HIV survivors' stories show the loss, resilience and activism of the early years of AIDS pandemic

(MENAFN- The Conversation) It has been since the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. is a time not only to remember the many lives lost to AIDS, but also to reflect on the stories of long-term survivors and caregivers.

These stories must inform our practical response to HIV today both in policy and for social equity. The wisdom of these stories can also improve our responses to COVID-19, future pandemics and other contemporary crises.

Many early depictions of HIV/AIDS focus on the experience of gay communities in the United States, .

However, HIV/AIDS has deeply affected, and continues to affect, many different communities in Canada. This includes gay, bisexual and queer men, , as well as women, Indigenous people, transgender people and African, Caribbean and Black people, who are often overlooked in HIV policies and histories.

People who live at the intersections of marginalized communities face unique barriers.

As multidisciplinary HIV researchers, we know how important it is to continue learning from these histories to improve HIV treatment, support and prevention efforts today.

So far, we have conducted 116 oral history interviews with long-term survivors of HIV and their caregivers in British Columbia between 2017 and 2020 as part of . These interviews will soon be available in a .

Our oral history research identified a lack of support and information for people living with HIV and their caregivers. It documents their experiences of HIV stigma in both health care and society, and the loss of their lovers, friends and community members.

It also illustrates the community care and resilience that helped them deal with the emotional impact of HIV/AIDS, and the grassroots advocacy that was necessary to improve medical responses.

HIV In My Day is a collection of diverse stories that provides a nuanced picture of the early years of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in B.C. These stories demonstrate the importance of people coming together.

Marginalized communities mobilized in response to shared public health challenges that were exacerbated by structural forms of oppression. These personal stories highlight the living history of HIV, including experiences of isolation, discrimination, caregiving, positive thinking and activism.

Gay, bisexual and queer men were at the epicentre of HIV/AIDS in B.C. in the early years of the pandemic and while many of them lived with and died of AIDS, the lesbian and gay communities came together to care for each other in the face of government apathy towards HIV/AIDS rooted in homophobia.

Early community-based AIDS organizations built on previous gay activism. Our participants recount establishing and B.C. Persons With AIDS Society (later ), which provided critical education and support to community members. raised awareness about the pandemic.

Our participants noted, however, that who were increasingly dealing with HIV/AIDS. People in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside — including Indigenous people, women, people experiencing poverty and people who inject drugs — lacked access to the same important resources.

While these organizations eventually expanded their reach, women and Indigenous communities developed their own networks of care that were responsive to a multitude of complex social factors like sexism, racism, settler colonialism and classism.

The living history of HIV demonstrates how pandemics reinforce pre-existing social inequities. . The among Indigenous people and other marginalized communities.

HIV histories provide examples of how to better address these inequities. These histories illuminate decades-long trajectories of community care and activism that confront anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, as well as .

Speaking about , one participant said: ''I look at that epidemic and think why is it even happening? We''ve already been through this.''

So, what can we learn about responding to these crises from the perspectives and experiences of our participants?

Long-term survivors of HIV and their caregivers remind us to address social inequities, especially during pandemics. This is not only beneficial for marginalized communities, but important for the rest of society as our health and well-being are connected to one another.

HIV In My Day provides moving personal stories of how individuals and their communities responded to the tragedy and injustice of the HIV/AIDS pandemic by challenging prejudice and being more inclusive.

Let's remember these examples and follow them in our ongoing responses to HIV/AIDS and other crises challenging society. We must face them together, now and in the future.

This article was co-authored by Ben Klassen, research manager at the Community-Based Research Centre. He has co-ordinated the HIV In My Day study since 2017 and holds an MA in history from Simon Fraser University.

MENAFN13052021000199003603ID1102076936

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.