so in February 2012 I announced to the world as well as my friends that I was
world as well as my friends that I was
world as well as my friends that I was living with HIV on Facebook between
living with HIV on Facebook between
living with HIV on Facebook between family photos from friends in the
family photos from friends in the
family photos from friends in the timeline and a funny cat meme a couple
timeline and a funny cat meme a couple
timeline and a funny cat meme a couple weeks later I released a recorded live
weeks later I released a recorded live
weeks later I released a recorded live video of me actually being told at
video of me actually being told at
video of me actually being told at Vanderbilt University HIV vaccine clinic
Vanderbilt University HIV vaccine clinic
Vanderbilt University HIV vaccine clinic that I was HIV positive and now five and
that I was HIV positive and now five and
that I was HIV positive and now five and a half years later the video is done
a half years later the video is done
a half years later the video is done pretty good but I have had 1.5 million
pretty good but I have had 1.5 million
pretty good but I have had 1.5 million minutes watched a video content on
minutes watched a video content on
minutes watched a video content on social media about HIV my goal is and
social media about HIV my goal is and
social media about HIV my goal is and was to just make HIV something that
was to just make HIV something that
was to just make HIV something that we’re not scared to talk about online
we’re not scared to talk about online
we’re not scared to talk about online something that may not be cool but may
something that may not be cool but may
something that may not be cool but may not be uncool makes sense now I have a
not be uncool makes sense now I have a
not be uncool makes sense now I have a reach on social media of 65,000 people
reach on social media of 65,000 people
reach on social media of 65,000 people and that’s from Facebook fans and
and that’s from Facebook fans and
and that’s from Facebook fans and followers and Twitter followers and
followers and Twitter followers and
followers and Twitter followers and Instagram and well and the YouTube
Instagram and well and the YouTube
Instagram and well and the YouTube subscribers are really foe but I have
subscribers are really foe but I have
subscribers are really foe but I have 1.5 million minutes watched of content
1.5 million minutes watched of content
1.5 million minutes watched of content so it equals out the reason why I do
so it equals out the reason why I do
so it equals out the reason why I do this on social media and I advocate for
this on social media and I advocate for
this on social media and I advocate for HIV is because when I was diagnosed I
HIV is because when I was diagnosed I
HIV is because when I was diagnosed I looked online and I just wanted to find
looked online and I just wanted to find
looked online and I just wanted to find somebody like me and I wanted somebody
somebody like me and I wanted somebody
somebody like me and I wanted somebody to tell me that I wasn’t gonna die and I
to tell me that I wasn’t gonna die and I
to tell me that I wasn’t gonna die and I couldn’t find that and so I started a
couldn’t find that and so I started a
couldn’t find that and so I started a blog and I on that blog I named it I’m
blog and I on that blog I named it I’m
blog and I on that blog I named it I’m still Josh and I thought that it was
still Josh and I thought that it was
still Josh and I thought that it was literally the most
literally the most
literally the most brilliant smartest thing that I’ve ever
brilliant smartest thing that I’ve ever
brilliant smartest thing that I’ve ever done until like six months later and
done until like six months later and
done until like six months later and then I’m like I am talking about myself
then I’m like I am talking about myself
then I’m like I am talking about myself in third person all the time and this is
in third person all the time and this is
in third person all the time and this is getting pretty bizarre but the reason
getting pretty bizarre but the reason
getting pretty bizarre but the reason why I started the blog was because I
why I started the blog was because I
why I started the blog was because I wanted people in this town in this city
wanted people in this town in this city
wanted people in this town in this city and in the South that when they got the
and in the South that when they got the
and in the South that when they got the news on the worst day that they have
news on the worst day that they have
news on the worst day that they have ever had I wanted them to not feel alone
ever had I wanted them to not feel alone
ever had I wanted them to not feel alone and so after about six months the blog
and so after about six months the blog
and so after about six months the blog became actually less about me and became
became actually less about me and became
became actually less about me and became more about what you see on the screen
more about what you see on the screen
