Robert and Mick, thank you for being so open about your experiences in this video. It's empowering and informative. It takes courage.

@jillcarter9877

2 жыл бұрын

We love u all.. Ty for sharing.

@eddieharrison3801

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing I lost a lot of friends to it it still terrifying to this day you guys are so brave.

I tested positive right after my 18th birthday.. I only had 1 sexual encounter, and I was irresponsible and got HIV… l only talk about it with my family, my doctor, and my partner. I’m undetectable and a healthy 30 yo guy. Happy and healthy

@13Senko

2 жыл бұрын

I don't know you personally but I'm glad you're alive 💙

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

@Imetwurld_

6 ай бұрын

How did u get it once ?? Is that even possible.

@FuzzyFoot58

3 ай бұрын

Thats some serious bad luck. Ive had 67 sex partners and not even gotten crabs.

@ThinkingYesimathinkee-pz1rf

Ай бұрын

​@@FuzzyFoot58 67 💀 what like whyyyy

My favorite uncle died from AIDS when I was 10. I remember all the mean comments made about his sexuality, the way her acted (because he was feminine) and his health. At the time, my mother made it a point to educate us about HIV/AIDS so we wouldn’t be scared to be around him (my extended family were fear mongering against him). As a kid you really don’t understand what’s really happening. You just notice that grandma won’t let your uncle drink outta her cuts or eat off her dishes; and when the family “explains,” why, they basically tells you that you can die from it, you get scared and pull away. Thank god for my mother who wouldn’t allow misinformation to continue spread to us like that. I love him so much! I remembered every little detail about him that I could. I’m upset that because he had to hide his true self from us kids, I didn’t get to experience him more and learn more about him from him. Like the fact that he was a drag Queen (never knew until I was grown) or that uncle John -who was around since I was a baby- was actually his boyfriend (put that together as a grew up). He was the sweetest, kindest, and one of the most beautifulest people you’d ever meet. He loved Now or laters candy and always listened to his portable CD Player. He would dance any and everywhere. He wasn’t a fighter but would stand up against anybody! 😂 Having him in my life, and having experiences with him, has undoubtedly played a major part turning me into who I am today. 🙏🏾 I’m eternally grateful 🥲

@Monica-fj2sn

2 жыл бұрын

May he rest in peace and his memory live on through you. Sounded like a wonderful person to be around ❤️

@mannequinn_made420

2 жыл бұрын

@@Monica-fj2sn thank you 😊

@ymaysernameuay1113

2 жыл бұрын

We're all headed to the same place, he just got there earlier than us. the dead outnumber the living and he's in good company 🥲

@chrissy_crumbles

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like he was an amazing guy. So glad you have these fond memories and that your mom helped stop the stigma. Thank you for sharing this💚

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

I’m glad all four guys are still here knowing how hard HIV/AIDS hit the community in the 80s and 90s. I’m also glad that our knowledge of HIV has allowed positive people like Mick and Robert to live with a chronic condition rather than a terminal one. Great video, and thank you guys!

@QASIMARA

2 жыл бұрын

That's the thing, though. HIV is not a chronic condition so much as a retrovirus that codes the killing of white blood cells which promotes any number of opportunistic infections attempting to harm the patient.

@emilymcmahon2560

2 жыл бұрын

@@QASIMARA Agreed, but medication has made it into a chronic condition.

Robert and Mick being so open about this is both heartbreaking and amazing, I hope they know they're helping us younger gays know this community's past more than any other outlet we can find. I love my gay grandpas, and I'm glad modern medicine is helping them live with something that was so scary 30-40 years ago

@virg0_lem0nade

2 жыл бұрын

yes it is so important for younger LGBT folks to educate themselves about this history -- it really was such an important part of American and even human history, but especially to the queer community. Princess Diana was famous at the time for even "daring" to be in the same room as AIDS patients. It was referred to by citizens and politicians alike as "gay cancer" and "a plague given to gay people" because of the fact that they were gay. ACT UP and other organizations are so much of what made "queer culture" what it is today.💗💗💗

