Mark King
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Activist and writer of all things HIV adjacent. 2020 GLAAD Awardee and author of 'My Fabulous Disease: Chronicles of a Gay Survivor'
Articles by Mark King
This Stunning HIV Artwork Needs a New Home
When Fort Lauderdale resident Benjamin P. Lap attended a fundraising event in 2003, the startling installation, Identity, by multimedia artist and activist Christopher Yoculan, struck him immediately. “It was such a powerful piece that was creative in its use of materials,” Benjamin told me recently. “To see an artist depict himself through the literal use of his various HIV medications was just so powerful.
Five Fast Takeaways from USCHA 2026
The 2026 United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA), held September 17-20 in Anaheim and organized each year by NMAC, is now history. It brought the usual mix of elation to be in the company of old friends and veteran advocates; worry for the future of our movement in chaotic times; and my usual grumbling about the insidious and overbearing influence of Big Pharma. Here are my five takeaways from USCHA 2026: The Opening Reception was Pure Celebration Let’s start with a high point.
‘Mickey & Richard’ Profiles a Gay Fantasy Icon, Then and Now
One of several films centering people living with HIV at the upcoming Out On Film festival in Atlanta is Mickey & Richard, a documentary examining the life of Richard Bernstein, aka the 1980s “gay adult” icon Mickey Squires. (You can watch the film trailer above.) Fortunately for you, anyone in the United States can view the film as part of the festival’s streaming program. The in-person screening ofMickey & Richardwill take place on October 3, 2026, with streaming available on October 4th.
Telling Our Family Secrets to POZ Magazine
My husband Michael is the one person who will try to put the brakes on my writing. He will suggest a softer way around a topic, or simply ask, “Are you sure?” in a gentle way that makes his misgivings clear. Michael isn’t trying to censor me. He just worries is all. He knows what a comments section can do to my feelings. But there is one story that I haven’t dared to write before. It belongs to Michael.
Telling Family Secrets to POZ Magazine
In the studio with photographer Darrell Snedeger for POZ Magazine My husband Michael is the one person who will try to put the brakes on my writing. He will suggest a softer way around a topic, or simply ask, “Are you sure?” in a gentle way that makes his misgivings clear. Michael isn’t trying to censor me. He just worries is all. He knows what a comments section can do to my feelings. But there is one story that I haven’t dared to write before.
Family Portrait
My brother, Dick, is having a hard time preparing the chicken, despite my hovering and constant instructions. I think he’s a little afraid of it. I’m encouraging him to get under the skin with my pasty concoction of garlic and butter, really slide his fingers under there, but the process is giving him the creeps. “More butter!” I command, but he’s already recoiling from the chicken, his greasy hands bowed in a state of surrender. “You’re impossible,” I pronounce.
Creating USCHA 2026: It’s All in the Bag
Diane Ferguson knee-deep in conference bag stuffing at USCHA 2025. The United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) is the largest conference in the country that brings together public health folks, activists, people living with HIV, and community organizations.
My Fabulous Disease at AIDS2026: The Complete Collection
by | Aug 3, 2026 | Big Pharma, Conferences, Gay Life, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy, Trump | ImpulseRio revelers in the Global Village. Made you look! Nearly 10,000 researchers, public health and policy experts, community based organizations, and front-line advocates descended on Rio de Janeiro July 26-31, 2026, for AIDS2026, the International AIDS Conference.
The Human Pain Behind Global HIV Funding Cuts
The impact of the severe funding cuts by the United States in 2025 to global health programs is central to the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026). The global gathering, hosted by the International AIDS Society (IAS), is taking place in Rio de Janeiro.
Viki Noe Won’t Shut Up About Straight Women
Unstoppable: Straight Women at the AIDS Frontlines, written by author and activist Victoria Noe, is a powerful book that documents the vital and often overlooked work of straight women in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The book serves as a follow-up to her award-winning 2019 release, Fag Hags, Divas and Moms. Victoria “Viki” Noe, in other words, won’t stop talking about straight women. You would think their contribution to the tapestry of HIV history would be a given.
