Jim Vogiatzis was diagnosed with HIV in 1988 after recognising symptoms in both himself and his partner. Working at London Weekend Television, Jim faced the terror of early HIV diagnosis when it truly was a death sentence for most.

His journey through the brutal AZT trials, watching friends die, finding love with Stuart (a "sexy skinhead" with a Geordie accent), and ultimately surviving into the combination therapy era reveals the resilience required to navigate HIV's darkest years.

From caring for dying friends to facing his own mortality, Jim's story encompasses the raw reality of the epidemic's early decades. Now living with long-term health complications from early treatments whilst finding companionship with his emotional support dog Ron, Jim continues his activism against injustice whilst reflecting on a life shaped by survival, love, and the determination to speak truth to power.

Timestamped Takeaways

03:14 - Making the testing decision: "I made a conscious decision... to go to the GU clinic at James Pringle House and get tested."

03:54 - Anonymous testing protocol: "You were only identified by a number to protect your identity... twenty people in the waiting area. Who are you?"

04:59 - Right-wing press hostility: "Things like... they should be deported to the Isle of Wight... a priest who said if he found out his son was HIV, he'd have him shot."

06:52 - The diagnosis moment: "I'm really sorry to tell you, but you're HIV positive."

08:29 - Supporting dying friends: "I saw as an incredible privilege to be allowed to be there with them and hold their hand."

11:36 - Fear of dying alone: "I was told by somebody I would die alone, basically because of my diagnosis."

13:38 - Boss's supportive response: "He just came round his desk, put his arm on my shoulder and said... don't worry, everything's going to be okay."

15:06 - Early symptoms: "Chest infections I could never shake off... pins and needles in my hands and my feet."

18:48 - AZT trial horrors: "You'd have to set your alarm for the middle of the night to take the next dose. So you never felt truly rested."

19:08 - Severe side effects: "The nausea was so horrendous that you couldn't help yourself... affecting my social life."

20:58 - Meeting Stuart: "Very sexy skinhead... boots, braces, tight t-shirts, cheeky smile, Geordie accent."

24:06 - Valentine's memory: "Got a postcard of a sexy man showing his bum. On the inside... it said, sexy bum kiss."

26:37 - Stuart's decline: "He had PCP... then he had what we call a stroke... destroyed him because he was such an active person."

29:44 - Long-term treatment effects: "Some of the side effects... will last you for your whole life... peripheral neuropathy."

32:51 - Lost support services: "The NHS had stopped funding those services... that safe place to go to."

35:07 - Finding Ron: "Ron is crying in his pen... put his paws through and touched my arm, and I knew that I had to take him home."

36:58 - Final message: "Be authentic. Love and never be afraid to say that I love you and always speak your truth."

Links:

• Other work from Producer Dan Hall.
• Positively UK - A peer-led organisation offering support and advice for people living with HIV, including women, youth, and migrants.
• The Love Tank - An organisation focusing on wellbeing of queer communities, especially Black and brown people, through projects like PrEPster and The Grass Is Always Grindr.
• Positive East - London-based support centre offering HIV testing, counselling, community outreach, and health services.
• PrEPster - Community-led PrEP (HIV prevention pill) education project. Offers clear and inclusive info for diverse audiences across the UK.
• National AIDS Trust - A UK policy and campaigning organisation dedicated to ending HIV stigma and promoting effective HIV policies.
• aidsmap - A trusted source for up-to-date, evidence-based information on HIV. Great for learning about treatment, living with HIV, and current research.
• Terrence Higgins Trust - The UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity. Offers support, testing info, prevention resources (PrEP), and education materials.
• In the Key of Q - Podcast celebrating Queer musicians and their stories, also produced by Dan Hall.