𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠, a TV editor and fine artist from Los Angeles, shares his growing up gay story and how he lost his partner during the AIDS epidemic. #lgbtq #pridemonth #gayrelationship www.markleegoldberg.com/ @markleegoldberg
OH my god YOUR GARY WAS SO HANSESOME HE IS MY TYPE GUY. IM SAME JUST DONT FIND. THAT DARN HIV. THE CABOL DELIBERTILY PROMOTED SEX. THE WAY IT WAS. TO KILL OFC GENERATION. SO THEY CAN MESS REST HUMANITY. THIS IS NEGATIVE WORLD. THEY SEEM HIT THOSE HAVE PROFESHIONAL JOBS. ITS ALL PART OF DISFUNCTIONAL. REAZION WHY HUNK ME COULD NOT GET GOOD DATE THEY WENT BY YOUR INCOME. IM SO SORRY HE BE THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE WE ONLY VISIT HERE. SOON ALL GOOD ONES BE SET FREE. D ❤
My Brother and I both tested positive in 1985. He passed in 1991, 1 week before his 29 birthday. I somehow survived, and I am 70. I lost many friends back then. ❤❤
Oh Frank! What a tragedy! If you ever decided to share your story, please do get in touch with me. I'll be more than happy to work on it and share it with the community.
Wow - that's incredible. I'm sorry for your loss. It really shows that everyone's body is different.. I will never understand how I tested negative. I went to the baths in the 1970's and early 80's in NYC. Everyone else I knew tested positive. I often wonder whether my autoimmunity played some role.
@@tedbohn4738 Obviously we're all happy that you're here, but yes it does sound like a miracle. Another friend who shared his story with us said, they would go to funerals in NYC all the time. It's hard for me to wrap my head around that kind of tragedy.
Volunteering in an AIDS hospice when the cocktail was introduced, I watched patients who were on death's front door recover overnight, be dismissed, and go back to work. A year ago, I ran into one of the first patients at the hospice to receive the cocktail. He's now 53, looks great, healthy, and he's aging well. When I realized he was the effervescent young man in his early twenties whom I knew from the hospice I broke down and started sobbing tears.
Mark, you are one of the most gorgeous men on earth. And almost 65??? Wow and so sweet too! Seriously, I am so sad you lost your partner and especially someone you loved so much. I love your artwork. Amazing! I wish you love forever in your future.
@@pauljack7170i agree with you but "gayness". Nowadays it should be clear about gay- its just men who loves men. And trans is not only about changing sex but men transitioning to qualities of woman...wether slightly or heavy ones. Its different from femininity.😊
Mark I am straight but was so moved by your beautiful story. I am so sorry you lost Gary so young but it sounds like you had a once in a lifetime guy there and many happy memories. Love is universal and so is loss. You seem like an awesome guy with a wonderful family who supports you. To better days!
This wonderful man freely shares his life experiences, notably about getting HIV and losing his beloved partner, Gary. Thank you so much, Mark Lee, for sharing your story. Thank you, LGBTQ Archives, for sharing Mark Lee.
Hi, My beautiful partner and friend passed away in 2021 I miss him every day and tell him I love him. You and Gary will be together again one day. I promise you.❤
Wow...I'm 67 and often wonder why I am still here. I lost my partner Ricky in 1992 and often wonder why I am still here. Thank you for sharing this. You are not alone. But !...we are still here for now and will never forget them. ❤ .
All these heartfelt comments of lost partners & friends brings me back to Christmas day 1999 when I lost the love of my life after 7 yrs to Aids/Hep C. I've been single ever since and I'm positive and 65 now taking Biktarvy. A miracle drug. It's only by God's grace I'm here to tell this. Thank you for sharing your touching story.
I lost my boyfriend to AIDS in 2020 after a long struggle. My heart breaks for you Mark. I'm still going through my grieving process and your story helps. Thank you for sharing. The plague isn't over and drugs aren't enough! We must keep fighting for a full cure and vaccine!
