I was diagnosed with #HIV 22 years ago.
At the time I doubted I would live to 50.
Today is my 53rd birthday.
HIV has changed.
Tell everyone.

53 is not that old.
If we are diagnosed promptly and have access to treatment we should enjoy the same life expectancy as someone who does not have the #HIV.
Our ability to treat HIV is one of the greatest medical accomplishments of our era.
https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/life-expectancy-people-living-hiv

When we are on effective treatment we can’t pass #HIV on to our sexual partners.
This means we can have sex (and create families) without worry.
This means most of the fear people have of those of us with HIV is just wasted energy.
#UequalsU

For me, being open about living with #HIV is liberating.
All of my fear and shame, my self-stigmatising, has been washed away.
When we smash the viral closet we smash HIV stigma.
https://www.gmfa.org.uk/fs175-im-hiv-positive-and-proud

For a living I run a charity, @aidsmap, which provides accurate information about #HIV and #AIDS.
If you want to know more about HIV, how it is treated and prevented, or about new developments towards a cure, check out our site. https://www.aidsmap.com/ 

I recognise how fortunate I am to have been diagnosed at a time when we are able to treat #HIV.
I grieve for those we lost, and I'm angry that still not all people are able to access treatment.
Here's something I wrote about AIDS grief. https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/renewed-sadness-lost-aids/

I’m also on Instagram if that’s your thing.
Some of the stuff I post there is different to the stuff I post here - but it is mainly me in a vest lifting heavy things and putting them down again.