activist, bicycler, member of Positive Pedalers, computer nerd, and an avid home brewer.  I’m navigating my way in this world, breaking down walls, barriers and stigma of HIV, while having fun along the way. I currently reside in Louisville, KY with my partner, Scott, Dash the Dane/Lab and Chess the Pitt/Boxer.  I encourage anyone and everyone to be who they are and enjoy life. You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Formspring as POZitiveOne. I am here for you.  Let’s take this journey together.

NotDownNotOut is a late twenties (sigh, not for much longer) Brit who was found by HIV in 2010. He currently works in the corporate sector by day and is starting to write by night. An HIV diagnosis swiftly followed by an adult Aspergers diagnosis, made his head spin but determined to make sense of it all; he decided to try and make the room around him spin as well.

Regularly blogging on his experiences of HIV care in the UK (http://notdownnotout.blogspot.com), NotDownNotOut looks forward to the day when he has no more questions for the world or himself and can stop trying to take it all apart only to put it back together again just to find out how it works.

Secretly he knows this day will never come but we can all dream.

The Ontario HIV Treatment Network is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.  We are a network composed of:

• People with HIV
• Academic and community-based researchers
• Members of AIDS service organizations and other community groups
• Decision makers from all levels of government and various community groups
• Health care providers

We promote excellence and innovation in HIV treatment, research, education and prevention in Ontario to:

• Improve the health and well being of people with HIV
• Contribute to HIV prevention efforts
• Promote knowledge exchange among all HIV stakeholders
• Ensure value for resources

For more information the OHTN please visit their website.

 

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Philip Minaker, originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a multi-dimensional entrepreneur, who has been apart of the fashion trade for over two decades. His experiences have encompassed a wide variety of roles and responsibilities within a diverse spectrum of designer labels, retailers and institutions.

Throughout his career as a visual artist and window dresser, Philip has worked with hundreds of different companies, from locally to internationally renown. His ability to make individuals also look their personal best is well documented in various sales and management roles with the likes of Eaton’s, Mondi, Parachute and B.C.B.G.

 

While managing The Bay’s Queen Street Women’s Bridge Designer Shop for seven years, Philip also served as the stores resident Fashion Consultant working intimately with various celebrities and high profile professionals. His Style Seminars and Public Speaking Engagements have also been positively received and critiqued as informative, entertaining and insightful by large corporations, organizations and various institutions for men and women alike. Philip also dabbles with design with his own millinery creations in his spare time.

He is now living in Toronto and working independently as a writer, stylist and mad-hatter. He is also a good sport and plays competitive volleyball as a long-standing member of the Toronto Spartan Volleyball League.

I am a 34 year old HIV positive single gay man living in New York City. Any one of those would be daunting on their own, but adding them all together makes for quite an interesting dating life. I send my trials and tribulations out through the web not only to help spark a dialog that I think we are desperately missing but to help with the stigmas about being HIV positive that are put on us from other people and more importantly the stigmas that we put on ourselves. Also it gives me an outlet to rant about my dating woes.

Rob Newman - PHA Peer Support Advocate Regional HIV/AIDS Connection

Diagnosed December 1990, I have been an active and outspoken “activist” ever since.  When not busying myself over the years with work directly involving the AIDS movement I also ran the London Compassion Society until a police raid and subsequent trials and tribulations that come with that form of activism.  In 2006 I returned to school for a degree in law to devote my full time and energy to social justice.  Today I do advocacy work for clients at the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection.

PHA = persons/people living with HIV/AIDS

Robert Birch is the new Men`s Wellness Coordinator for AIDS Vancouver Island, B.C. He is also one of the founders of the Southern Gulf Island AIDS Society. As an Assistant Professor (adjunct) at the University of Victoria he engages applied theatre to research the lives and wellbeing of men who love or lust for men. Along with his farmer husband, he lives on Saltspring Island, works in Victoria and plays with his activist community of Radical Faeries and Reclaiming witches in San Francisco and along the west coast.

Scott Foley  - a pseudoynm used to protect his confidentiality - is a Caribbean immigrant in his mid twenties seeking refugee status in Canada. Diagnosed HIV+ in 2006, he has struggled with the acceptance of both his poz status and gay existence. Since arriving in Canada, he has been on a mission to re- focus his life and revive his passion for living. He shares stories about growing up in the Caribbean as a gay guy and about his experiences as a poz youth. He aspires to become a writer and an activist for the LGBT and the poz movement.

Shari Margolese has been an advocate for HIV-positive people since shortly after her own HIV diagnosis in 1993.

Her work as a community consultant and researcher with the Women and HIV Research Program, Women's College Research Institute in Toronto includes various community based research projects focusing on the sexual and reproductive health of people living with HIV.

Shari's current research volunteer commitments include the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Ontario Study Cohort Governance Committee and the Community Advisory Committees of both Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canadian Trials Network and the Canadian Observational Cohort (CANOC).

At the community level, Shari is a steering committee member of two important   women's health networks in Canada and internationally, Blueprint for Action on   Women and Girls and HIV and the ATHENA network. She also holds an appointment to the CIHR HIV Research Advisory Committee (CHARAC).

Shari is an inductee to the Ontario AIDS Network Honour Roll and received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for her extraordinary commitment to the HIV community. Shari is a sought after, internationally known, speaker and frequent contributor to several magazines and community web portals including POZ magazine in New York. Shari hopes that this revolving blog will provide an open forum for HIV positive women to discuss neglected and provocative hot topics.

If you would like to contribute please contact Shari at shari.margolese@rogers.com

Stephen G. Lincoln is the Coordinator of Community Engagement at the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) and served as the Online Facilitator Support Coordinator for the HIV Stigma Campaign. Stephen’s work with the OAN has also included logistical coordination for domestic and international HIV/AIDS conferences, support for the PHA Leadership Program and topical and advisory support for the academic debate co-sponsored by the OAN and the University of Toronto on the criminalization of the non-disclosure of HIV status.

His training is as a sociologist, completing his undergraduate work at the University of Western Ontario and his graduate work at the University of California, San Diego. Following his graduate work he joined the faculty in the Department of Sociology at UCSD teaching courses in Deviance and Social Control, Social Problems, Law Enforcement and specialized courses in Criminology.

A 1954 model gay guy living with HIV since 2003. In the last couple years I have become a “workshop” junkie. I now volunteer help run the workshops and I can contribute to facilitating them.

I am fairly new to blogging but I’m past the “virgin” stage and if you have been following me, you have helped me get past that stage. I started blogging when I completed the Positive Prevention – Train the Trainer course, there were opportunities to get involved advocating Safe Sex, Positive Prevention of HIV/Aids practices and ending the stigma.

I am writing for the Aids Committee of Guelph’s Current Events blog and I am on their Board of Directors. I will also be joining our “Community Engagement Group” as well. I like to write about what I see happening, what is out there for me and about the people who are doing it.
I am very busy doing a la lot this but I do balance everything by creating “ME” time. Some days will see me pack up the camera, and literally “take a hike” for the better part of the day. Then some evenings, if I can find someone to go out with me, I like to go and do Karaoke. I won’t be getting a record contact anytime soon but its fun.

If you have a comment on the article you’ve just read, please leave it below, I need the feedback, good or bad, ummm, just be gentle with the bad.

Brian Finch’s, Editor-in-Chief, corner to report on activities, events, fundraisers and everything in between. Does your AIDS Service Organization or community-based organization have an event about which you’d like to inform our readers?

If so please feel free to contact us at Brian Finch Contact