more about what you see on the screen which is issues related to HIV so news
which is issues related to HIV so news
which is issues related to HIV so news and advocacy and and that sort of thing
and advocacy and and that sort of thing
and advocacy and and that sort of thing but there has always been this element
but there has always been this element
but there has always been this element on my blog that I wanted to encourage
on my blog that I wanted to encourage
on my blog that I wanted to encourage people that were newly diagnosed and so
people that were newly diagnosed and so
people that were newly diagnosed and so you can kind of imagine or try to put
you can kind of imagine or try to put
you can kind of imagine or try to put yourself in that position on that day
yourself in that position on that day
yourself in that position on that day when you get the worst news that you
when you get the worst news that you
when you get the worst news that you have ever heard and so you just want
have ever heard and so you just want
have ever heard and so you just want somebody to tell you that it’s gonna be
somebody to tell you that it’s gonna be
somebody to tell you that it’s gonna be okay and so that’s what I’ve been trying
okay and so that’s what I’ve been trying
okay and so that’s what I’ve been trying to do but I want to share something with
to do but I want to share something with
to do but I want to share something with you guys that I normally don’t share and
you guys that I normally don’t share and
you guys that I normally don’t share and it’s because these moments are deeply
it’s because these moments are deeply
it’s because these moments are deeply personal between me and some of the
personal between me and some of the
personal between me and some of the followers on social media and it’s a
followers on social media and it’s a
followers on social media and it’s a moment that is very humbling but also
moment that is very humbling but also
moment that is very humbling but also inspiring at the same time here’s an
inspiring at the same time here’s an
inspiring at the same time here’s an actual message that I just received two
actual message that I just received two
actual message that I just received two weeks ago from one of the followers in
weeks ago from one of the followers in
weeks ago from one of the followers in social media he said I was really
social media he said I was really
social media he said I was really depressed after my diagnosis I found a
depressed after my diagnosis I found a
depressed after my diagnosis I found a lot of hope in your blog I wouldn’t be
lot of hope in your blog I wouldn’t be
lot of hope in your blog I wouldn’t be in the open telling the world I’m not
in the open telling the world I’m not
in the open telling the world I’m not ashamed of being HIV positive if it
ashamed of being HIV positive if it
ashamed of being HIV positive if it weren’t for you the reason why I share
weren’t for you the reason why I share
weren’t for you the reason why I share this with you is nothing to do with me
this with you is nothing to do with me
this with you is nothing to do with me at it it actually has nothing to do with
at it it actually has nothing to do with
at it it actually has nothing to do with me it’s to show you the impact that
me it’s to show you the impact that
me it’s to show you the impact that somebody can have to the world and to
somebody can have to the world and to
somebody can have to the world and to others just by trying to be honest and
others just by trying to be honest and
others just by trying to be honest and talk openly about a chronic condition
talk openly about a chronic condition
talk openly about a chronic condition that they have so much so that besides
that they have so much so that besides
that they have so much so that besides the hundreds of messages like this that
the hundreds of messages like this that
the hundreds of messages like this that I receive
I receive
I receive I’ve also received about 15 that have
I’ve also received about 15 that have
I’ve also received about 15 that have stopped me in my tracks every time and
stopped me in my tracks every time and
stopped me in my tracks every time and they’re from people just like us in this
they’re from people just like us in this
they’re from people just like us in this room that are newly diagnosed though
room that are newly diagnosed though
room that are newly diagnosed though with HIV and that are on the verge of
with HIV and that are on the verge of
with HIV and that are on the verge of ending at all they’re contemplating
ending at all they’re contemplating
ending at all they’re contemplating suicide and although on my blog I tell
suicide and although on my blog I tell
suicide and although on my blog I tell them I’m not a doctor I’m not a
them I’m not a doctor I’m not a
them I’m not a doctor I’m not a therapist and I can’t give you any
therapist and I can’t give you any
therapist and I can’t give you any medical advice or legal adviser
medical advice or legal adviser
medical advice or legal adviser financial advice they still want to