Oh wow, you’re the first person reporting such a recent AIDS related death! I am so sorry to hear that. I’m doing a special World AIDS Day video. If you’d like me to honor him in the video, please send me a good face photo with his first and last name. That’s the least I can do for you! My e-mail: LGBTQARCHIVES@Gmail.com. If you decided to do it, I must receive it today. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Much love! ❤️
Mark, I’m so very saddened by your loss. How blessed you were to have had such a love that still transcends time. Your homage to Gary through your art was a beautiful blessing as well. My thoughts are with you.
I was 22 in 1981, having moved from the backwaters of Southwest Virginia to South Florida. I remember seeing signs in one of the bars about where I live go for treatment to fight AIDS-related phenomena. Everyone knew there was ‘something’ going around; we didn’t know what it was-only that it was in San Francisco and New York City. I was one of the lucky ones-testing negative. I am now 64, and back living where I grew up. I think of all of the precious souls who were lost, due to fear, ignorance, mis-information, and lack of government support and funding-especially on the part of Ronald Regan.
Mark, I'm not sure why this came up in my RU-vid feed but im So happy it did. Thank you for your beautiful story. Yes it's sad but you shared so many wonderful things about Gary and your family. I'm a 64 year old gay man and somehow avoided AIDS. So many lives were lost to this disease including my very best friend, gone at 45 years old. I'm thankful you are here with us to share Your special story. It was meant for me to see it. Hugs, Mike
My Husband, John and I although never tested, I know we were both HIV positive. We are here, he is 76, I am 71...40 years together. Would not change that for the world. Here in Philadelphia, we lost a lot of people we knew to that horrific disease. We survived. meant to be.
One of the smartest, kindest, handsome young men I grew up with passed away in the mid eighties. It broke my heart to lose someone so wonderful. We lost so many young talented people to AIDS.
Very moving story. at 73, living alone in a big house in Pike Co PA lost the love of my life almost 5 years. ago from COPD and kidney failure.I can empathize. We were together 44 yrs. Lost all of our closest friends. We managed by a miracle too avoid AIDS thru no choice of our own . We were party boys. My heart goes out to You. i am tearing up, forgive my typing.
Mark's Reflections Of His 1st Love💘, Yes Really Moving & AIDS😪. Grief Is Grief & It Sux's. There Is Never Any Closure. They Are In Our Hearts💘& Lives Always💞24/7. Be 7 Years Next Month & Feels Right Now. 42+Years & C.O.P.D🌌& Diagnosed With Advanced. Yes We Get By 1 Minute⏱At A Time With 1440 Minutes⏱In Every 24 Hours🕰The Next Minute⏱Has Yet To Arrive & Then It Does. At 69+, Flying Solo In My Home🏡🛻& Mountain. So Many Amazing & Caring & Great Comradery❤Friends Always, Have All Passed. Where I Live There Is No Genuine Comradery. We Are Called 'Old School' & Never Felt Old. To Share How The History & Lives Were No One To Ever Share. Are You On Instagram? Always, Tommy🤠
I was listening to this beautiful tribute and when you mentioned Cryptosporidiosis, I was a mess. My late partner had such pain from this and watching it helplessly was almost paralysing. We are so lucky to have had these beautiful people in our lives and I am grateful that all the friends I lost then were my friends. I am grateful for my late partner in particular. This channel is amazing. You are amazing. Almost 65? Wow. You look great for any age. There’s nothing bad about looking 65, it’s just that you don’t😊 Thank you for this. It was great and such a great honouring of your late spouse’s life.
I met my partner at that time - before the drugs came out. He was HIV positive. At that time, it was a death sentence - many were becoming positive, getting sick or dying. I remember considering that if I continued to develop a relationship with him, that it would only be a matter of time that I would lose him and that I would be the one to see him through to his death (which is something most people usually don’t have to think of when they’re young and falling in love). At first, I was hesitant but then decided that I didn’t want to miss a minute of him. ❤ Miraculously, the drugs came out. He’s still alive to this day - I honestly can’t believe it!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I lost my partner of 23 years to leukemia. Although very different than AIDS, the results are so very similar. It is so difficult to loose someone you love to a disease that ravages the body. To watch the love of your life literally fade away. I share your grief and sorrow. Thank you again for sharing.
