POZ I AM Radio

Robert Breining and Jack Mackenroth talk about living with HIV/AIDS and touched on the ADAP Early Treatment for HIV Summit that was held in Washington DC.

Tom Donohue, thirty year old, son, brother and uncle of three, is the founder director of Who's Positive; a group of individuals infected, affected, sharing real stories about real people with a real commitment to humanizing HIV through firsthand accounts of young adults living with HIV. Since finding out about his own HIV-positive status in October 2003, Tom has dedicated his life to providing opportunity and encouraging HIV testing and raising awareness, a of HIV and its consequences in his peers.

Tom has served as part of the commission for LGBTA Equity at Penn State; was the director of the Pennsylvania State AIDS Watch from 2003 to 2005; and was a co-coordinator for the Nor-Easter caravan of the Campaign to End AIDS. For World AIDS Day 2004, Tom was featured on MTV's Jumbotron in New York's Times Square as one of fifty notable HIV/AIDS activists in the world. Tom also served on the board of directors for the North Central District AIDS Coalition in central Pennsylvania and has advocated at the State Capitol of Pennsylvania and the nation’s capitol on various occasions.

Tom has spoken to many schools across the country. He was the keynote speaker for the Congressional Global Youth Leadership Conference, he’s been featured in various books and national media outlets such as CNN, NBC News, LOGO and Network. Tom is also a published writer writing articles for publications such as The Advocate and the Global Health Council’s AIDS Link.

When Bryyan Jackson was a baby, his father entered his hospital room and injected a syringe of HIV-tainted blood into his tiny body. At times during his childhood, he was expected to die.

Now 18, he'll put on his black cap and gown and graduate from High School in St. Charles, near St. Louis. Shielded from the public for much of his life since his father's high-profile criminal trial a decade ago, Brryan is now an outspoken advocate for people with AIDS, and the power of faith and forgiveness.

Brryan has started a nonprofit called Hope Is Vital. He will work this summer with Project Kindle, a Valencia, Calif.-based organization that sponsors summer camps for children affected by the disease. He also serves as a speaker with that group and a St. Peters, Mo.-based ministry, Upward Bound Ministries.

Justin B. Smith, 29, has been an HIV and Gay Civil Rights activist in the Washington DC area for about 10 years. An Air Force veteran, he was honorably discharged with awards and decorations in 2003.He has served and volunteered in several organizations, including the HRC, Whitman Walker Clinic and the National Black Justice Coalition.

Justin writes for many publications including GBMNews.com, Baltimore Gay Life,POZIAM and Swerve Magazine. He resides with his partner of 3 years, Dr. Philip Terry, to whom he is recently engaged, in Laurel, MD.

Justin created ‘Justin’s HIV Journal’ to advocate for education, prevention and awareness when it comes to HIVIn his journal he tells people about the trials and tribulations when it comes to living with HIV/AIDS.

Mayor Duran was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 6, 2001. Throughout his legal career he has worked to defend human rights, including the prominent legal case Kolcum v. L.A. County, where he successfully sued Los Angeles County for denying medication to inmates with HIV/AIDS. Mayor Duran was identified as one of the 20 most influential members of the gay community by "In Los Angeles Magazine." Besides leading the effort for marriage equality in California, he also serves as a role model for HIV positive people as one of four HIV-positive elected officials in the United States. Mayor Duran has been a gay activist since 1985 and is currently writing a history of the gay rights movement in Southern California.

Nicholas Snow has been out of the closet in the media as an openly gay man since 1985. In 1988 he was on the staff of the first ever National Coming Out Day and later also served on the board of the Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Artists in the Entertainment Industry. From 1993 to 1998 he produced and hosted the television show "Tinseltown's Queer!" which he describes as "a queen's version of Larry King" - this morphed into the Nicholas Snow Show with co-host Fabrice Tasendo which ran until 2000.

