"All your so-hard facts, painted thinly on the void; Why were you not more pleasantly employed?" -- "Puppet Song", The Incredible String Band,. At this point, the news about PositiveLite.com has been out for a few days and as you might imagine, it’s been a bit of an emotional time here at the palatial PositiveLite Editing Suite. For a long time I’ve had various ideas about how I might want to write my final blog post here, but now that the time has come, I find myself not wanting to

I thought that that my last piece for PositiveLite.com would fly off the fingers. It didn’t. I stared at my keyboard more than I clicked at its keys, and with each passing minute I worried that I would fail to meet my final submission deadline. I sincerely hope that ain’t the case. Like many folks, I am certain, I read the words, “PositiveLite.com will cease publishing on March 31” at least a few times before their immediate meaning truly stuck in this mushy brain of mine. At first, I

It’s a weird feeling to know that I’m writing my last blog post. But here we are. As announced, PositiveLite.com is ceasing publication, having first gone “viral” December 1st, 2009. It was the first time we people living with HIV had an online forum to bring Canadians, and beyond, together. I hoped that we could better connect between the different regions and foster a sense of community. As we close this chapter I want to thank and say how proud I am of those who took the reins of

I need to share with you that PositiveLite.com will cease publishing on March 31. As its publisher I’m not sad but proud, because its nine year history has been one of a series of successes. And I don’t feel the least bit defeated now but rather going out on a high note and ending our run on our own terms. This has been in the works for some time. It’s been a struggle to keep it a secret. The reasons for closing our doors are essentially twofold. First, the people who bring you Positiv

13 March 2018  – The International AIDS Society (IAS) has announced that San Francisco, California, in partnership with nearby Oakland, will host the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020) but that decision has already drawn fire. While the decision was hailed by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi as “fitting and deeply inspiring”, a letter released today by every major national network of people living with HIV in the U.S., along with other organizations and individuals calls

It was not much more than a year ago that I first wrote about Love to Love Organization for PositiveLite.com, having been introduced to their work by my Facebook friend, William Matovu, a young HIV activist working there as an HIV educator and peer advocate.. Suddenly one day there he was on Face Book, with: “This is how it's gonna be... responding to the development of youths and who are less advantaged and orphans by promoting their God given talents."  I liked the attitude and I wanted

The holidays are nearly here! I love this time of year, but like a lot of people, I often de-emphasize the “Christmasy” side of it when speaking because I don't want to inadvertently alienate anyone. Still, this time of year is undeniably special, at least in this part of the world. The lights, the cold and the smell of evergreen – I love it. The ritual tit-for-tat of usual daily abuse doesn’t stop but it does slow down and even seems to pause and for a little while people really do s

For the fifth consecutive year, PositiveLite.com has won an award for the best Canadian-focused HIV website, amongst a stellar list of influencers. The presenter is Healthline, a U.S.-based giant in the field of web-based consumer health information . Our citation says this: “PositivelIte.com remains a leading voice in HIV news and advocacy in Canada. For the fifth consecutive year, we name them the top Canadian HIV resource. This year the publication became a powerful advocate for the #Ue

“Today, by examining from the personal perspective of PLWHIV we want to zero in on what has worked... in terms of accessing services; what needs to be improved, and by listening to people who developed and implemented programs that are innovative, what they think can be adapted elsewhere, plus find out how they did what they did and finally where can these services go next.” – Tammy C. Yates, Opening Remarks to Realize Forum 2017 Realize is the only national organization that has worked

Just a decade ago, Venezuela's AIDS program  was a model for countries throughout the developing world. Now it's a ruin. Recently, by way of our friends at the Canadian Positive People Network (CPPN), PositiveLite.com received an update on Venezuela's steadily worsening situation, along with an ask: "S.O.S. Venezuela: Urgent solidarity needed!" ran the header. Signed by ICASO Executive Director Mary Ann Torres, the appeal continued: "There is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, the home c