Mark, hearing your tribute to Gary really touch a place in my heart that I have tucked away from the rest of the world. In 1989 I met an amazing man named Christopher, within our first year he was diagnosed HIV positive. He contracted the virus from his Ex. We stayed together for some time but he asked me to move on since I was 10 years younger. We remained friends and sadly he passed in 1998. I think of him everyday. Your story has touched my soul. I am so happy to see that you are healthy. Thankfully I am negative and have a partner for 29 years. Thank you for sharing your love for Gary with us. Peace to you.🕯
What eloquence! Mark, you are a beautiful living tribute to Gary. I’m glad for both of you that you found one another. I lost my first college love. He was diagnosed in spring of ‘87 and died October 16, 1988. We were at UNC-Chapel Hill. I never really learned to love again-but immersed myself in history, dogs, and trout fishing. Thanks for sharing your story. You have lived an amazing life, and have done yourself and Gary proud. 👍
I think it’s so important for everyone today to reflect on what so many went through. Lives lost, families destroyed and many many incredible people taken far too soon. At a time when sex is so casual and everyone seems to have moved on from the fear of AIDS, but just know that there was a tremendous price paid for that freedom. It was paid for with blood, lost loves, families forever altered and the potential of millions of people who we may never know. What a beautiful story. Gary you are not forgotten.
I cannot imagine living in that time and getting that death sentence. I am 40yo and was diagnosed 5 years ago, I simply take one tablet per day and we are now seeing people with HIV living longer then those who are negative and that is because we are at the Dr so often getting checkups and bloods taken so they catch things early before they get out of hand. Im so lucky here in Australia my medications are $2565 per month however i just pay $7.20 and the Government pays the rest. I am very lucky to have been born in Australia.
Dear Mark, thank you for sharing your story. This was so touching and I'm very moved by your strength and willingness to help others. I'm proud to know you. You are incredible!
Mark Goldberg, you are an amazing man!! This was such a beautiful tribute and deeply touched me. I wish all gay men in their 20's through 40's would watch this video and tribute. Perhaps their understanding of what you and Gary, your friends, all of our friends went through. So glad you tapped into your art! You are still a very handsome guy buddy!
Robert, this particular video was one of the hardest videos that I've worked on. Mark had a photo album with photos from that period, mainly of people he was friends with and knew personally. As he was turning pages, he was like...he's dead, that guy's dead, this whole group died...etc. I couldn't believe it! It's shocking to know so many people died in such a short span of time, and the ones who survived had to deal with the fall out in their own ways. But I'm glad I was able to document it in my small way. As painful as it might be, if we don't talk about things, it's like they never happened, right?
A beautiful touching inspiration story that I can totally relate. When my ex of 17 years was diagnosed with HIV, my present husband and I took special care of him in his apartment for nearly two years. As per his wishes, we made sure he never had to go to the hospital. At the age of 56, he passed away in 1993, the same year that Mark's partner died. We scattered his ashes at the homes of his family and close friends in Greenfield, Mass and Long Island.
Wow what a beautiful and sad story. As a 49 year old I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear about the experiences of some of my gay elders because unfortunately due to AIDS so many of them and their wisdom has been lost.
Mark, you are amazing in many ways. You look terrific for "almost" 65! Wow! Thank you for sharing this heart wrenching story. Life is precious and we never know when it is going to be over in most cases. Everyday is a gift...I'm 68 and like many my age have lost so many fine friends in the 80's, 90's to HIV/Aids. It was a truly horrific time and I'm at a loss as to why/how I survived...xx
This just makes me sob. Every guy I dated before my husband of 20 years is gone. I don’t know. I guess we saved each other. This years is 40 years together. Thank you goddess.