@Memphisblackqueen2003

2 жыл бұрын

Oh lawd I'm blind. I thought that pic was sixnine 😳

@ThatOneOtherFangirl

2 жыл бұрын

@@Memphisblackqueen2003 Nope, that's my face! 😂

The acceptance in both Robert's and Mick's faces countered by Jessay's sadness is heartbreaking.... I'm glad that things have changed now for those who have HIV. You never truly live unless you're faced with the thought of dying. It changes your perspective and you become more appreciative of living.every.single.moment. ❤

Okay. Every single time I watch a video with these men, I think, "Damn, I wish I knew these men in my real life. They are awesome freakin' people." But this video brought me to tears almost immediately. Thank you, guys, for speaking out on so, so many different topics - and for reminding people that "gay" doesn't just mean fabulous fun time all the time. It can be scary, and painful, in isolating ways that many people can't even imagine. Thank you for being amazing humans.

1:18 I teared up listening to Bill’s story of how he lost _80%_ of all his friends to AIDS, and how he didn’t know they’d had AIDS because they all hid the fact that they were sick. Imagine how scared they must have felt, dying in mass but each person feeling so isolated and alone. Stigmatizing health conditions is NEVER the right thing to do. It’s only through compassion and outreach that we can truly improve lives for everybody in society.

Many of my friends were just dying left and right back in the 80's. If you caught it, it was game over. Patients couldn't stay at the hospital, they couldn't go home, there was no place really for them to go back to.... until AIDS hospice care centers started to open up in major cities with higher concentration of gays such as Long Beach and San Francisco. I visited aids patients once or twice a week for 6 years I think. I've seen pretty awful stuff. Many of them got totally abandoned by their family and friends. They had absolutely no one. I recently documented my experience in a video on my channel, in case if you'd like to know more about it.

I'm sitting here typing this with tears in my eyes because I have a cousin who tested positive a few years back. He has been openly gay for most of his adult life, and his father was unable to accept that he was for a long time but has finally come around and begun to love him just as much as he did before, if not more so. A few other members of our family had the same reaction, especially once we found out that he was sick; but with patience, time and the compassion and understanding that family should- have, everyone has come to love him so very much. He's happily married and doing very well currently, but its just kind of a shock, I suppose, that people still have the reaction to learning that someone tested positive for HIV/AIDS that they did in the 80's and early 90's; that of fear and caution. The world is substantially better off now than it was then, and I am happy for it. And, I am happy that both Robert and Mick are doing well. Thank you to both of you for showing the world that you are still you and can have a normal life. Much love to the four of you.

This made me cry. I lost so many friends and have absolutely no idea how I came thru it unscathed. I drank like a fish and did whatever drug was put in front of me when I came out in 1990. That put me in situations that almost guaranteed I'd get it. But I didn't and I'll never understand why. Love these guys!

@bigman4407

2 жыл бұрын

You probably have an immunity to it

@Hortonheardahoe

2 жыл бұрын

Our bodies are weird and confusing and we still don’t understand them completely. I was around a lot of covid patients, but never got it. There were people that never went out, that got it. Sometimes it’s the luck of the draw, sometimes it’s our bodies, sometimes it’s wrong place, wrong time. Similar to pregnancy, some people try forever and then I get pregnant during my first sexual encounter. I’m so sorry for your losses! Im so sorry for the prejudices against HIV and your community. Im so sorry for how the medical community treated HIV and aids cases before. I’m so glad you’re here! And I hope we can do better for treatment, protection, and a cure! ❤️

@irishman4671

2 жыл бұрын

@@Hortonheardahoe Thanks so much. Very kind of you to say!❤❤❤

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

Oh Robert and Mick,thank you so much for your openness. Thank you for speaking put against the stigma,and for opening up and being raw and honest. We all love the Old Gays! Thank you for being KZread's gay grandpa's lol💚💙

I highly recommend reading “All the Young Men” to anyone interested in a sad but uplifting story or further insight on the HIV crisis. It’s a real story written by a woman who dedicated everything she had to caring and befriending hiv patients in the south during the 1980s. Incredible book ❤️

@charlesfranklinhall

2 жыл бұрын

I cried within the first 30 minutes of reading that book!

