HIV/AIDS LONG-TERM SURVIVOR * YOUTH EDUCATION * ADVOCACY * ACTIVISM * RESOURCES
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The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power - ACT UP
ACT UP was a grassroots activist group formed in New York City in 1987 to fight the AIDS epidemic.
HIV/AIDS activism - The Campaign to END AIDS in Pittsburgh, PA - Bob Bowers and friends
AIDS activist and long-term survivor Bob Bowers - Houston, Texas
Speaking on behalf of C2EA
An AIDS activist is someone who campaigns for the rights and well-being of people affected by HIV/AIDS, and for a societal response to the pandemic. AIDS activism has taken place since the 1980s, and has involved a variety of efforts, including:
AIDS activism began in the early 1980s in response to the AIDS epidemic in gay communities. One example of AIDS activism is the work of ACT UP, an organization that disrupted the FDA headquarters in 1988 to demand changes to the drug approval process
For over 40 years, I’ve fought not just for my survival, but for the survival of others. From the early days of the AIDS crisis—when fear and stigma ran rampant—to today, I’ve used my voice to educate, advocate, and demand action. Activism isn’t just what I do; it’s who I am.
~ Bob Bowers
Bob Bowers, also known as "Da Pirate" or "One Tough Pirate," is a long-term survivor of HIV/AIDS, having lived with the virus for over four decades.
HIV long-term survivors include several groups:
- People who have had HIV for 10 years or longer
- Adults with HIV who acquired the virus as babies
- People who were diagnosed with HIV before the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 1996.
"I have survived HIV/AIDS for over four decades, but some of my deepest wounds were inflicted long before my diagnosis."
I just wanted to tell you that your site brought both tears to my eyes, chills to my skin, and peace to my heart. I have not been directly affected by AIDS on a personal level, however, being a nurse, my final goal is to be involved in the fight for research and a cure. I never look at people's websites, but something told me to check yours out. I have been directly affected by cancer several times which is another type of research I'd like to do, but I feel like the Lord is pushing me to work with HIV/AIDS patients and I'm not really sure why. And I love your saying Compassion is our cure.... b/c it is the truth in this world through and through. I just really wanted to say I think it's awesome what you are doing, and I wish more people would be on the proactive side of this fight.
~ Erin
You have to be one of the most amazing men. This just shows people that you can't tell from the outside someone is living with AIDS. Protect yourself and others. I love how open and honest you are about your life. And how AIDS hasn't made you lay down and die.
~ Bren
"Long-Term Survivors are defined as having a HIV/AIDS diagnosis before 1996. They share those earliest and darkest years of the epidemic when there were no effective treatments. Effective treatments were available in 1995-96. Protease inhibitors transformed HIV infection from a “death sentence” to a more chronic but manageable condition."
"The world may have moved on, but HIV/AIDS is still here. I’ve lost too many friends, fought too many battles, and seen too much injustice to stop now. I continue this work not just in their memory, but for those still fighting today."
"I’m not just a HIV long-term survivor—I’m a warrior, an AIDS activist, an advocate, and a witness to history. I’ve seen the worst of this epidemic, but I’ve also seen the best of humanity. And as long as I have breath, I’ll keep fighting for a world where no one has to face HIV alone."
~ Bob Bowers
ACT UP, or the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, was a radical, grassroots political organization founded in 1987 to end the AIDS pandemic through direct action, civil disobedience, and advocacy. Co-founded by playwright Larry Kramer, ACT UP successfully accelerated the FDA drug approval process, lowered drug prices, increased patient involvement in treatment design, and fought discrimination and misinformation surrounding HIV/AIDS. The group's "Silence = Death" campaign and innovative, confrontational strategies significantly shifted public perception and policy regarding the AIDS crisis, saving countless lives.
"Even when my voice quivered, even when the weight of my past tried to pull me down, I kept talking. Because I wasn’t standing up there as some perfect example. I was standing up there as proof that imperfection doesn’t disqualify you from making a difference."
~ Bob Bowers
Even when HIV is well-controlled, people may develop aging-related conditions at a younger age. People living with HIV are significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people without HIV. Older people living with HIV also have an increased risk of dementia, diabetes, osteoporosis, frailty, some cancers, and falls. It is common for older adults with HIV to experience mental illness, especially depression and addiction, and they tend to be more isolated, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Compassion is Our Cure -- HIV/AIDS Advocacy and the Power of Compassion in Action
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Houston, Texas, United States
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Website last updated on October 4, 2025
End HIV/AIDS! Never surrender! Never forget!
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