Reality Check with Guy Anthony

Every now and then I find myself in a zone. A zone that is split between Reality, Beliefs, and Ignorance. I can deal with my Beliefs and Reality. However, to be Ignorant (lack of knowledge) when there are so many resources is inexcusable.

With that in mind, with the words “Prep” and “Positive” coming across my desk, I needed to speak to someone who could correct my ignorance, bring me out of my beliefs and into reality. For this, I called Guy Anthony.

Guy Anthony is a well-respected HIV/AIDS activist, community leader and author. Diagnosed with HIV as a teen, Guy has dedicated his adult life to the pursuit of neutralizing global HIV/Aids-related stigmas. He released Pos(+)tively Beautiful: Affirmations, Advocacy & Advice on World AIDS Day in 2012. This collection of inspiring narratives, raw imagery, and affirming anecdotes has earned Guy much acclaim, including being named one of the top 100 HIV prevention leaders under 30 by POZ Magazine and as one of the top 100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch by National Black Justice Coalition.

 

 

Guy served as a Program Manager/Coordinator for the Treatment Adherence program at Us Helping Us, a local AIDS service organization serving Black communities in the Washington, DC area for two years. In his role at US Helping Us, Guy worked with newly diagnosed Black gay men to help them come to terms with their status, navigate the complex health care system so they can access care, and develop plans for them to adhere to their treatment regimen and achieve viral suppression. Guy also serves on Washington, DC’s Ryan White Planning Council, overseeing millions of dollars in HIV funding for the city and is a regular contributor to AIDS.gov and POZ.com.Guy serves as a brand ambassador to ViiV Healthcare, one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies. He is the President/CEO the Black, Gifted & Whole Foundation, a two-fold intermediary organization that provides scholarships to Black gay men attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

Guy is currently focused on mobilizing HIV-positive Black gay men. He hosts POZ-ONLY advocates dinners quarterly, and
facilitates a summit entitled “#POZTALK”, which is an intergenerational conversation that transcends age and socio-economic status. He is currently pitching these #POZTALKS to Black Gay Pride Celebrations around the Country.

“My mentor told me that if we do not tell our own stories, then our stories die along with us, or others are left to determine the story about us. I knew I had to tell my story. I knew that what I went through (molestation, sexual assault, drug abuse) would be therapeutic for other Black boys around the world who were just like me. I knew I could not be silent about my disease.”