“As a Canadian visually impair Chinese living in Toronto with a diverse ethnic population, I still feel racism almost daily.  Moreover, I also belong to the 2SLGBTQ community and have been living with HIV for over 35 years.

When I was first diagnosed with HIV in 1986, it was detrimental and heart breaking. At that time, living with HIV was a death sentence.  I felt sadness and gradually became depressed knowing that I had only a few years to live.  I also felt very left out when I disclosed my status to some of my close friends.  They all deserted me and I did not receive any kind of support from them.  When I look back, it was another stigma and discrimination within our own community towards 2SLGBTQI+.

At that time, I didn’t even know Asian Community AIDS Services existed. I depended mostly on some of the services from Aids Community of Toronto (ACT). I tried not to be so dependent on any AIDS services organizations because I knew I would face more stigma if I did and I didn’t have enough courage to walk into any AIDS Services organizations.  Now in 2023, there are many AIDS Services organizations that provide services to the community in Toronto and if you are newly diagnosed with HIV, you can get much better support and services compared to 1986.

Since 2011, I have been grateful to be a part time employee at ACAS as a Health Promotion Coordinator, where I design and develop educational workshops for ACAS clients while at the same time trying to secure funding for projects where we can engage, empower and develop skill building for our clients.

I was also sitting at the stirring committee Ontario Positive Asians where we provide educational and activities to our ACAS clients in partnership Alliance South Asian Aids Prevention (ASAAP).

When Justin invited me to have this photo shoot with other queer Asian people living with HIV, I was happy to accept his invitation because I am not just facing racism  within the city.   Being a person living with HIV it creates another layer of stigma and discrimination. By having this photo shoot, I hope I can convey a message of change in people’s perspective of how they view people living with HIV.  Once you disclose your HIV status many times, there is backlash despite all the HIV education and evidence based research especially on Undetectable Equals Untransmittable (U=).

To me HIV stigma hasn’t decreased much in the past 25 years.  By having another faces and voice in our community, I hope I can advocate for changes in the HIV community and beyond.  People living with HIV are here to stay and we are resilient and brave.

I do believe if I can understand myself then I can understand you – out of this understanding becomes LOVE.

P.S. Olsen is my guide dog, who helps with navigating around the city with independence and freedom.  I consider Olsen as my partner in crime.  He provides unconditional love and support and keeps me warm at night in bed. He is absolutely adorable.”