All I can say is that I'm glad you're here. Mark's stories have been pretty challenging emotionally to work on. Even though I'm much younger and never met his friends, but my heart breaks for them. I hope that this LGBTQ Archives project, will help preserving our community's history and legacy. I'm so sorry to hear about your friends. If you ever wanted to contribute stories to this project, please let me know.
I wish to thank Mark for sharing his story and am thankful for how far we have come in medicine. Not to mention the upbeat perspective he kept in his message throughout. Sometimes it is hard when we are in the midst of trying situations that they can overcome us. Again, thank you for sharing your and Gary's story. May your life be filled with happiness, love, and peace.
A beautiful tribute - then at the end I saw Gary's dates......I'm exactly 6 days younger 10.19.1954 To this day I don't know how I escaped being positive, but I did. Like you I lost many friends & colleagues. I met the love of my life 45 years ago. It didn't last long for him but we remained close until he died in 2007 from another illness. Nothing has ever surpassed that early love. I never really learned to love again-but immersed myself in a career in performing arts. That all sounds bitter. It's not - retirement is great and I've never given up finding love. It's just been "slow" arriving.....!
Thank you. These histories and personal stories truly connect in universal ways on a human level that can transcend generations. It reminds us of who we are now and, most importantly, how we stand atop the shoulders of others' experiences.
Absolutely! I'm grateful that I get to work on these incredible stories and share them with the community. I really hope that more people will come forward and share their experiences. Like you said, these experiences CAN transcend generations. They'll always be relevant.
What an excellent video in every respect. I'm 67. I have NO idea how I turned out HIV-. For those of us who came of age in NYC in the 70's and 80's, I made up for lost time. And then AIDS came through NYC, and panic set in. Most of my friends quickly got sick and died. And in 1986/7 when the test became available, I was shocked when they told me I was negative. So for the next decade, I worked 18 hour days doing volunteer legal work. Anyway, this story is so moving - riveting, sad and uplifting at the same time. For me, the best part of your story is where you talk about your first dates with Gary, how you had several non-sexual dates first, and how your relationship developed. I loved how you talked about the jealousy issues, and how he sat you down and made you talk about it and then dealt with it. What lucky guys you were to have had each other. That was an important piece. And lastly, I'm sorry that you spent so many years thinking you could have done something differently to have saved him. I hope you've let go of that. There's nothing you could have done. Thank you for making this video. I'm glad you're still here to talk about your experience.
If you'd really, truly like to film a video with me and share my story,, even if it doesn't fit your narrative, I'd like that. If I sound negative, it's that my story is unique and, although I love myself, the uniqueness of my life has led to much heartache, rejection, loneliness, from other men, not from others. I have a life and experiences worthy of being explored. I once reached out to Matthew Dempsey, a gay psychologist, to be featured on his channel but it never happened, as was the case with Driftwood. I've just not been considered valuable, desirable, nor a hot commodity among my GBT peers in Los Angeles.
Since I didn't hear back about being the subject of one of your subsequent videos, I assume, correctly, that I'm not a subject for your series. I'd like to be proven wrong.
I lost my best friend to AIDS back in 1995. I met him when I was just coming out, what I liked most about him is he offered me friendship and wasn’t trying to sleep with me like all the other men I met in the early 90s. His deterioration was sudden and fast then all of a sudden he was gone. He left a hole in my heart that I doubt anyone or anything could fill. He still lives in my thoughts and I will carry his memory until the day I meet my dearest friend again. Love & miss you J. ❤
Mark, I so relate to you. I also went to west street beach and the boomboom room (also the little shrimp). I lost many friends during that time. I’m glad that you are doing well. Take care, Mark
Thank you for your story. We are the same age, and I lost the one man I loved in 1992 who had AIDS but died from his medications. I'm so thankful for the time we had together and the home we made in San Francisco. My mother died seven days before him, so needless to say my own depression lasted well over a decade. We were lucky to find one another, and not a day goes by without thinking of him. Take care. Your paintings are beautiful.