@meco4068

2 жыл бұрын

I'm going to check it out! Thank you...

I love that Bill and Jessay just listened and learned. I have such an immense respect for Bob & Mick.

Oh, Robert, I love you. my son is almost 22 now and I stress the need for being safe and made him watch the doc, We were there. he doesn't know the tragedy that was the 80s and 90s. thank you for sharing

@mikey2848

2 жыл бұрын

wow, I’m about to be 22 just like your son

@johncollinge619

2 жыл бұрын

@@mikey2848 I'd like to joke it's always a good time to be 22...but I do remember, and not necessarily, but it's a lot safer time, we know where we've been, and have some idea where we're going. Wishing you well and happy!

@mikey2848

2 жыл бұрын

@@johncollinge619 thanks so much for the wisdom 🤍

I loved this video a lot. Bob & Mick have this energy of bravery and love every video and this just showed the apex of it. All of them are so kind and wise and I’m honestly glad it was awkward for Bill and Jessay. They were able to sit back and learn and digress amongst their brothers and even at old age we are learning every day. All the love guys!

I’m so sorry that our country failed you all. I’m glad you’re all here to tell us about your lives and makes us all so happy with your videos. Thank you for being pioneers for further generations ♥️

I was diagnosed with HIV over 20 years. I've always been undetectable but in 2011 I was also diagnosed with NASH non-alcohol cirrhosis. When my doctor told me I was going to die unless I had an organ transplant. I looked at him and said people like myself don't get organ transplants and he looked at me and said not only do we get organ transplants we tend to do better than people not HIV positive. And I'm just over 9 years post and I am doing very well and I don't take much anti rejection medication as others

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

@lu9167

Ай бұрын

Hope you are doing OK...

@williamarmstrong7007

Ай бұрын

@lu9167 I'm great, thank you very much for caring

@lu9167

Ай бұрын

@@williamarmstrong7007 if you need to talk, let me know. God bless you

I lost my Godfather to HIV. No one would tell me how he died. I did find out how he died eventually. I loved him. I just wanted to hang out with him. But he shielded me from finding out he was gay as well as being positive. I would have stood by him.

Can I just say how much I love that you guys have these conversations? I absolutely LOVE that you're helping break these horrible stereotypes. I love you all so much 🖤

My grandparents died of AIDS in the early 90’s. I am so happy to hear you speak about your success in managing HIV. I wish for your continued health!

I worked in a medical lab for over 4 years and seeing those negative viral loads was a beautiful reminder of how far we've come 😊 thanks for being so open and honest!

I respect and appreciate them having this discussion. My uncle got hiv in the late 90's fr his wife and is still alive today and has an undetectable virus load...it's not a death sentence and this conversation needs to be had more often

@stingsting1132

2 жыл бұрын

Wow surprisingly I'm now free from HIV virus with the help of Dr Abiola channel on KZread 🇺🇸 🥰

I have so much respect for these men. Their lives were so much harder as gay men than gay guys my age today. They made it through. I tear up when I watch their videos. But they're tears of joy and happiness and respect. These guys are the real deal.

Much love Fellas. We've lost a lot of people to AIDS. You are amazing and I love you.

I was a member of many activist groups in the early 1980's. It was a time of fear, sadness, regret and death. Our LGBT community banded together and took care of each other. I was a nurse at the time and volunteered daily to care for our beloved men and women with AIDS. I'm so happy that our friends on the video are here and healthy. We love you.

@isisprior1987

2 жыл бұрын

I just need to say this: you're an angel!!!

@simlu6360

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the work you guys did back then so that we can walk proudly now in every regard ❤

Robert and Mick I'm so glad you guys are here! I'm so sorry all of you had to go through those times and the loved ones you've lost💜. A conversation still needed in today's age!