Science Will Not End AIDS. An Overhaul of Your Clinic Might.
by | Jul 16, 2026 | Big Pharma, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy | The systems that make our healthcare clinics tick are not my usual lane. I generally leave that up to clinicians and administrators. When I do get wonky, it’s because something really catches my eye and I think I can help make it understandable. So, thank goodness for sisters.
Shreveport Celebrates Its Mind-Boggling ACT UP History
Mark S. King at the ‘Small Town Rage’ book launch with JL and Raydra Hall, who served as a researcher for the book and film. The story is so unlikely, so heroic, so filled with tragedy and triumph, it deserves to be a movie or a book. And now it is both. Dr. David Hylan’s account of the history of ACT UP Shreveport was first chronicled in his 2017 documentary, Small Town Rage, which featured interviews with the surviving, plucky team of activists in the Louisiana city.
At Atlanta ‘Seven Days in June’ Event: “I Will Forget Their Names”
by | Jun 7, 2026 | Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy, Trump | Dazon Dixon Diallo at the Atlanta ‘Seven Days in June’ event. On June 5, 2026, as part of the national “Seven Days in June” campaign, Atlanta advocates held a rally and vigil in Piedmont Park. We told our stories and vented our rage at an administration that is dismantling social safety net programs and gutting public health prevention and treatment efforts.
Health Is Primary
Cleve Jones had had enough. After watching the tumultuous first year of the second Trump administration with incredulity and disgust, the long-term survivor of HIV and iconic AIDS figure was dumbstruck when, in late 2025, the administration announced that it would not observe World AIDS Day, marked each December 1. It was the first time the event was ignored by any White House since the first annual commemoration in 1988.
Something Huge is Happening. Get on Board Now.
I’m going to make this quick because this is happening right now and you should be joining in and not reading this blog. AIDS activism godfathersCleve JonesandSean Strubgot their sizable brains together to createSeven Days in June, a national and nonpartisan campaign to highlight the issues of affordability and healthcare during the very busy election primary month of June 2026. The campaign is featured in an upcoming feature story for the June 2026 issue of POZ Magazine. That’s in a few weeks.
Something Huge is Happening. Get on Board Right Now.
Some of the “Seven Days in June” sponsor organizations. I’m going to make this quick because this is happening right now and you should be joining in and not reading my blog. AIDS activism godfathers Cleve Jones and Sean Strub got their sizable brains together to create Seven Days in June, a national and nonpartisan campaign to highlight the issues of affordability and healthcare during the very busy election primary month of June 2026. That’s in a few weeks.
Evany Turk on Motherhood, Trans Rights, and Magical Women
Evany Turk is a woman living with HIV who recently became the co-executive director, with Marnina Miller, of the powerhouse organization Positive Women’s Network USA (PWN), one of our country’s leading advocacy organizations. PWN has a diverse membership and its leadership is known to never mince words. Evany is a perfect example of PWN’s candid, values-driven leadership.
Evany Turk on Motherhood, Trans Rights, and Magical Women
Evany Turk is a woman living with HIV who recently became the co-chair, with Marnina Miller, of the powerhouse organization Positive Women’s Network USA (PWN), one of our country’s leading advocacy organizations. PWN has a diverse membership and its leadership is known to never mince words. Evany is a perfect example of PWN’s candid, values-driven leadership.
A Southern HIV Icon Announces Retirement
On December 2, Kathie Hiers, the longtime CEO OF AIDS Alabama, announced her retirement. POZ contributor Mark S. King spoke with Hiers about her work, her legacy and what’s next for the community and for herself. Recent government actions have crippled so much of our work. It’s been tough on everyone. How are you? Today, I’m sitting in my office, and I am about to tell the staff about my retirement. I’ve got the door shut. My board already knows. It’s hard to tell people. I’m a big crybaby.
