Palm Springs, California
Positive since 1983

I was diagnosed in 1983 while in college. I was two years into my first relationship. At that time HIV was almost certainly a death sentence but my partner and I thought we would conquer it together. Thirteen years later my partner passed. I found myself alone in my 30s and didn’t really know who I was.

For me, it was a triple whammy to be Hispanic, light-skinned and HIV positive, but I muddled through on a path of self-discovery. It was a difficult time after losing my partner and most of my friends over a 14-year period.

I lived in Sacramento during this time of finding out who I was and what life held for me. I met many new friends that I still have to this day. I changed careers and spent several years understanding life and living with HIV. I’ve never been reluctant to share my status with dates, employers, friends or family.

Now I live in Palm Springs. I spent two years with a man that was negative. He was probably the love of my life, but that ended recently. Although he thought he could handle someone who was positive, I think ultimately he could not.

I am very fortunate at this point in my life to be a survivor living with HIV for 31 years. I’ve never really had any major health issues. I am currently undetectable and have been for several years. I’m looking forward to what life holds for me—both positive and negative (pun intended)—in the years to come. So boys, if you’re ever in Palm Springs, look me up. I’m single.

What three adjectives best describe you?
Passionate, humorous and bold

What is your greatest achievement?
Living 31 healthy years with HIV and leaving a positive impact on people. I’ve known some amazing people.

What is your greatest regret?
Not being a bigger voice for all of those that I’ve lost over the years, and losing my last partner

What keeps you up at night?
A lot. I’m a ruminator.

If you could change one thing about living with HIV, what would it be?
That love would be blind to HIV status

What is the best advice you ever received?
You are who you are. Be nothing less.

What person in the HIV/AIDS community do you most admire?
Sam Page

What drives you to do what you do?
Life and everything in it. I work with animals and they inspire me.

What is your motto?
Where thoughts go, energy flows.

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
My dog

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
A bird. The freedom to go where you want, when you want? Wow.