Connect with others who understand.

  • Learn from expert-reviewed resources
  • Real advice from people who’ve been there
  • People who understand what you’re going through
Sign Up Log In
Powered By
Real members of myHIVteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭
Arkansas City, AR
June 23, 2025
 · 
Reactions
A myHIVteam Member

Nope... .but I don't advertise.😜☕🌈.. I do know some people that have biohazard tattoos on their butts though...😱😳😅😂

June 24, 2025
A myHIVteam Member

I only told one person but when I was in the hospital with full blown AIDS just about everyone I knew found out.

That’s when I realized who were my real friends.

As far as I’m concerned it’s on a need to know basis.

June 24, 2025 (edited)
A myHIVteam Member

I'm out out with my status, I'm Googalable and an HIV blogger and advocate. I've been in multiple articles in HIV Magazines print and on line, I'm also in HIV anthology poetry books. I was an HIV Peer Educator in an ID clinic here in Kansas City and most of my peer'ed people were in the closet.

July 2, 2025
A myHIVteam Member

Of course not. People wonder how you got it. I don't post it on social media or talk about my research outside of here. It never comes up in conversation. I don't look like I have AIDS. I'm still trying to figure out who benefits from coming out of the closet. Me or other people. And since you can't unring a bell. I've only told a handful of people.

June 24, 2025
A myHIVteam Member

Interesting question. I lost a 10-year relationship when I was diagnosed HIV+. That was 20 years ago, and the conditions were radically different by then. Even with the diagnosis and the moderate discomfort I experienced during so-called sero-conversion, my doctor assured me that "something else" would ultimately get me, NOT HIV. Given what I experienced as a closeted gay man married and with children and still seeking sexual contact as the initial onslaught of AIDS ravaged the gay community, I'm aware that my diagnosis could have been a self-fulfilling prophecy for me, and I could have been dead in 2 years, meds notwithstanding. The current practice in Seattle when I was diagnosed was to see if my numbers would return to some semblance of normalcy. They did. A few years later, when they began to fall again, my doctor prescribed one of the current meds. I've been undetectable now for almost a decade. Yeah, something else will undoubtedly get me. I turned 80 on May 29, 2025. How about THEM apples?

I readily acknowledge that all of those things have made it easier for me to be authentic about my HIV status whenever it is appropriate. Not everyone has a "need to know," and those who do know. I have nothing to hide. But I am also completely unwilling to "out" anyone else about their status, even if I know. "I think you need to ask them about that." That's my stock answer. Just like when someone asks me if I think so-and-so is "gay". It's NEVER my business to give out that information. I don't care if you "tell on me", I can take it. But I know some who cannot. And they do not need to. Period.

June 24, 2025

Related Questions

View All