Jason — Francesco Di Benedetto

and so it happened

Medical advances and the availability of PrEP have certainly improved and changed the lives of the HIV-positive community in recent years. Public attitudes, however, have not kept pace. The stigma endures and the need for better understanding remains. And so this project provides a safe platform where the portraits and the stories of those either living with HIV or on PrEP are shared, because openness is key to tolerance and no one should have to hide — whatever their status.

"I was visiting Fort Lauderdale, Florida staying at a clothing optional guest house and I had unprotected sex as a bottom with a sexy German daddy and he said he didn’t cum in me but I swore he did. A couple of weeks later I went for a doctor's check up and did blood work and turns out I was infected. I never got sick.

When I tested HIV+ I was 6 months into my sobriety. The fact that I am HIV+ has made me want to stay sober even more because I don’t want to die. I take one pill a day called Genvoya.

For me PrEP hasn't changed the situation much. Today as before some people don’t use protection and some do. I don’t think people are educated enough these days on what undetectable means."

Jason, 37, undetectable. Brooklyn, NY. Bartender