PrEP, the HIV prevention pill, must now be totally free under almost all insurance plans
NBC News, July 2021
In a move hailed as potentially transformative by HIV advocates, the federal government has issued a guidance instructing almost all insurance plans to stop charging all out-of-pocket fees for the HIV prevention pill, known as PrEP. This includes the medication itself and, crucially, the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain the prescription.
NBC News, July 2021
In a move hailed as potentially transformative by HIV advocates, the federal government has issued a guidance instructing almost all insurance plans to stop charging all out-of-pocket fees for the HIV prevention pill, known as PrEP. This includes the medication itself and, crucially, the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain the prescription.
'This will shut us down': HIV prevention clinics brace for Gilead reimbursement cuts
NBC News, July 2021
HIV prevention clinics are facing a fiscal crisis owing to the vagaries of an arcane federal drug pricing law, with a bare minimum of $100 million annually expected to drain from the nonprofits starting in 2022. This devastating loss of funds, which is expected to shut down some clinics, comes just as the federal government has ramped up spending in an effort to essentially end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
NBC News, July 2021
HIV prevention clinics are facing a fiscal crisis owing to the vagaries of an arcane federal drug pricing law, with a bare minimum of $100 million annually expected to drain from the nonprofits starting in 2022. This devastating loss of funds, which is expected to shut down some clinics, comes just as the federal government has ramped up spending in an effort to essentially end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
HIV After COVID: Anthony Fauci and an Army of Researchers Seek to Regain Momentum
The Guardian, June 2021
HIV was instrumental in training armies within the medical, scientific and public health sectors to better fight COVID-19. However, the new pandemic has apparently worsened its predecessor. This comes during the initial roll-out of the national plan Dr. Anthony Fauci designed to ramp up federal spending on HIV with a goal of ending that virus as a public health threat by 2030. (Click here for YouTube video of interview with Dr. Fauci.)
The Guardian, June 2021
HIV was instrumental in training armies within the medical, scientific and public health sectors to better fight COVID-19. However, the new pandemic has apparently worsened its predecessor. This comes during the initial roll-out of the national plan Dr. Anthony Fauci designed to ramp up federal spending on HIV with a goal of ending that virus as a public health threat by 2030. (Click here for YouTube video of interview with Dr. Fauci.)
AIDS and ACT UP: Sarah Schulman Puts Women and People of Color Back at the Heart of the Story
The Guardian, May 2021
Just weeks shy of the 40th anniversary of the CDC’s ominous first report of what became known as AIDS, the veteran AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) activist has come armed with a 700-page magnum opus she hopes will set the record straight about one of the most consequential social movements of the 20th century.
The Guardian, May 2021
Just weeks shy of the 40th anniversary of the CDC’s ominous first report of what became known as AIDS, the veteran AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) activist has come armed with a 700-page magnum opus she hopes will set the record straight about one of the most consequential social movements of the 20th century.
As Meth Overdoses Soar, Scientists Develop First Regimen to Treat Addiction to the Drug
NBC News, February 2021
Just as the National Institute on Drug Abuse has issued a report detailing the U.S.'s soaring rate of overdose deaths tied to meth, a national research team has reached a milestone by developing the first safe and efficacious medication-based treatment for addiction to the often ruinous stimulant.
NBC News, February 2021
Just as the National Institute on Drug Abuse has issued a report detailing the U.S.'s soaring rate of overdose deaths tied to meth, a national research team has reached a milestone by developing the first safe and efficacious medication-based treatment for addiction to the often ruinous stimulant.
"New disease, no treatment, no cure": How Dr. Fauci's Fight Against AIDS Prepared Him For COVID-19
The Guardian, December 2020
Marking his 80th birthday and his 40 years at the head of the global HIV research response, Fauci projected that the history will recall him perhaps most notably for his efforts to provide HIV treatment in low-income nations. He doesn't want to retire until the HIV epidemic is over, preferably thanks to a vaccine. Then he would like to pen a memoir as perhaps the only person to advise seven presidents.
The Guardian, December 2020
Marking his 80th birthday and his 40 years at the head of the global HIV research response, Fauci projected that the history will recall him perhaps most notably for his efforts to provide HIV treatment in low-income nations. He doesn't want to retire until the HIV epidemic is over, preferably thanks to a vaccine. Then he would like to pen a memoir as perhaps the only person to advise seven presidents.
This California Law Offers Biden a Tool in the Fight for Environmental Justice
The Nation, December 2020
California's landmark 2017 environmental justice law seeks to address air pollution hotspots in state-designated disadvantaged communities by putting concerned citizens at the table on committees charged with developing mitigation plans. Berkeley researchers argue that the law could inspire regulatory actions by the Biden administration's EPA.
The Nation, December 2020
California's landmark 2017 environmental justice law seeks to address air pollution hotspots in state-designated disadvantaged communities by putting concerned citizens at the table on committees charged with developing mitigation plans. Berkeley researchers argue that the law could inspire regulatory actions by the Biden administration's EPA.
