Rick Guasco
@RickGuasco
Living with HIV since at least 1992. Editor-in-chief of @PosAware magazine. Creator of @A_Day_with_HIV. Lifelong Chicagoan. Gay. Latino. Star Trek fan.
A smoothie—cherries, orange, pear, mint & ginger—to go with my #HIV medication. My sister got me this Ninja Bullet 7 years ago, just before I began chemotherapy and radiation treatment that summer. I often make smoothies now with random fruit combinations. This one was delicious.

La campaña anual contra el estigma del #VIH de la revista Positively Aware regresa el primer día de otoño, el lunes 22 de septiembre. Comparte un momento de ese día para contar tu historia. Más información próximamente.

I knew I had to take today’s picture here when I saw this. I explained that I take a photo of my #HIV medication every day. “That’s sick,” said one of the young women behind the counter, before catching herself. “Oh, it’s cool,” I said, knowing what she meant, “thanks.”

$400 million for #PEPFAR, the U.S. global #HIV assistance program, was saved from the same rescissions package that defunded PBS and NPR; but passing Trump’s measure sets a precedent to cut more money—and programs—says @HIVpxresearch’s Annette Gaudino. positivelyaware.com/annette-gaudin…
Today—July 21—is #ZeroHIVStigmaDay, so I’m watching the webinar presented by @IAPAC and their partners while I take my #HIV medication. Over 40 years later, stigma is still a driving force behind HIV. Stigma can affect anyone. We each have a part to play in ending HIV stigma.

Donja R. Love’s playwriting program Write It Out! is accepting applications for its workshop and cash prize. It’s an opportunity for people with #HIV to bring their stories to the stage. Deadline: July 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Details: letswriteitout.com. positivelyaware.com/write-it-out-2…

Delta Airlines has started to use AI to determine the highest fare to charge. About 3% of Delta fares are set by AI. Delta’s president told investors that the AI system is, “a full reengineering of how we price and how we will be pricing in the future.” theverge.com/news/709556/de…
A far cry from what the Tiffany Network used to be.
My husband, artist Roger Groth, just created this suggestion for my former employer's logo.
This morning on @NPR I heard a report about how Trump’s tariffs are hurting women with HIV in Lesotho, a country that has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. Most garment workers in Lesotho are women, many of whom are living with #HIV. npr.org/2025/07/20/nx-…
Saving #PEPAR sent waves of relief at last week’s #IAS2025, but advocates are saying it should be a wake-up call. “We need to figure out how to use our own resources more effectively, so our lives are not at the mercy of others,” said one activist. positivelyaware.com/rethinking-glo…

I was so hungry, I scarfed down breakfast before taking my #HIV medication.

Thanks, @POZMagazine, for highlighting this year’s #HIV Stigma Warriors theme and our webinar on July 21st. 🗓️ Date: Monday, 21 July 2025 🕒 Time: 9:30 am – 11:15 am ET poz.com/article/zero-h…
‘...everyone deserves to live with freedom, joy and dignity.’ Stigma remains a driving force behind #HIV. The #ZeroHIVStigmaDay on July 21 reminds everyone how they have a part in ending HIV stigma. positivelyaware.com/zeroHIVstigmad…

And then there was one. Time to restock my office supply of my #HIV medication.