I really commend them for talking about such a traumatic and challenging subject. I’ve never get in any danger of contracting the virus (I’m a virgin tbh), but when I was first coming out, it was very important to me to sit down and learn all I could about the history of our community. And of coarse a lot of that was learning about the epidemic. Despite it being such a grave injustice and a tragic loss, learning about it helped me realized just how resilient this community really is. Through death and destruction, this community still came together to care for one another. Learning the history made me feel as though I was part of a family, one that protects one another. To any young queer person, I really would recommend taking the time to learn all that you can about our community. It helped me a lot to see others I could relate to. And to all of our queer elders, I want you to know that you are so so appreciated for all that you’ve done and you and your story will never be forgotten.

@johncollinge619

2 жыл бұрын

Now if we can get all of our community on board with the "T", we can pat ourselves on the back and live on!

Omg I missed my four grandfathers. Might as well call them the fore fathers of gays 💙💙

I had no idea. Mick and Robert, thank you from the bottom of my heart for having the courage to speak about this. I’m sure there are people out there just learning they are positive. It is my hope you’ve helped them. 🤟❤️🌈

Hands down the best video on this channel!! Thank you guys for being so honest and straightforward on such a hard topic still today ❤️❤️❤️ i spent a few years working in Hepatitis C diagnostics and treatment (research scientist) in pre-Prep times and the whole stigma and fear surrounding it all even within the medical community was just appalling. I would only add one recommendation: get tested regularly for all kinds of stuff, regardless of your gender and sexual orientation. That will give you knowledge about the status of your own body and it will enable you to take care of yourself and the others, too.

I don't have HIV, but I am grateful for everyone who has it that there is a way to help them live a more normal life. If just more ppl would educate themselves on this topic and be more open that would be awesome. 🌼🌼🌼

Courage + Compassion = Love! ♥️

Thank you for the frank and open conversation... It took a lot of courage to be so transparent, and I truly respect you all. Robert and Mick...❤❤❤

Thank you so much for having this conversation publicly! So many need to hear it, and hopefully it is cathartic in ways for you all as well. I've lived in the eye of the storm since the beginning. I was a student in New York and lost my first friend unexpectedly in '81 (right after Hibiscus and a couple of other well known folks in the community). Moved to San Francisco and have worked in the intersection of HIV, substance use, and mental health for most of my time here. Sero-converted in 96 myself. Tomorrow I facilitate a support group for gay men in their 50s through 80s. Perhaps I will see if my co-facilitator wants to use this clip!

My uncle had HIV and then AIDS. He was gay and a nurse (and a Leatherman, judging from the leather jacket and harnesses I was able to get ahold of from his box of things), he volunteered himself in those shady, early trials for HIV/AIDS cures. Those trials only made him sicker, which of course hastened his death. He's the only queer person I know of in my legal (not chosen) family, I wish he was still alive so I could tell him how proud I am of him for doing all that. I wear his jacket to Leather events that I go to, so it feels like he can still be there for everything he's missing out on. I imagine he would've been the only one on my mother's side of the family who would've accepted me as trans.

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

You guys are making this world a better place, you’re teaching your peers and the younger generation things we wouldn’t know about. I want to thank you guys for being yourselves and strong enough to talk about this. I’m sending love from New Hampshire! 💜

You guys are so strong!! Thank you for being open about this and normalizing this!!!❤️❤️

I like the fact that the two neg guys admitted to feeling awkward. Lots of men who survived the plaque learned not to talk or think about HIV as a way to feel safe, or to avoid the painful memories of the plague years. I'm 57 and many of my negative friends who are 50+ are still very ignorant or hesitant to talk about HIV. To admit what they know or don't know. To ask other positive guys questions so they aren't stigmatizing them. Our best friend of 16 years died of AIDS and never told us. He was to ashamed to admit it, and we were to afraid to ask. It's time to start speaking up...

Thank you for sharing Robert and Mick ❤️ This video will help a lot of ppl!