financial advice they still want to
financial advice they still want to share that piece of them selves with me
share that piece of them selves with me
share that piece of them selves with me and at about 15 times people have told
and at about 15 times people have told
and at about 15 times people have told me that they have chose not to commit
me that they have chose not to commit
me that they have chose not to commit suicide because of something on the blog
suicide because of something on the blog
suicide because of something on the blog or in social media where they just see
or in social media where they just see
or in social media where they just see me trying to live well so the impact
me trying to live well so the impact
me trying to live well so the impact that patients can have really the impact
that patients can have really the impact
that patients can have really the impact that people like us can have on others
that people like us can have on others
that people like us can have on others just by being open and honest is pretty
just by being open and honest is pretty
just by being open and honest is pretty amazing but again it’s not about me and
amazing but again it’s not about me and
amazing but again it’s not about me and I’m gonna prove it to you and I really
I’m gonna prove it to you and I really
I’m gonna prove it to you and I really do believe that it’s not about me it’s
do believe that it’s not about me it’s
do believe that it’s not about me it’s not anything special that I’ve done
not anything special that I’ve done
not anything special that I’ve done because we can test it by going to other
because we can test it by going to other
because we can test it by going to other health conditions and other bloggers and
health conditions and other bloggers and
health conditions and other bloggers and patient advocates online the first one
patient advocates online the first one
patient advocates online the first one let’s just say an HIV is Bruce Richmond
let’s just say an HIV is Bruce Richmond
let’s just say an HIV is Bruce Richmond now Bruce is somebody that is one of the
now Bruce is somebody that is one of the
now Bruce is somebody that is one of the coolest HIV advocates around because he
coolest HIV advocates around because he
coolest HIV advocates around because he is helping spread a message that is
is helping spread a message that is
is helping spread a message that is mind-blowing and life-altering and I
mind-blowing and life-altering and I
mind-blowing and life-altering and I really mean that and the message is the
really mean that and the message is the
really mean that and the message is the hashtag you equals you or just you the
hashtag you equals you or just you the
hashtag you equals you or just you the equal sign you that you see it on my hat
equal sign you that you see it on my hat
equal sign you that you see it on my hat and it’s undetectable equal son
and it’s undetectable equal son
and it’s undetectable equal son transmittable and basically the message
transmittable and basically the message
transmittable and basically the message is pretty simple in its science space
is pretty simple in its science space
is pretty simple in its science space that if somebody is has an undetectable
that if somebody is has an undetectable
that if somebody is has an undetectable viral load and they’re on antiretroviral
viral load and they’re on antiretroviral
viral load and they’re on antiretroviral therapy which is the drugs that we take
therapy which is the drugs that we take
therapy which is the drugs that we take every day and they reach that
every day and they reach that
every day and they reach that undetectable level for six months that
undetectable level for six months that
undetectable level for six months that they are not going to transmit HIV to a
they are not going to transmit HIV to a
they are not going to transmit HIV to a sexual partner
sexual partner
sexual partner without a condom that’s insanity
without a condom that’s insanity
without a condom that’s insanity but it’s factual it’s crazy but it’s
but it’s factual it’s crazy but it’s
but it’s factual it’s crazy but it’s science and Bruce is out there sharing
science and Bruce is out there sharing
science and Bruce is out there sharing that message and it is transforming the
that message and it is transforming the
that message and it is transforming the lives of people living with HIV across
lives of people living with HIV across
lives of people living with HIV across the world really and why is that well
the world really and why is that well
the world really and why is that well because when you are diagnosed with HIV
because when you are diagnosed with HIV
because when you are diagnosed with HIV you are told that your infectious and
you are told that your infectious and
you are told that your infectious and that you have a viral load and that
that you have a viral load and that
that you have a viral load and that you’re gonna transmit to somebody when
you’re gonna transmit to somebody when
