The December 2015 issue of POZ magazine is online.

Here’s an excerpt from my editor’s letter:

The honorees on the 2015 POZ 100 list are fellow long-term survivors. Diagnosed with HIV in 1995 or earlier, they all were living with the virus before effective treatment. Most of them got HIV as adults, but some of them seroconverted as teenagers and a few were born with the virus.

In addition to sharing all that comes with living with the virus, they also share a commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS. They aren’t meant to be the definitive group of long-term survivors, but they’re a great representative subset. They come from across the country and all walks of life.

The POZ 100 honorees on our cover--Fred Hersch, Luna Luis Ortiz, Erin Secker, Lolisa Gibson-Hunte and Ron Simmons--are fine examples from the list. They show the diversity of the list while representing its commonalities. Click here to read about them and the other honorees.

To read my complete letter from the editor, click here.