Thank you guys for sharing your stories and hopefully this will help the younger generations to understand it more. Much love to you all ❤

Thank you all for speaking out about HIV. I remember being an 18 years old queer woman, fresh into college in 2005, involved in our LGBTQ+ group. I had met a few people that became my friends that were positive. These relationships were different than the few people I had known through other people that had died from the virus. These were now my friends. It changed my outlook on health and I saw how I could help. It helped create open conversations for me in the future. From the time I was 18, I’ve advocated, provided emotional support, and helped with financial support for organizations in HIV/AIDS research and relief. I had often wished I was alive sooner to help more in my community. Tomorrow with World AIDS Day this video will hopefully help bring awareness!

god, i love all of these men so much. 💗 i have watched all their videos, a million times, and shared them with friends. i had a feeling about Robert and Mick being HIV-pos based on some of the comments they have made in previous videos -- it still was so moving to see a really candid talk with them opening up about it all. They are such cool people. Thanks for making this, I seriously needed to see this today. 💗

I’m glad the HIV talk is coming back again for a while it seemed like no one was talking about it. 1984 born. All we heard about in high school was the HIV talk all the time. I even volunteered at a nonprofit that provided HIV/AIDS support. Love these guys even more!

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

Wow Mick and Bob thanks so much for sharing your experience with all of us. It just shows you that Hiv is not a death sentence anymore like it used to be. Drs have come a long way in treating this awful disease so people are not suffering anymore. Mick and Bob love that you have shared that with us all. Lots of love to you both and of course Bill and Jessay also. Think your all amazing and love you all to bits. Love one of your big fans in the UK.xx

What a scary time to be alive in the late in the 80s. I get sick of all the HIV treatment ads but I always kick myself because I know it’s huge progress.

Knowledge is power, educate yourself and Thank you for sharing your story. ❤️

Thank you for this video…love you guys…appreciate you guys🤍🥺🔥🥺🤍

Thanks for sharing your experiences and for sharing basic yet vital information, as there are still so many who are uninformed or misinformed. Can't imagine how sad and horrific it was to lose so many friends in the early days of the disease. I remember the panic at that time and the lack of the "greater public" even wanting to acknowledge it. Power and health to you all!

Sending so much love to Robert and Mick! Thank you for sharing this. 💜💜

Robert and Mick, Thank u for the courage to tell your story. 💕

Thank you so much. Robert and Mick thank you for sharing your stories with us. I lost my two best friends from AIDS in 2013. My friend Michael was 42 and Louise was 34. This was in 2013. Both stopped taking their medications. Mick thank you for talking about how absolutely imperative it is to take your medications. There is so much I want to say but I’m having trouble typing through these tears. Tears of sadness love grief courage compassion and loss. So I will end with again saying thank you. Thank you.

So much more respect for these four wonderful human beings. Having lost a few friends to HIV I feel so humbled watching this vid. Thank you so much!

Love you guys! Thanks for addressing this topic. Like Mick stated, " I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and made a wrong (bad) choice." Unfortunately, bad things DO happen to good people. Be vigilante. Ask questions. Should you feel uncomfortable in the situation, don't listen to your heart or probably what's not hanging between your legs at the moment (if you know what I mean). Be smart, listen to your brain. Thanks again!

God bless these men for being brave enough to share their stories and experiences. Makes my eyes well up. Thank you for uploading this.

Wow, I think this is one of the best videos you've made ever. Thanks for sharing you stories!!!

I love you Robert and Mick...even more now that you've opened up. That's not to say I don't love you all, but there's an extra special place in my tainted old heart for you two. You'll find it at the corner of 'Respect and Love'. A year in to these video clips and I'm still a sucker for a tall balding man with a sexy accent. I think we're around the same age too. Too bad the USA is a little scary to visit these days or I'd be venturing south in a heartbeat. Stay well everyone. :)

Love you guys 💞 you are all so heartwarming

Loved this video 💞 Spreading awareness and breaking the stigma about HIV is definitely important

Strong message, thank you for sharing your words and experience with the new generations!

Thank you so much for being so open. I love these guys ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you for talking about your experiences surrounding HIV. I would like to hear more of your life experiences, good, bad and other.

Thank ya'll for being so brave & share this with us. I love & respect y'all.

Yes thank you you guys for sharing and educating I just love yall !

