Passionate, caring, honest, resilient, vibrant, and more than a little fiery to top it all off.

What issues are most important to you?

Stigma insidiously silences the voices of People Living with HIV and our right to live openly with dignity. It makes the prospect of testing, and taking ownership of your health, really daunting for a good number of people.  It makes disclosure really challenging, and it all stems from outdated misinformation, ignorance and fear, which often go hand-in-hand with new transmissions of HIV.

In 2017, what change would you most like to see?

In 2017, that goddamn CD4 threshold needs to go. It is an outrage that HIV+ people have to wait until their immune system is sufficiently compromised before they can start treatment. Starting effective treatment early has long-term health benefits for PLHIV, and viral suppression to undetectable levels helps stop new transmissions of HIV. We can’t afford to fall behind the rest of the developed world in our response to things like this.

Who inspires you?

I’m inspired by people who use their voices, energy and heart to challenge bullshit, fight for what they believe in, and actively make a difference. I think back to the early years of the HIV/AIDS response and those normal human beings fighting for their lives and the lives of others in times of extreme governmental inadequacy, oppression and fear. Those are my heroes.

Name your favourite queer anthem or protest song.

The Show Must Go On – Queen