HIV/AIDS LONG-TERM SURVIVOR * YOUTH EDUCATION * ADVOCACY * ACTIVISM * RESOURCES
Houston, Texas, United States
the denver principles
The Denver Principles (1983)
There is no better way to cite the history of the PWA self-empowerment movement than to quote the principles articulated in Denver in 1983. They are as relevant and powerful today as they were then.
THE DENVER PRINCIPLES (Statement from the advisory committee of the People with AIDS) We condemn attempts to label us as "victims," a term which implies defeat, and we are only occasionally "patients," a term which implies passivity, helplessness, and dependence upon the care of others. We are "People With AIDS."
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE
1. Support us in our struggle against those who would fire us from our jobs, evict us from our homes, refuse to touch us or separate us from our loved ones, our community or our peers, since available evidence does not support the view that AIDS can be spread by casual, social contact. 2. Not scapegoat people with AIDS, blame us for the epidemic or generalize about our lifestyles.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS
1. Form caucuses to choose their own representatives, to deal with the media, to choose their own agenda and to plan their own strategies. 2. Be involved at every level of decision-making and specifically serve on the boards of directors of provider organizations. 3. Be included in all AIDS forums with equal credibility as other participants, to share their own experiences and knowledge. 4. Substitute low-risk sexual behaviors for those which could endanger themselves or their partners; we feel people with AIDS have an ethical responsibility to inform their potential sexual partners of their health status.
RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH AIDS
1. To as full and satisfying sexual and emotional lives as anyone else. 2. To quality medical treatment and quality social service provision without discrimination of any form including sexual orientation, gender, diagnosis, economic status or race. 3. To full explanations of all medical procedures and risks, to choose or refuse their treatment modalities, to refuse to participate in research without jeopardizing their treatment and to make informed decisions about their lives. 4. To privacy, to confidentiality of medical records, to human respect and to choose who their significant others are. 5. To die--and to LIVE--in dignity
Your Success Story Starts with One Tough Pirate
What if it Were You?
HIV doesn’t discriminate—it never has, and it never will. It doesn’t matter your background, your status, your choices; the virus doesn’t care about borders or beliefs. And yet, stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS persists, creating barriers for those who need support the most. But imagine, just for a moment—what if it were you?
What if it were your diagnosis?
What if it were your loved one?
What if it were your reality?
Would you still look away? Would you still judge? Or would you finally understand the courage it takes to live openly, to fight daily battles with not just a virus, but also a world that often misunderstands and mistreats those affected?
I’ve lived with HIV for over four decades. My journey has been marked by loss, resilience, and the unshakable determination to fight for a world free of this epidemic. I’ve seen friends stigmatized into silence, lives cut short, and progress overshadowed by apathy and greed. Yet, I’ve also seen the power of compassion, education, and support to change lives.
When we choose to educate ourselves, to listen, to act with empathy rather than judgment, we begin to dismantle the stigma that holds so many back. We create a space where people can seek care, find community, and thrive. So today, I challenge you to ask yourself: What if it were you? Wouldn’t you hope for a world that chooses love over fear and action over silence? Together, we can be that world.
Aging with HIV/AIDS
Today, over 1.2 million Americans live with HIV, and nearly 38 million worldwide. Once a death sentence, HIV infection is now considered a chronic condition, which once diagnosed can be managed with medication. But there is still much work to be done, education, testing, and access to care remain issues in many places.
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.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the nearly 1.1 million people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States and dependent areas in 2022, 64% were aged 45 and older.
