Caroline Guinness-McGann. September 2007
This magazine connected me to a whole world of people who I felt understood, never judged negatively and celebrated the extraordinary lives of the millions of us who live with HIV/AIDS whether infected or affected. Every lead interview made me realise that even people of prominence are affected by the reality of this virus, and that there are people out there in the Universe who care about what happens to the millions of us who live with this most feared illness on a day to day basis. The invaluable tips and hints, the medical and scientific advances, the events both artistic and political, and the readers’ letters from all around the globe made for avid reading. Accompanied by much nodding of the head, smiles, the odd laugh out loud (usually at one of the regular columnist’s cutting commentary). The, more than occasional, tear to the eye as I read yet another story of extraordinary bravery, personal testimonies and terrible treatment by an uncaring world. More than anything else Positive Nation reminded me that I am not alone, quite the opposite; I am actually included in something that brings out the best in people. People who can rise above the peer pressure to condemn the stigma, discrimination and fear that surrounds this virus.
Having lived with HIV for over 21 years I have seen many changes. As those who survived the first onslaught, we ‘Long Term Survivors’ witnessed countless deaths. There was no hope of a cure let alone any medication that could keep us alive. Yet we were motivated to become activists, to challenge governments, to challenge the medical and scientific world and to set up services to help us cope and live with this condition. So it is amazing to look at where we are now.
Here in the UK and in most of the developed countries, HIV has become ‘old news’. Self help services are now rare and the drop in centres where we could meet and compare and support each other are only available in a few cities. We are expected to fit into generic and ‘mainstream’ categories, but we are not viewed or treated as ‘mainstream’. We are not given the support or funding those ‘mainstream’ illnesses like cancer or heart problems receive. We find that the maxims of ‘everyone should be treated as if they were HIV’, ‘everyone is responsible for their own sexual safety’ no longer exist. The only time you read anything in the press to do with HIV in the UK it tends to be negative. Usually some sensational case of ‘Criminal Behaviour’, ‘Jail Sentences’, ‘Evil Asylum Seekers’ and highly misleading headlines like ‘An Automatic Death Sentence’. After over 25 years of campaigning to address these issues, to present the facts and to overcome the fears, it seemed a cruel irony that the only magazine that addressed all these issues in a balanced way had to close due to a lack of a tiny amount of funding.
It might have seemed like the end of an era, but miraculously it has been resurrected. I received a call recently asking me to write for the newly launched Positive Nation and suddenly all seemed good in my world again. Thank you Sugar Media for restoring one of the most invaluable tools for communication in the world of HIV/AIDS. We (those of us who need it) are given hope again. +
© Caroline Guinness-McGann. September 2007