Malcolm Reid Leans Into His Maturity as an HIV Leader
Malcolm Reid has the X Factor, a compelling way about him that attracts your attention but which you can’t quite put your finger on. Saying so about him would probably make him grin and even blush, which only makes the case for his charms even stronger. Malcolm is 68 years old and lives in Decatur, Georgia. Diagnosed with HIV in 1996 (but knowing his status for years; more on that soon), Malcolm entered the HIV arena as an advocate in 2015.
Details Matter When Casting People Living with HIV
The announcement on social media appeared everywhere all at once in late December, from Instagram to Facebook to X. “CASTING: People Living with HIV,” it trumpeted. After brief demographic requirements (no one past their 60s need apply), things got down to business.
Details Matter When Casting People Living with HIV
The announcement on social media appeared everywhere all at once in late December, from Instagram to Facebook to X. “CASTING: People Living with HIV,” it trumpeted. After brief demographic requirements (no one past their 60s need apply), things got down to business.
After 25 years, Here are My 25 Favorite Posts
(Photo illustration by Lynne Rhys. If you understand the reference you are the age of my target audience.) Thank you for being a reader, my friend. I appreciate you being along for the ride. Writing has been my outlet and my therapy. It began as a way to process my diagnosis in 1985, and only through some bizarre twist of fate have I stayed around to keep right on telling the story.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Javier Muñoz and Demetre Daskalakis Join Virtual Party for HIV Survivors
Broadway star and Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph has been added to a slate of celebrities and community leaders who will appear at a virtual event on Wednesday, December 17, benefitting The Reunion Project, an alliance of HIV/AIDS survivors. “Mark is 65” will commemorate the 65th birthday of 40-year HIV survivor Mark S. King while shining a spotlight on all long-term HIV/AIDS survivors.
“Do You Smell that Smell?” Kathie Hiers Shares Her Best Story.
by | Dec 4, 2025 | Gay Life, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Trump | Michael “Foy Boy” Mitchell and Kathie Hiers in 1998. The south is losing one of its greatest HIV champions, Kathie Hiers, who has announced her retirement as CEO of AIDS Alabama after more than 30 years of dedicated service.
A Southern HIV Icon Announces Her Retirement
On December 2, Kathie Hiers, the longtime CEO of AIDS Alabama, announced her retirement. POZ contributor Mark S. King spoke with Hiers about her work, her legacy and what comes next for the community and for herself. Recent government actions have crippled so much of our work. It’s been tough on everyone. How are you? Today, I’m sitting in my office, and I am about to tell the staff about my retirement. I’ve got the door shut. My board already knows. It’s hard to tell people. I’m a big crybaby.
Trump Willfully Creates an HIV Catastrophe
The fish rots from the head down, and that putrid head is Trump. The President’s so-called health officials – buffoons all, such asHHS Secretary Robert F.
Trump Willfully Creates an HIV/AIDS Catastrophe
The fish rots from the head down, and that putrid head is Trump. The President’s so-called health officials – buffoons all, such as HHS Secretary Robert F.
Mark is Turning 65
My friends, I have a special announcement. I will devote my 65th birthday to a celebration of all HIV/AIDS survivors, and the stars will definitely be out. One of them could be you! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 17th at 8pm ET. The virtual event will stream on most social media platforms. Register free right here at this link. When I celebrated his 60th birthday five years ago with a live virtual event, guests like Greg Louganis made appearances via special video messages.
The Good Survivor
by | Oct 8, 2025 | Anita Mann and Acting Gigs, Gay Life, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy, Trump | As part of the remarkable program, “Write it Out!,” which helps shepherd the work of hopeful new playwrights living with HIV, I wrote the first scene of a play a few years ago. It has become The Good Survivor, a short one-act play. I’m going to share it with you, below.