I feel so happy because Mick and Robert are here today 💗 LOVE YAAAAH 😭💗

Love you guys and this is SO Important.

I love them all so much!!! It’s wonderful to have elders like them sharing their stories and giving wisdom. We need more of that! I’d love to have brunch with them 🫶🏼😁

Thank you Robert ♥️ and Mick ♥️ I Didn't know that you had HIV I Hope that One Day We will Find a Cure for HIV AIDS!!! 🌈

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

Thank you for letting us in your lives and staying strong

Its great to see this video especially now considering that I'm writing a paper on the AIDS crisis so its a good thing to see the positivity coming from these men who survived this time period

thanks for sharing your thougts and experiences , hope the best for all four of you

Robert, Mick. You guys are so strong. Thank you

Thank you for this ❤️

Applause all around! I love watching your videos and I’m so glad you can be so open!! ♥️ ♥️

of course all i have is gratitude for robert and nick for talking about their experiences, but much love to bill and jessay as well for openly admitting that they felt awkward/more uncomfortable than anticipated. while these important stories are being shared, having listeners that are honest yet considerate in their responses is so important. 💓

Thank you so much! I have leaned a lot 😁❤️❤️

Que bonito mensaje, gracias por el video. ❤

Blessed...40 years with HIV... 20 years since total immune collapse and diagnosis of PML/AIDS close to death. Joyous to beat the medical odds.... 27 years with my wonderful loving partner... Magical.

Thank you for sharing. As a 52 yr old human I remember losing all the queer elders I knew to hiv. I know it isn't the death sentence that it used to be. And for that I'm grateful. Thank you for being open and honest about your experiences.

I love this. Education is key.

Omg this was touching deep in my heart, hugs to all of you. 😙

I love the courage of mick and robert, this is such an eye opener love you all four 🥰🥰🥰🥰

True sucess stories, you guys are awesome and you're teaching us so much ❤️❤️

Thank you for sharing this important information

Tested positive almost two months ago. A lot has happened since but I'm trying my best to fight.

@charlenehermione6509

2 жыл бұрын

All thanks to Dr Abiola on KZread for curing me permanently from HIV with his herbal medicine 💕💕

♥️♥️ these beautiful ol guys!

Wonderful men. Humbling to listen to their life stories, and their honesty.

Thank you for sharing your stories

Love you guys!!! ❤️

Great conversation.... Made me think of all the friends/ family I've lost....

thank you for sharing your life stories with us

I just love u guys .. watching it's a sin .. boys in the band and following the aids memorial.. I have learned so much .. it hurts my heart so much at the thought of what u all went threw .. so I'm sending u big hugs boys .. we r lucky 2 have u here today .. to help educate our boys xx

I burst into tears everytime I watch this video. THANK YOU so much for sharing your experiences that lead us to live our Queer life now 💖 Forever thankful for the 4 of u ✨

"Is it something you are comfortable talking about?" "YES" strong af old buddies!!!

Awesome episode! Loved the transparency. A bit of mixed emotions for me seeing the looks and raised eye brows on Jesay's face. But I get he certainly comes from that generation of judgement and hush hush mentality. Glad he fixed that at the end. Eyes open dude, be the example. Thanks for this episode

The best segment ever!

Hello guys Very huge fan here..love you guys. It takes a lot of courage to be in the public eye to stand up and say that "I am hiv positive or undetectable " Its not life ending but It is life altering. It does make us live healthier lives and make better decisions . I have a story for you guys Maybe one day il get a chance to tell it .. You guys rock and keep up the good work Xoxoxo Joslynn burke

This video made me laugh cry almost the entire time ❤️🙏🏼we love you guys so much and appreciate your open honesty with us (your audience)

Thank you so much for sharing. I love you all no matter negative, or positive. Love doesn't change, it remains to grow with passion. ❤️

This is so important. I wish I had known earlier just so I could help talk about it. I’m 25, and growing up, all I knew or heard about HIV was terrible jokes people made. It wasn’t til adulthood that I learned, and since then, I’ve just wanted to help others with awareness.