I came across your story here on RU-vid, I just couldn't stop listening. I Thank You so much for sharing sir, I'm sorry for your loss. Nevertheless, you look amazing!! The age of 65 looks good on you❤😍 #StayBlessed❤❤❤❤❤
A beautiful personal story, the joy and pain of life and love and loss, Mark is a true survivor in so many ways, he's still a Beautiful man in his mid 60s (!!), so cute with a wonderful outlook on life and what really matters, you and Gary were so blessed to have each other for a time, and all those special memories to hold on to, a loving supportive family and friends are so important. Stay happy and healthy, and keep living every moment, just live your best life. You are a joy to the world. :-)
I was diagnosed 2018. 1 tablet daily, undetectable. I can never show enough gratitude for the beautiful people who died so I can live a healthy life as they were the guinea pigs for effective medication
Thanks for your story. I served as the Director of an AIDS education and testing program in LA County in the late 80s/early 90s after being asked to be the first counselor at the first anonymous testing site in Phoenix in the summer of 1985 when the first tests came out while I was in school for my masters in social work at Arizona State University. The school wouldn't allow me credit for the work I was doing with "those people" in the program I helped start and they made me quit to distribute food boxes to finish my course work. There were no supports, groups, effective medications or hope for people living more than a couple years back in those early days. I was consoling crying people in the parking lot. Tough times. Sorry for your loss. Best wishes from Cambodia.
@@lgbtqarchives Thank you for your kind words. At 68 now and living in Southeast Asia with my partner, I'm not sure that returning for a visit to LA will be in the cards. Would be nice to know my story could be recorded for the archives. It's been quite a ride.
I lost too many friends to this disease over the years! Bless those souls who perished and those who survived. 🙏 ❤ Such a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing! 😊
I am a couple of years younger than you. My coming out coincided with awful tabloid headlines about gay plague, so I went back in the closet for another seven years, until I was 30. It almost certainly saved my life but it also had the effect of being making me very wary, which has never really gone. Doesn't compare with being +ve but I'm not sure that anyone from our generation feels they got off easily. Thank you for your wonderfully considered thoughts. It can't have been easy but I found it very moving. I thought this was a very beautiful
I was so moved by the authenticity of this sharing. Thank you for your story. Your relationship was beautiful and you both were worthy of such a deep and reverent love. I was 18 when AIDS became more widely known in Australia and it wasn’t until years later that I fully realized its devastating impact. I remember going to see a film called Longtime Companion and sitting in the cinema sobbing my heart out. How many wonderful men were taken by this disease & so shamefully treated by their government; ostracized, vilified and left to fend for themselves with little to no resources. I will always believe this was a deliberate crime against humanity. You honoured your beloved partner so graciously Mark…I know he would never be too far from your side to this day. Love to your soul 🩵🌟
Thank you....i was there too..in San Fran at the very beginning..so many STELLAR friends gone....i often think of them ,how hard it was to die so young so perfectly equiped to live.....what our today would have brought....
What a beautiful story. It takes me back, though, to all the mysterious suffering of the 80's when no one understood at the beginning of the plague. I lost every single one of my friends and wondered for years why I survived. Now in my 70's my friends are once again starting to leave the scene . . one by one. At least now it's not as much of a mystery. Your story helped me to recall some of the pleasant memories . . . long forgotten . . (ie; 'the BoomBoom Room' . . in Labina Gooch . . . lol). This is a touching tribute to Gary that you have put together to share with 'the Community'. Thank You!
What a beautiful ode to love during such a dark ambiguous time. This resonates in so many levels. Thanks for sharing such intimates memories and rehashing emotional wounds to make us modern counterparts understand and appreciate the progress.
I think this is the most perfect video on RU-vid. Speaking as another “boomer” you have put my exact thoughts into words to describe what hell we lived through in the 1980s and ‘90s. Thank you for your very important contribution to our history.
