What if everything you think you know about HIV is wrong?

This week, Darío and Ryan sit down with Alex Garner — writer, artist, community advocate, and proud Chicano queer man who has been living openly with HIV for 30 years. Alex works with MPact Global, the only worldwide organization dedicated to building community and defending human rights for gay, bisexual, and queer men across 62 countries.

This is not a sad episode. It is an honest one.

We go deep on what HIV actually means in 2026 — medically, emotionally, and sexually. We talk about the science of Undetectable = Untransmittable, the history of fear that medicine has outpaced but stigma has not, and what it looks like to build a life of pleasure, community, and zero shame while living HIV positive.

In this episode:

• The real story of HIV from the 80s to now
• Why stigma has not evolved as fast as medicine
• Sex, desire, and disclosure — navigating intimacy with HIV
• How dating apps are still failing HIV positive people
• PrEP, access, and why treatment is still a privilege
• Alex's personal journey — including his experience as a sex worker and performer
• What thriving looks like versus just surviving

Resources mentioned:

• MPact Global: mpactglobal.org
• PrEP online: HeyMistr.com
• SF locals: Magnet SF
• Alex's writing: advocate.com/authors/alex-garner

Follow Alex: @alexgarnerla Follow MPact: @mpact.global

Live Laugh Loads is a queer-centered podcast about sex, joy, identity, and community. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this one — it matters.

Follow us on: 

Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@livelaughloads.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@livelaughloadscast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@⁠⁠LiveLaughLoadsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Livelaughloads.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blogspot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ryan's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hes.tryan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dario's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tattooedgay⁠⁠⁠

Alex's Instagram @alexgarnerla

Mpact Global's Instagram @mpact.global