SURVIVOR FIGHTS STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH HIV

Bradford McIntyre, HIV Survivor since 1984. Bradford marched proudly along the 36 ANNUAL Vancouver PRIDE PARADE route carrying his homemade sign which read: OUT ABOUT HIV, HIV+ 30 YEARS, wearing a T-Shirt with the words: NO SHAME ABOUT BEING HIV+, to fight HIV/AIDS Stigma.

Photo: Bradford McIntyre, HIV Survivor since 1984.
Bradford marched proudly along the 36 ANNUAL Vancouver PRIDE PARADE route carrying his homemade sign which read: OUT ABOUT HIV, HIV+ 30 YEARS, wearing a T-Shirt with the words: NO SHAME ABOUT BEING HIV+, to fight HIV/AIDS Stigma.

Bradford McIntyre says it’s important to end the stigma over being HIV positive.
Photo Credit: Charlie Smith

At this year’s Vancouver Pride celebrations, Bradford McIntyre marked another milestone in his remarkable life.

The long-term HIV Survivor changed the sign he carried in the 2004 parade to reflect that he’s still here 30 years after being infected with the retrovirus. A decade ago, the sign said “20 years”.

Emblazoned across the front of his white T-shirt was the message “No shame about being HIV+”.

“I’m in shock that I’m still alive and still here and still doing this,” McIntyre told the Straight at the corner of Robson and Bute Streets.

McIntyre sees it as a tremendous opportunity for public education about HIV, which killed scores of Vancouverites before effective treatment was developed. “I nearly died of PCP pneumonia in 1998 and it was the antiretroviral medications that saved my life,” he said. “I’ve been undetectable [viral load] since then. I’m not able to transmit.”

He explained that the “treatment as prevention” approach pioneered by Dr. Julio Montaner's team at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS has made it possible for HIV-positive people not to infect others.

“So what we need to do is find out who’s infected,” McIntyre said. “There’s 35 million people worldwide that are infected and 19 million people don't know that they are.”

McIntyre created the Positivelypositive.ca website to counter the stigma associated with being HIV positive. He said he believes that this is an important step in addressing the epidemic.

He’s not happy that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has never spoken to Canadians about HIV, even as youth, seniors, and people in aboriginal communities continue to be infected. “We need a prime minister who’s going to acknowledge Julio Montaner and the Canadian researchers who’ve worked so hard and are being accepted all around the world but are not being acknowledged by our own prime minister,” McIntyre said.

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About Bradford McIntyre
A long time survivor living with HIV since 1984, Bradford McIntyre announced publicly on national TV, on World AIDS Day, December 1, 1994; that he was living with HIV. Bradford has appeared on national television and radio, in numerous newspaper and magazine interviews and documentaries. Along with local, national and international speaking engagements, he has participated in HIV/AIDS campaigns locally, nationally and globally.
Bradford has participated in a variety of research studies and clinical trials to help improve treatment and other aspects of HIV.
He has served on the Board of Directors of multiple AIDS Service Organizations.
Since 1994, whenever possible, Bradford has volunteered his time and energy participating in HIV and AIDS causes and events through all venues: events, media, conferences, seminars, documentaries and speaking engagements. Bradford's story of strong, local presence and international activism inspires and gives hope to countless people.
Bradford's global impact is shown through a comprehensive, informative website: Bradford McIntyre Positively Positive Living with HIV/AIDS
www.PositivelyPositive.ca .