you’re gonna transmit to somebody when if you ever have sex again and this
if you ever have sex again and this
if you ever have sex again and this message is sharing the facts that we
message is sharing the facts that we
message is sharing the facts that we know that we are not transmitting that
know that we are not transmitting that
know that we are not transmitting that we that we won’t transmit and it really
we that we won’t transmit and it really
we that we won’t transmit and it really gives us the power to feel like we can
gives us the power to feel like we can
gives us the power to feel like we can love again and it gives us the power to
love again and it gives us the power to
love again and it gives us the power to feel like that we deserve to be loved
feel like that we deserve to be loved
feel like that we deserve to be loved and Bruce is sharing that message across
and Bruce is sharing that message across
and Bruce is sharing that message across social media and right now it has been
social media and right now it has been
social media and right now it has been that message has been endorsed by over
that message has been endorsed by over
that message has been endorsed by over 300 organizations including UN aids
300 organizations including UN aids
300 organizations including UN aids last week which is amazing and it’s
last week which is amazing and it’s
last week which is amazing and it’s across every continent and 11 countries
across every continent and 11 countries
across every continent and 11 countries and seven languages and it’s all because
and seven languages and it’s all because
and seven languages and it’s all because this one advocate decided to make this
this one advocate decided to make this
this one advocate decided to make this an important message to share the next
an important message to share the next
an important message to share the next person that is in HIV that is doing
person that is in HIV that is doing
person that is in HIV that is doing amazing work is Maria yeah I always mess
amazing work is Maria yeah I always mess
amazing work is Maria yeah I always mess up that last part Makia or Maria HIV if
up that last part Makia or Maria HIV if
up that last part Makia or Maria HIV if you go to Facebook and just type that in
you go to Facebook and just type that in
you go to Facebook and just type that in she’s somebody that is an amazing friend
she’s somebody that is an amazing friend
she’s somebody that is an amazing friend of mine but she runs the largest HIV
of mine but she runs the largest HIV
of mine but she runs the largest HIV international group ever I mean she is
international group ever I mean she is
international group ever I mean she is doing it she’s also somebody that can
doing it she’s also somebody that can
doing it she’s also somebody that can make really corny phrases like life is
make really corny phrases like life is
make really corny phrases like life is beautiful I think she said that recently
beautiful I think she said that recently
beautiful I think she said that recently in a video she can make that sound like
in a video she can make that sound like
in a video she can make that sound like it’s really awesome I try to do it and
it’s really awesome I try to do it and
it’s really awesome I try to do it and it sounds not awesome and then also just
it sounds not awesome and then also just
it sounds not awesome and then also just to mention him is Jack Mac and Ralph
to mention him is Jack Mac and Ralph
to mention him is Jack Mac and Ralph beside Maria she is doing great work
beside Maria she is doing great work
beside Maria she is doing great work this is kevin maloney
this is kevin maloney
this is kevin maloney kevin maloney is somebody that is
kevin maloney is somebody that is
kevin maloney is somebody that is he’s like the CNN of HIV advocacy and
he’s like the CNN of HIV advocacy and
he’s like the CNN of HIV advocacy and what I mean is when breaking news
what I mean is when breaking news
what I mean is when breaking news happens or comes out with The Associated
happens or comes out with The Associated
happens or comes out with The Associated Press Kevin is gonna posted it on his
Press Kevin is gonna posted it on his
Press Kevin is gonna posted it on his Facebook page and Twitter but he’s
Facebook page and Twitter but he’s
Facebook page and Twitter but he’s responsible for the no shame about being
responsible for the no shame about being
responsible for the no shame about being HIV positive campaign that has shared
HIV positive campaign that has shared
HIV positive campaign that has shared over 800 people’s individual stories on
over 800 people’s individual stories on
over 800 people’s individual stories on social media about them living and
social media about them living and
social media about them living and thriving or not thriving with HIV he
thriving or not thriving with HIV he
thriving or not thriving with HIV he jokes to me and says that I’m like the
jokes to me and says that I’m like the
jokes to me and says that I’m like the TMZ of HIV advocacy because I like
TMZ of HIV advocacy because I like
