POZ

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.

Wednesday, September 9, marks National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day 2026. This year’s theme is “Speak up today! Stand strong against HIV and hepatitis B.” “HIV rates are six times higher among African immigrants in the United States than in the general U.S. population and are nearly twice those of U.S.-born Black individuals,” according to NAIRHHADAY.org.

“Together” (Juntos) has been part of the language of the HIV movement for decades. I’ve been thinking a lot about what together means now, and what this next chapter of the HIV response will require of us. Much has already been said about the challenges of this moment. We are navigating political uncertainty, financial pressures, shifting public health priorities, and a changing epidemic. At the same time, the science has never offered more possibilities.

Thank you for your participation! This is poll is currently not showing results, please visit our poll listing for current or past polls. Yes, and I am regularly and actively involved. Yes, but I am only somewhat involved in groups. Yes, and I am regularly and actively involved. Yes, but I am only somewhat involved in groups. No.

The Lancet HIV Commission on Ageing’s 2026 report highlights how profoundly the global HIV epidemic is changing. In 2025, an estimated 11.5 million (29%) people living with HIV were aged 50 years and older. This is projected to increase to 20.2 million by 2040. That would account for more than half (51%) of all people living with HIV. And, crucially, 96% will live in low- and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa is continuing to shoulder the greatest burden of the global HIV epidemic.

I live in Lebanon, Tennessee, about 30 miles east of Nashville. I am a 64-year-old gay man who has lived with HIV since October 1989. I shared my story with POZ in 2013. For more than 10 years I lived with chronic kidney disease, and about four years ago, I was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Shortly thereafter, a tumor was found in my right kidney, at which time the kidney was removed. I began a journey toward dialysis and transplantation.

President Donald Trump has been cracking down on immigration since his first term. In 2018, Trump announced changes to the public charge rule, permitting officials to deny green cards to noncitizens based on their usage of public benefit programs, such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and housing assistance. A study published in Milbank Quarterly found that the new policy contributed to an increase in HIV transmission among Latinos across the United States.

The modern workday unfolds largely indoors. Long hours spent commuting, sitting in meetings and staring at screens can make time outdoors feel like a luxury. Finding time for nature in an already packed workday can feel impossible, especially if you think nature only “counts” when it involves hiking boots and camping gear. But a growing body of research suggests that nature’s benefits don’t require an exotic vacation getaway or weekend adventure.

When I was about 20 years old (more or less), I was full of piss and vinegar. I was also full of hormones. Accordingly, I acquired my first STI at that tender age: crabs (also charmingly referred to as ‘pubic lice’). I didn’t know what to do about it. Rather, what to do about them, since there wasn’t just one little bugger. I went to a free clinic on the other side of town and whispered my needs to the white coated professional behind the desk. I was given a bottle of Rit with no explanation.

About half of the approximately 1.2 million people living with the virus in the United States are 50 or older. While these Gen Xers and boomers have decades of effective treatment to thank for being able to age with the virus, their longevity is also due in large part to their resolve to live their best lives in the face of HIV and other challenges. You may recognize Los Angeles actor-comedian Jack R.