I always saw AIDS as being my fight. Maybe because of my compromised immune system (solidarity with the victims there), and maybe because there were always gay people in my life. When I was little, it was mostly cousins and a few of my mom's friends. As I got older, there were all kinds of gay people around me (my age or adults). And then there were people I knew who had AIDS. Some of them have died from the complications it brings. some are alive and doing quite well.

There are still no magic bullet cures, but the treatments have come a very long way.