Paul Kawata on the Beach
The steel drums playing by the hotel pool blared like a carnival for the tourists wrangling kids and ordering drinks as they adjusted their uncomfortable new bathing suits. Here, though, over the dunes and down the beach a hundred yards away, the drums faded into the faint, soothing tones of wind chimes. Good, Paul thought, giving his arms a stretch above his head and settling back into his chaise on the sand. Peaceful wind chimes. Now don’t forget to breathe. The ocean was calm today.
A Runway Show That Stitches High Fashion and HIV
Just imagine if there was a runway show during the fashion event of the season – New York Fashion Week – that featured not only several models living with HIV, but couture inspired by molecular science, human resilience, and the communities most affected by HIV. Your imagination will be rewarded this Saturday, September 13, when a unique runway experience will take place at the Nexus Club New York.
A Runway Show This Saturday Stitches High Fashion and HIV
Just imagine if there was a runway show during the fashion event of the season – New York Fashion Week – that featured not only several models living with HIV, but couture inspired by molecular science, human resilience, and the communities most affected by HIV. Your imagination will be rewarded this Saturday, September 13, when a unique runway experience will take place at the Nexus Club New York.
Five Takeaways From the 2025 U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS
Oh, USCHA, how we love you. You are the Grand Hostess of the HIV/AIDS community, and nowhere else can anyone working for, volunteering in, or living with the reality of HIV find so many beloved allies, frontline workers, and friends. And sometimes, well, we love USCHA in spite of itself. My takeaways don’t deal with the clinical or research content of USCHA. You’ll find plenty of thatelsewhere. I’m more interested in the vibe, the people, and the things that inspired or irked me.
Five Takeaways from the 2025 US Conference on HIV/AIDS
Oh, USCHA, how we love you. You are the Grand Hostess of the HIV/AIDS community, and nowhere else can anyone working for, volunteering in, or living with the reality of HIV find so many beloved allies, frontline workers, and friends. And sometimes, well, we love USCHA in spite of itself. My takeaways don’t deal with the clinical or research content of USCHA. You’ll find plenty of that elsewhere. I’m more interested in the vibe, the people, and the things that inspired or irked me.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis on Public Health Fascism, HIV and What's Next
In the center of the latest maelstrom at the CDC in the last week—quickly on the heels of a deadly mass shooter who killed a police officer and shot out multiple CDC office windows—has been Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a career public health servant specializing in infectious disease who is well known in the HIV arena.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis on Public Health Fascism, HIV, and What's Next
In the center of the latest maelstrom at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the last week – on the heels of a deadly mass shooter who killed a police officer and shot out multiple CDC office windows – has been Demetre Daskalakis, MD, a career public health servant specializing in infectious disease who is well known in the HIV arena.
Farewell to Paul Kawata
After nearly four decades of service to the HIV community, Paul Kawata, executive director of NMAC (formerly the National Minority AIDS Council), is retiring, effective October 7. It has been a remarkable tenure that includes Kawata’s work helping to launch cornerstone convenings, such as the United States Conference on HIV/AIDS, the Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit and the Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements.
To Stay Positive, Embrace the Negative
My therapist, Aaron, always leans forward as he sits with his hands neatly folded, indicating openness and interest. His posture may also convey patience, because I am on the sofa across from him doing everything but getting to the topic at hand. I talk nervously about my choice of beard dye, pick at my shoelaces and tell his dog lying on a mat nearby that he is a very, very good boy. Aaron gently nudges me toward what brought me into counseling this time around: aging.
Did HIV Contribute to Journalist Todd Heywood’s Cancer?
Todd Heywood, known by his friends as simply “Heywood,” has been an outspoken HIV survivor, renowned investigative journalist, and queer advocate for most of his life. So it should come as no surprise that when Heywood got a cancer diagnosis last year, he has used it as a call to action for all people living with HIV. Heywood’s lung cancer diagnosis is all too common among people living with HIV.
Did HIV Contribute to Heywood's Cancer?