TMZ of HIV advocacy because I like things to be a little bit spicy in order
things to be a little bit spicy in order
things to be a little bit spicy in order to get to my vlog I like to think of
to get to my vlog I like to think of
to get to my vlog I like to think of myself more as like the MTV News with
myself more as like the MTV News with
myself more as like the MTV News with Kurt Loder
Kurt Loder
Kurt Loder meets Joel Osteen that encouragement
meets Joel Osteen that encouragement
meets Joel Osteen that encouragement anyway Kevin is doing amazing work and
anyway Kevin is doing amazing work and
anyway Kevin is doing amazing work and it’s amazing to have him alongside
it’s amazing to have him alongside
it’s amazing to have him alongside beside me and and us doing this work
beside me and and us doing this work
beside me and and us doing this work together there are people that advocate
together there are people that advocate
together there are people that advocate for HIV that are HIV negative it’s like
for HIV that are HIV negative it’s like
for HIV that are HIV negative it’s like wow yeah there are HIV activists that
wow yeah there are HIV activists that
wow yeah there are HIV activists that are negative and Damon Jacobs is one of
are negative and Damon Jacobs is one of
are negative and Damon Jacobs is one of them Damon is a licensed marriage
them Damon is a licensed marriage
them Damon is a licensed marriage counselor in New York but when there was
counselor in New York but when there was
counselor in New York but when there was a pill that came to market in 2012
a pill that came to market in 2012
a pill that came to market in 2012 called pre-exposure prophylaxis or prep
called pre-exposure prophylaxis or prep
called pre-exposure prophylaxis or prep that he he started a Facebook group that
that he he started a Facebook group that
that he he started a Facebook group that now has over 11,000 members and these
now has over 11,000 members and these
now has over 11,000 members and these are people that are all just trying to
are people that are all just trying to
are people that are all just trying to stay HIV negative and so if you take a
stay HIV negative and so if you take a
stay HIV negative and so if you take a pill once a day you can do that so what
pill once a day you can do that so what
pill once a day you can do that so what about other health conditions well in
about other health conditions well in
about other health conditions well in heart disease Kathy Elton Elton and
heart disease Kathy Elton Elton and
heart disease Kathy Elton Elton and these are some of my favorite bloggers
these are some of my favorite bloggers
these are some of my favorite bloggers so what would Kathy eat is one soory
so what would Kathy eat is one soory
so what would Kathy eat is one soory Rich’s with diabetes rambling she
Rich’s with diabetes rambling she
Rich’s with diabetes rambling she advocates for obviously diabetes Natasha
advocates for obviously diabetes Natasha
advocates for obviously diabetes Natasha Tracy the bipolar burple blog so she
Tracy the bipolar burple blog so she
Tracy the bipolar burple blog so she advocates for mental health with
advocates for mental health with
advocates for mental health with substance use disorders Adams led an
substance use disorders Adams led an
substance use disorders Adams led an addiction ella Dawson is amazing she’s a
addiction ella Dawson is amazing she’s a
addiction ella Dawson is amazing she’s a herpes icon I like that word icon but
herpes icon I like that word icon but
herpes icon I like that word icon but she’s somebody that actually changed my
she’s somebody that actually changed my
she’s somebody that actually changed my view of other sexually transmitted
view of other sexually transmitted
view of other sexually transmitted infections and living with those and she
infections and living with those and she
infections and living with those and she gave a TEDx talk once and it actually is
gave a TEDx talk once and it actually is
gave a TEDx talk once and it actually is the one that made me decide gosh I
the one that made me decide gosh I
the one that made me decide gosh I really wish I could do something like
really wish I could do something like
really wish I could do something like that
that
that the last person is Lisa dayss and she
the last person is Lisa dayss and she
the last person is Lisa dayss and she has multiple sclerosis she started a
has multiple sclerosis she started a
has multiple sclerosis she started a blog MS lisa says and she advocates for
blog MS lisa says and she advocates for
blog MS lisa says and she advocates for those that are living with MS and she’s
those that are living with MS and she’s
those that are living with MS and she’s somebody that is really close to me
somebody that is really close to me
somebody that is really close to me she’s my mom
she’s my mom
she’s my mom last year she reached the top of a rock
last year she reached the top of a rock
last year she reached the top of a rock climbing wall the back story from that
climbing wall the back story from that