Dear Peter, thank you very much for supporting Mark and our archives. These stories should be told. I hope more guest speakers would come forward. By the way, your old piano collection is pretty incredible!
I somehow survived a couple of promiscuous decades without ever catching an STD, however I’m living with the consequences of not planning for my financial future ( thinking there wouldn’t be a future). I’m 76 now, still in great health, with a few great circle of friends. My guardian angel has been working overtime.
What a blessing to be able to hear your story, and learn about your lost dear love. I hope remembering him, as you shared here, keeps Gary alive and vibrant in your heart and mind ❤. I was in HS in the 80s and not sexually active, didn’t figure out I was gay until 1996. I got so scared of the idea of becoming sick that I suppressed my sexual urges and avoided relationships; I’m 54 now, happily single with wonderful friends and “chosen” family. I have not abandoned hope that I, too, could meet a man of my own dreams, as Gary was for you. Thanks for sharing, may you continue to enjoy the gift of growing older ❤🙏
So many beautiful souls, humans, beauty and potential....gone. It really was an unbelievable tragedy of epic proportions to live through. We lost immense amount of talent and future contributions
You beat the odds, Mark. Gary looks like he was a lovely person, and how fortunate you both were to have found each other. I have always aspired to the kind of loving relationship you both enjoyed. ♥ ❤
Mark, how HOW can you look better today then you did 30 yrs ago? You have an angel in heaven looking down upon you every single day. I've never known anyone in my life that had or died from AIDS. Sheltered maybe, and had a couple gay friends that I can't find that I met in Buffalo my hometown. That scares me because when we hung together in late '70s and had our fun it lasted a couple years and Joe went on to Temple U. and I lost track of him. I called many last name people in Pittsburg where he was born to no avail. Anyway, thanks for your extraordinary story, you are a kind loving person and I admire your strength and courage. Take care. 😢
I teared up watching this wonderful and sad story. How lucky you were to have had at least that time together. Unfortunately I was never blessed with that special someone. Mark, you are amazing. Wonderful person, definately a great artist. Anyone should be proud to love you and be able to share your life and journey.
What a wonderful tribute. 65 years old and still thriving and living your best life. That artwork is just stunning. I hope you're continuing to share your gift with the world. Hopefully you're keeping your options open as far as a relationship as well. You're going to be around for a long, long time.
Had just finished watching a video on RU-vid this evening about Jerry Smith and your video cycled in next, Mark. Such a powerful relationship you had with Gary and I’d like to believe it continues on some level. What you have created over the decades in grieving the loss, and transforming the parts of it into art you have been willing to share with us as an artist, a man, a partner of a perfect love, is something to behold.
I offered Mark Coleman, the love of my life, some drugs that turned out be the solution, crixivan and AZT, but he turned them down because all the drugs he already been given had failed and made and made him sick. Just a click of time separated Mark from life or death. I have a Gary's greenhouse painting in my home to this day. I spread Mark's ashes on the beach of our Key West home and beneath two crossed palm trees in the forest near a beach where we used to go. I still visit that place to this day. Thank you Mark Goldberg and ... I miss you Mark Coleman.
Dear Andrew, that is an amazing history and personal experience that you have. If you're still local, I would LOVE to meet you and capture some of experiences and share them with the community. That would be an honor.
What a fantastic journey! I am so very sorry you lost your life partner. So did I. There were so many similarities that you had that I had. I know we will never meet, however I would love to sit and talk with you. I wish you the best always. You’ve lived a beautiful life, regardless of your major setbacks. Much love and happiness.
