Marc Thompson was diagnosed with HIV at just 17 in 1986, during the epidemic's most frightening early days when information wasn't reaching young black gay men in South London's vibrant but segregated queer scene. His journey from isolated teenager to influential activist illustrates the power of transforming personal experience into systemic change.

Feeling like the only young black gay man in HIV services, Marc recognised the vital importance of representation and community building, establishing the first support group for positive black gay men at the London Lighthouse.

His activism spans decades, from safer sex workshops in the 1990s through co-founding PrEPster in 2014 to fight for HIV prevention access, and creating Blackout UK to celebrate black queer lives.

Now serving as Lead Commissioner of the London HIV Prevention Programme, Marc has architected change that ensures black queer men are part of funding conversations and policy decisions. His story demonstrates how one person's determination to build the community they desperately needed can reshape an entire field, whilst his commitment to preserving stories through podcasts and archives ensures future generations understand their history and heritage.

Timestamped Takeaways

03:02 - Teenage life in 1986: "I was out on the scene and discovering myself... just being a curious, fun, engaged teenager."

04:37 - Segregated gay scene: "For many black queer people... those places were not particularly welcoming... because of racist door policies."

06:33 - Societal context: "The UK was deeply racist. The National Front was still marching on the streets."

07:32 - Community assumptions: "One of the rules we had in my community was, well, this is a white man's thing."

08:37 - Information access: "There was no route for that information to get directly to a young man like me."

09:53 - The diagnosis: "I'm told that they have come back positive. And the world stopped."

11:27 - Processing the news: "The only two things that kept reverberating... how am I going to tell my grandfather... I would never have children."

12:36 - Isolation of diagnosis: "I didn't know anyone who had HIV who looked like me."

13:01 - Multiple intersections: "I knew that all of this intersected with my blackness and my queerness."

14:16 - Mother's support: "I was able to tell my mum... she didn't throw me out of the house."

15:50 - Community gossip: "I became known in the small black gay community as Marc with the virus."

17:41 - First activism: "If I can teach these men... maybe they'll be less fearful... maybe there won't be so shit to people like me."

22:26 - First support group: "I'd set up the first black gay men's group... There were only four of us... probably one of the most important days of my life."

25:56 - PrEPster origins: "We set up PrEPster as a website... with the sole intention of providing education to our communities."

27:32 - Golden age of prevention: "The emergence of organisations like Gay Men Fighting AIDS... culturally appropriate, culturally specific information."

33:38 - Community resistance: "Why can't these young gay men just use condoms like we did? Aren't they fucking on the graves of the people that died?"

37:09 - Blackout UK mission: "We wanted to celebrate black queer lives... always coming from a place of love, joy and celebration."

41:06 - HIV equality: "We are all in some ways HIV equal, whether we're negative, positive or untested."

43:01 - Personal responsibility: "I take my medication to keep me alive. The fact that I get to fuck you bareback is a bonus."

48:32 - Fighting systemic change: "If we're having panel discussions, we need to ensure that those are balanced."

49:06 - Personal legacy: "I think he'd go, I'm not surprised... That's what we're meant to be doing."

55:12 - Remembrance: "All of the black gay men... who passed away in isolation, in fear... Those would be the people that I would want to remember."

57:29 - Final message: "Refuel the world... be more love tank... checking on that queer person you haven't heard from."

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.