HIVOGUE

This is a Big Shout-Out to all my supporters and enquirers regarding my PMMA treatment in December of last year...the emails are STILL coming in as we speak!  I was literally overwhelmed with facebook subscribers asking me to “friend” them as a result of the About Face article by Kat Noel in the POZ March 2009 issue.  As some of your already know, I’m very pleased with the treatment by Dr. Luis Casavantes, and I’m planning on returning for a “touch-up.” Most patients have two appointments, first the initial and one at least six week afterwards to assure symmetry of the PMMA.  Dr. C just opened another office (for those hesitant to go to Tijuana) in Puerto Vallarta, a resort town on the Pacific coast of Mexico (FYI: Where the Love Boat goes!) Here’s a link to DRC Dermatology for more information.

Regarding facebook, this social network has allowed me to connect with people throughout the world dealing with HIV and/or AIDS, and to share my experiences either through my website or Dave’s POZ blog. Through a facebook-friend of a facebook-friend, I met JO.RI.AL (aka John Richard Allen.)  John describes his artwork as “more an idea from self-induced art therapy driven from HIV anxiety than it is creative inspiration from myself as an artist.”  I just think it’s awesome, very inspiriting and educational as well.  Yes, I was in Conde Naste’s Vogue years ago (September 1992,) for a desk I designed WHILE I was a model, and a student at Parsons School of Design...okay, enough about me.  Jorial’s art transcends individual identity, I represent the thousands of people suffering and striving forward through this disease...one in a million.  Yes, we all want to be loved; yes, we all want to be respected; and yes, we all want to feel normal.  My favorite Harvey Milk quote, “privacy is the enemy.”

To read more about John Richard Allen visit Karen Miranda Augustine’s blog.

STOP THE STIGMA!

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