Francis, 42
What I Want You to Know:
I was in a 10-year relationship with someone who was HIV positive.
My Greatest Influence:
Kevin Lawrence Frazier. He was my husband, and we were together for 10 years when he died 5 years ago. He taught me about real unconditional love, how to be a better human being, and how to live, and die, with dignity.
Why I think it's important to challenge HIV/AIDS stereotypes:
Hopefully it will demonstrate that you cannot tell who is HIV infected and who isn't by looking at them, that stereotypes are just that: stereotypes, that you can have a relationship with someone that is HIV infected and remain uninfected.
How I contribute to the fight against HIV:
For 5 years in the mid 90's I was a support staff person/associate Director/Board member of a theatre company called the AIDS Theatre Project. They were an education theatre company whose actors were either HIV positive or living with AIDS. They wrote and performed pieces based on their lives to educate the general public about living with HIV. I have been a health educator providing workshops to youth and adults about HIV/AIDS. I am also open about my sexual orientation at work and that sometimes leads to discussions with co-workers/youth participants about homosexuality and HIV related issues.
