Bob Bowers' blog and life story

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Bob Bowers does not speak about HIV as a concept. He speaks about it as something lived, endured, and understood at a level few ever reach. His voice carries the weight of four decades of survival, loss, advocacy, and an unrelenting commitment to truth.

He was just nineteen when he became infected. By twenty, he was already unwell. At the time, HIV was not understood in the way it is today. It was feared, misunderstood, and deeply stigmatised. When he first sought medical help, the questions he was asked were not grounded in care, but in suspicion and judgment. Soon after, he was told he might have cancer or what was then described simply as “this thing called AIDS.”

That moment marked the beginning of a journey that would test him in every possible way...

Read the full feature on Bob's journey

We remember. We honor.

We do so today — and every day.

For Nita and me, HIV isn’t a cause.
It’s a fight to survive.
It’s a fight to ensure our fallen are never forgotten.
It’s a fight for a world free from HIV and its stigma.
It’s a fight to prove there is life — and love — after an HIV diagnosis.

Never EVER surrender.
Never EVER forget.

~ Bob Bowers, 43-year long-term survivor
~ Nita Costello, long-term educator and advocate

Fighting Stigma & Discrimination

Bob’s strength goes beyond surviving—it’s in owning his truth and using it to shatter stigma.

He doesn't hide the rough miles: the drugs, jail, and the streets are right there alongside the faith and redemption. He shows that while HIV doesn’t discriminate, society still does.

Through unvarnished honesty, Bob makes HIV visible again, telling the raw stories you’ll never see in a polished PSA.

To the newly diagnosed, 

or anyone just white-knuckling it: 

Your diagnosis and your past don't get the final say. 

Your fight does.

~ Bob Bowers 43-year HIV/AIDS long-term survivor and advocate

To those still in the trenches—educators, activists, healthcare workers, and everyone fighting to end the HIV epidemic—I see you, and I thank you. The fight isn’t over, and your dedication is saving lives. While I may no longer be in classrooms, I know firsthand the power of education and advocacy. HIV is still here, and so is the need for truth, compassion, and action. Your work matters now more than ever. 

Keep going—you are making a difference. 

~ Bob Bowers