Sitting here bawling like a little boy 😞. Bring me back to those horrific times. I'm 64 that horrific plague cut a cruel swatch through my world. I was a bartender in one of the most popular Gay bars on Long Island. What is once a joyous safe space for us to be ourselves turn into a sorrowful mournful place for us to gather together to share our sadness. We used to open at 6:00 p.m. however when we open the doors there was so many people waiting to come inside after a funeral we began opening up at noon. I lost dozens of friends. Including my two closest friends Billy and Jimmy. We were supposed to grow old and Gay together. We fix it ourselves living together like The Golden Girls in our golden years. Still missing you too every day 😞
Dear Terry, I’m so sorry that you guys had to go through such tragic times. If you ever wanted to share your experiences with LGBTQ Archives, please do let me know. ❤️
I can’t loook at the older gay generation without being sad because of stories like this tragedy, trauma, etc 😢 Mark deserves true love again HIV education need to be mandatory
I can't imagine the pain at that time. I hope he knows he probably saved more lives talking about his story. He probably also helped so many others that came infected after he did. Stories help, talking helps. I hope young gays know how lucky they have it these days.
I am three years younger than you. I will never forget that decade. And seeing dear friends go home. Your story is so familiar. Thank you for sharing this personal memoir.
You brought Gary back to life for me. Your wonderful, amazing tribute made me feel as if I knew both of you from the time you two met. Thanks for doing a beautiful narration and be well.
Such beauty between two men. It humbles me. Mark looks around 50 and gorgeous. A beautiful man. My then ex partner but remaining very intimate friend died of aids in ‘93. I many thought: What if that cure had come out a bit earlier. I thought that was ‘94 but now hear it was ‘96. I’m negative. Never lived so healthy. Funny that being positive meant for Mark to live as healthy as possible with work outs and everything. Might be the reason why he looks so good now. That is a bit odd. I was gorgeous at early twenty but let it slip. Stupid. Then again also his strong mentality has helped him. Lots of respect for him. His story moved me. A real Love. ❤️
I can't thank enough for taking time to teach and share the lessons you've had in your life. I am from the same age group as you and Gary but I never caught the virus. I did suffer the losses of some amazing men. Carry on and celebrate life, and continue to be generous. Thank you!!!!
Thankyoou for your beautiful story. I have been POZ since 1994. I had met the love of my life but he tested NEG while I tested POZ. I remember us laying the couch in our recently purchased home and I was crying. He held me so tight and assured me that everything was going to be OK. We remained together for 11 years. Although we have remained close friends to this date. Im undetectable now and he remains negative. Thankyou again for your beautiful inspiration.
What an experience! I believe that most people, including myself, tend to think only in medical terms when we hear about HIV/AIDS. Yes, the medical aspect is significant, but there's much more to it. There's another side that affects one's life and the lives of those around them. That's the part from which we need to learn more, both from you and others in the same situation. I understand that this may not be the most pleasant topic for you to discuss, but when or if you're ready, I would be honored to help share your story. This is the purpose of this channel.
This touching story brought tears and I often wonder how I survived. The cocktail drug came in 1997. Right when I was on deaths door in the hospital with pneumosistis pneumonia (the "gay death"). My doctor later said she was amazed I lived. I'm 65 now. God's Providence is all I can attest it to.
You’re a beautiful man. It trips me out hearing your partner’s story. I contracted it at 16 in 1986. I was a nationally placed competitive swimmer. I was diagnosed in 1996 with 7 T cells, Cryptosporidium and Thrush. I got my affairs in order and put on disability and as you know given an 80% mortality rate BUT i was given the opportunity to try a new cocktail and suddenly hints were different. I’m 53 now and still dealing with everything that happened to us but grateful to be alive. Thank you for your story. So beautiful.
Unbelievable! At this point I’m fully convinced even I document stories all day everyday, I won’t even be able to scratch the surface. Every time I see an older gay man in public, I can’t help but think that’s a miracle right there!
Mark, I would like to believe that those certain people in our lives that have gone on before us look down upon us with a great deal of love. I'm sure Gary feels honored to have been your partner and true love. I lost my true love in 2000 due to heavy depression and a self-inflicted injury. His name was Kevin and we had such a good relationship. He could not grasp the truth that he was gay and was so horrified of contracting HIV and being a disappointment to his parents. I too never really loved again but have been close to it. I believe that Kevin looks down upon me and wraps me with love, just as Gary does you. I pray for him and will pray for you too.