In a dramatic twist in his own storyline due to a collision of circumstances, Snow became HIV positive in August of 2007. He has since founded ActionEqualsLife.com, devoted to raising HIV/AIDS awareness; creating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered civil rights; and supporting human rights in general. Visitors to the web site can watch "Action Equals Life: The Series!"

Later this year Snow will record a dance anthem with leading music producer Bruno Brugnano, the music video to be directed by O. Nathapon. The song, "The Power to Be Strong," will inspire HIV testing as part of Snow's "Get Tested, Live Longer" campaign

Brandon Macsata serves as Managing Partner of The Macsata-Kornegay Group, Inc. – a national governmental and public affairs consulting firm specializing in grassroots campaigns and political fundraising. He is widely recognized for ability to connect national, state and local stakeholders interested in influencing public policy. Macsata has extensive experience working with political candidates, national and statewide trade associations, and other corporate entities.

First diagnosed as HIV-positive in March 2002, Macsata has dedicated much of his professional and personal life advocating for persons living with AIDS. He currently serves as CEO of the ADAP Advocacy Association (aaa+), a national non-profit organization working to improve the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. From November 2003 to March 2006, he authored a weekly news column on national HIV-related stories for The Weekly News in Miami, Florida. He is also a former ADAP recipient.

Brandon will also be discussing the ADAP Advocacy Association's “Early Treatment of HIV Summit ” that will be held July 20th-21st in Washington, DC. Robert and other members of the POZIAM community will be speaking at this event.

Anthony Bongiorno the President of The Friends of AIDS Foundation will share his story. During the 1990’s, Anthony was involved in the drug scene and as a result, found himself picking up several cases. He continued to struggle with the whole drug lifestlye for many years until he met his soon to be wife in 2003.

They married and he began to clean up his legal wreckage from the past and was ordered to do time. He took a short leave of absence from work. While away, his wife had an extra-marital affair and contracted the HIV virus.

Upon his return home, the virus was transmitted to Anthony and their relationship became strained. The following year she committed suicide and Anthony was now alone.

His personal interest is to create a positive impact that will change the future course of the pandemic by helping to develop healthy futures for communities impacted by HIV/AIDS. It is his goal to help bridge the gap for those impacted by this disease by delivering innovative programs that enhance the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and cutting edge programs that empower people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. His motto is

“Together We Remain Strong!”

Marvelyn Brown Shares her story and will talk about her autobiography "The Naked Truth". Marvelyn Brown is an Emmy Award winning AIDS

Activist and has even appeared on Oprah and MTV and many other tv shows.

The surprisingly hopeful story of how a straight, nonpromiscuous, everyday girl contracted HIV and how she manages to stay upbeat, inspired, and more positive about life than ever before. At nineteen years of age, Marvelyn Brown was lying in a stark white hospital bed at Tennessee Christian Medical Center, feeling hopeless. A former top track and basketball athlete, she was in the best shape of her life, but she was battling a sudden illness in the intensive care unit. Doctors had no idea what was going on. It never occurred to Brown that she might be HIV positive. Having unprotected sex with her Prince Charming had set into swift motion a set of circumstances that not only landed her in the fight of her life, but also alienated her from her community. Rather than give up, however, Brown found a reason to fight and a reason to live.

The Naked Truth is an inspirational memoir that shares how an everyday teen refused to give up on herself, even as others would forsake her. More, it's a cautionary tale that every parent, guidance counselor, and young adult should read.

Ken Howard will be speaking with POZIAM Radio .Ken is a gay, poz psychotherapist and life coach in Los Angeles. Ken has been poz for 19 years, and has worked with gay/poz men to "Have the Life You Want!", by doing in-person counseling, an iTunes Podcast, newsletter, and various public speaking engagements. On Ken's website he has an archive of the many articles he wrote as the HIV mental health columnist for A&U magazine for two years. Ken also chaired the Los Angeles County HIV Mental Health Task Force for 10 years, and co-chaired their annual HIV Mental Health conference along with UCLA/Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center.