climbing wall the back story from that is 15 years ago my mom was on her death
is 15 years ago my mom was on her death
is 15 years ago my mom was on her death couch okay death couch because she
couch okay death couch because she
couch okay death couch because she couldn’t even make it to the death bed
couldn’t even make it to the death bed
couldn’t even make it to the death bed so she started blogging with MS Lisa
so she started blogging with MS Lisa
so she started blogging with MS Lisa says after I told her a year after I had
says after I told her a year after I had
says after I told her a year after I had started mom you’ve got to do this and
started mom you’ve got to do this and
started mom you’ve got to do this and although I can’t say that blogging and
although I can’t say that blogging and
although I can’t say that blogging and social media or the reason why last
social media or the reason why last
social media or the reason why last December that she reached the top of the
December that she reached the top of the
December that she reached the top of the climbing wall I can tell you that it’s
climbing wall I can tell you that it’s
climbing wall I can tell you that it’s highly coincidental and there’s
highly coincidental and there’s
highly coincidental and there’s something powerful about opening your
something powerful about opening your
something powerful about opening your lives and sharing your story for others
lives and sharing your story for others
lives and sharing your story for others and advocating for others to live well
and advocating for others to live well
and advocating for others to live well and that’s what she’s doing and I’m
and that’s what she’s doing and I’m
and that’s what she’s doing and I’m really proud of her
really proud of her
really proud of her there’s something that the all these
there’s something that the all these
there’s something that the all these bloggers have as well according to we go
bloggers have as well according to we go
bloggers have as well according to we go health there they have a blogger network
health there they have a blogger network
health there they have a blogger network of over 10,000 people advocating for
of over 10,000 people advocating for
of over 10,000 people advocating for health conditions and many of us have
health conditions and many of us have
health conditions and many of us have the H o n code which means that we have
the H o n code which means that we have
the H o n code which means that we have a third-party accreditation just like
a third-party accreditation just like
a third-party accreditation just like health line just like WebMD that our
health line just like WebMD that our
health line just like WebMD that our content is accurate so it’s now to you I
content is accurate so it’s now to you I
content is accurate so it’s now to you I live by saying that we’re all dealing
live by saying that we’re all dealing
live by saying that we’re all dealing with something okay there’s no one that
with something okay there’s no one that
with something okay there’s no one that I know yet in life that has sex or
I know yet in life that has sex or
I know yet in life that has sex or intercourse bitch that couldn’t or
intercourse bitch that couldn’t or
intercourse bitch that couldn’t or shouldn’t be in the same shoes that I’m
shouldn’t be in the same shoes that I’m
shouldn’t be in the same shoes that I’m in that’s a powerful statement but it
in that’s a powerful statement but it
in that’s a powerful statement but it all comes from we’re all dealing with
all comes from we’re all dealing with
all comes from we’re all dealing with something so if you are have a chronic
something so if you are have a chronic
something so if you are have a chronic condition
condition
condition how awesome an incredible would it be if
how awesome an incredible would it be if
how awesome an incredible would it be if you started to tell your story on social
you started to tell your story on social
you started to tell your story on social media what if the experience you had
media what if the experience you had
media what if the experience you had could save 15 people’s lives and that’s
could save 15 people’s lives and that’s
could save 15 people’s lives and that’s what I am encouraging all of you to do I
what I am encouraging all of you to do I
what I am encouraging all of you to do I share this with my mom I share this with
share this with my mom I share this with
share this with my mom I share this with my mom I love you so I’m giving that to
my mom I love you so I’m giving that to
my mom I love you so I’m giving that to you guys
you guys
you guys I’m Josh Robbins I advocate for her or
I’m Josh Robbins I advocate for her or
I’m Josh Robbins I advocate for her or people living with HIV to live extremely
people living with HIV to live extremely
people living with HIV to live extremely well and you can check out my story at
well and you can check out my story at
well and you can check out my story at I’m so Josh
”
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