for decades, thousands of HIV survivors have struggled in silence, traumatized
by the loss of SO MANY LOVED-ONES
AND by LIVING FOR YEARS WITH A DEATH SENTENCE HANGING OVER THEIR HEADS.

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Long-term HIV survivors share their
lowest points and how they came
through thanks to one another.

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Tez Anderson, 59

Founder of Let's kick ass - aids survivor syndrome
hometown: marietta, georgia
"if i can get up and tell my story in a way that they can relate to, it makes them feel less alone."

“My whole impulse in my life has been to help other people.”

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Michael Hampton, 63

Member of Elizabeth taylor 50-Plus network - san francisco aids foundation
hometown: Knoxville, tennessee

“I just want to help my fellow man.”

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Patti Radigan, 61

Volunteer yoga instructor - let's kick ass
Hometown: long island, new york

“I told those guys, 'You help me so much more than I could ever help you.'”

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george kelly, 58

founder of world aids day's "Inscribe: remembering loved ones," annual harvey milk school student sidewalk art project in the Castro
hometown: galveston, texas

“People who help people are happier healthier people.”

San Franciscans living with HIV by age and gender

Well over half of San Franciscans living with HIV is over 50 years of age, many of whom were diagnosed before highly active antiretroviral therapy turned the disease from a terminal illness into a chronic health condition.

San Francisco's HIV diagnoses, deaths and survivors, 1980-2017

During the 15 years between the first diagnosis of HIV and the discovery of effective HIV treatment, 14,168 died from the disease in San Francisco. By 1996, when highly active antiretroviral therapy arrived, many of the 7,581 San Franciscans who were still living with the virus would become the survivors of 'the AIDS Generation.'

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