Todd Heywood, known by his friends as simply “Heywood,” has been an outspoken HIV survivor, renowned investigative journalist, and queer advocate for most of his life. So it should come as no surprise that when Heywood got a cancer diagnosis last year, he has used it as a call to action for all people living with HIV. Heywood’s lung cancer diagnosis is all too common among people living with HIV.
Did Having HIV Increase the Risk of Heywood's Cancer?
Todd Heywood, known by his friends as simply “Heywood,” has been an outspoken HIV survivor, renowned investigative journalist, and queer advocate for most of his life. So it should come as no surprise that when Heywood got a cancer diagnosis last year, he has used it as a call to action for all people living with HIV. Heywood’s lung cancer diagnosis is all too common among people living with HIV.
What If They Had an 'HIV Testing Day' and Nobody Came?
As press conferences go, the one held this week for the #SaveHIVFunding effort by the national advocacy group PrEP4All was a doozy. But not for the usual reasons. There were no shocking announcements from the slate of public health advocates and workers. There were no major revelations from the client living with HIV about the precarious state of his health care. We’ve grown used to those sad and infuriating developments, even if we shouldn’t.
What If They Had an ‘HIV Testing Day’ and Nobody Came?
As press conferences go, the one held this week for the #SaveHIVFunding effort by the national advocacy group PrEP4All was a doozy. But not for the usual reasons. There were no shocking announcements from the slate of public health advocates and workers. There were no major revelations from the client living with HIV about the precarious state of his health care. We’ve grown used to those sad and infuriating developments, even if we shouldn’t.
The Hardworking Humility of Craig Washington
Craig Washington could be forgiven if he has a certain strut in his step these days. His lifetime of community service, building one program after another that lifts up, supports and celebrates SGL (Same Gender Loving) Black men, is written across the history of Atlanta and beyond.
40 Years Ago I Tested HIV Positive
40 Years Ago I Tested HIV Positive | Opinion Forty years ago, on March 15th, 1985, I received my HIV positive test result. Reaching this milestone is beyond anything I could have imagined as a frightened 24-year-old, and I have written about the experience , and about the many eventful years since, many times. That is not the story I want to tell you, not again. What I want you to know, what I must absolutely convince you of, is that the time has come to lay our bodies on the line again.
40 Years Ago I Tested HIV Positive. We Must Take the Streets Again.
“If this article doesn’t scare the shit out of you, we’re in real trouble… Our continued existence depends on just how angry you can get.” – Larry Kramer, “1,112 and Counting,” The New York Native, 1983 Forty years ago, on March 15th, 1985, I received my HIV positive test result. Reaching this milestone is beyond anything I could have imagined as a frightened 24-year-old, and I havewritten about the experience, and about the many eventful years since, many times.
40 Years Ago I Tested HIV Positive. We Must Take the Streets Again.
“If this article doesn’t scare the shit out of you, we’re in real trouble… Our continued existence depends on just how angry you can get.” – Larry Kramer, “1,112 and Counting,” The New York Native, 1983 Forty years ago, on March 15th, 1985, I received my HIV positive test result. Reaching this milestone is beyond anything I could have imagined as a frightened 24-year-old, and I have written about the experience, and about the many eventful years since, many times.
People are Resisting. I Am Doing Nothing.
The phrase sat there on my Facebook feed, staring back at me like an accusation. “If you aren’t resisting, you are assisting,” the post read. I felt flush with self-conscious guilt. It wasn’t a familiar feeling, not after nearly forty years of speaking up and staking my ground as a long-term HIV survivor. And yet somehow, in this new surreal era of governmental upheaval, the slate of our past contributions has been wiped clean and replaced with a new query. What have you done lately?
People are Resisting. I Am Doing Nothing.
by | Feb 19, 2025 | Family and Friends, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy, Trump | The phrase sat there on my Facebook feed, staring back at me like an accusation. “If you aren’t resisting, you are assisting,” the post read. I felt flush with self-conscious guilt. It wasn’t a familiar feeling, not after nearly forty years of speaking up and staking my ground as a long-term HIV survivor.
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