Dr. Anthony Fauci turns 80 – and Even His Birthday Surprise Obeyed COVID Rules
The Guardian, December 2020
How Dr. Fauci's wife, the NIH's top bioethicist, Christine Grady, leveraged his security detail to surprise him with a celebration for his 80th birthday. The delighted lodestar of the COVID-19 era recalled how impressed he was with his wife's sly and deft trickery. "I'm not easily fooled," he noted.
The Guardian, December 2020
How Dr. Fauci's wife, the NIH's top bioethicist, Christine Grady, leveraged his security detail to surprise him with a celebration for his 80th birthday. The delighted lodestar of the COVID-19 era recalled how impressed he was with his wife's sly and deft trickery. "I'm not easily fooled," he noted.
Trump Success In Ending Obamacare Would Kill Fauci Plan to Conquer HIV
The Guardian, October 2020
In his State of the Union in February 2019, Donald Trump vowed to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. But if Trump has his way and the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the resulting disruption to the healthcare system would end that dream. “The plan is dead in the water if the ACA goes down,” said Nastad's Amy Killelea.
The Guardian, October 2020
In his State of the Union in February 2019, Donald Trump vowed to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. But if Trump has his way and the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the resulting disruption to the healthcare system would end that dream. “The plan is dead in the water if the ACA goes down,” said Nastad's Amy Killelea.
Managing the Majestic Jumbo Flying Squid
The New York Times, June 2020
Multiple studies have found that climate change’s striking impact on the oceans — through warming, acidification, declining oxygen content and shifts in currents — is driving marine-creature territories in a mass shift away from the tropics and toward the poles. Jumbo squid have been expanding further down Chile's coastline, bringing economic opportunities, but also raising conflicts over the precious resource.
The New York Times, June 2020
Multiple studies have found that climate change’s striking impact on the oceans — through warming, acidification, declining oxygen content and shifts in currents — is driving marine-creature territories in a mass shift away from the tropics and toward the poles. Jumbo squid have been expanding further down Chile's coastline, bringing economic opportunities, but also raising conflicts over the precious resource.
Love in the age of coronavirus: how couples are getting creative in the face of upended weddings
The Guardian, March 2020
The United States has 450,000 weddings slated for March through May alone. Many couples with dates through June are scrambling to reschedule, while others are downsizing to a small gathering at their parents’ house, or getting legally married in the short-term and planning a vow renewal ceremony on their first wedding anniversary.
The Guardian, March 2020
The United States has 450,000 weddings slated for March through May alone. Many couples with dates through June are scrambling to reschedule, while others are downsizing to a small gathering at their parents’ house, or getting legally married in the short-term and planning a vow renewal ceremony on their first wedding anniversary.
Pressure to Keep Up: Status Imbalance a Major Factor in Stress in Gay Men
The Guardian, February 2020
The persistence of mental health hardships among gay and bisexual men, which endure even as LGBTQ people gain greater acceptance and civil rights, can be explained at least in part by the corrosive effects of status consciousness, competitiveness and racism within the gay community itself.
The Guardian, February 2020
The persistence of mental health hardships among gay and bisexual men, which endure even as LGBTQ people gain greater acceptance and civil rights, can be explained at least in part by the corrosive effects of status consciousness, competitiveness and racism within the gay community itself.
"Rick Scott Had Us On Lockdown"
How Florida Said No to $70 Million for HIV Crisis
The Guardian, September 2019
While the Republican senator Rick Scott was governor of Florida his administration presided over the effective blocking of $70 million in federal funds available for fighting the state’s HIV crisis. Coupled with the fact that Scott refused to expand Medicaid in Florida, this new revelation—the product of an extensive investigation—helps explain why the state’s HIV epidemic became almost peerlessly severe during Scott’s time in office.
How Florida Said No to $70 Million for HIV Crisis
The Guardian, September 2019
While the Republican senator Rick Scott was governor of Florida his administration presided over the effective blocking of $70 million in federal funds available for fighting the state’s HIV crisis. Coupled with the fact that Scott refused to expand Medicaid in Florida, this new revelation—the product of an extensive investigation—helps explain why the state’s HIV epidemic became almost peerlessly severe during Scott’s time in office.
To Feed a Hot Planet, They're Making More Efficient Plants
The New York Times, September 2019
To save the world from massive food shortages and cascading geopolitical crises, Australian agricultural researchers, along with their global colleagues and counterparts, need to cultivate crops that can achieve unprecedented bounty in ever harsher and more unpredictable conditions and yet thrive with fewer resources—including land, water and fertilizer—than today’s varieties.
The New York Times, September 2019
To save the world from massive food shortages and cascading geopolitical crises, Australian agricultural researchers, along with their global colleagues and counterparts, need to cultivate crops that can achieve unprecedented bounty in ever harsher and more unpredictable conditions and yet thrive with fewer resources—including land, water and fertilizer—than today’s varieties.
A Breeding Ground for a Fatal Scourge: Nursing Homes
The New York Times, Sept. 2019
(Additional reporting byline)
Nearly 40 patients at Palm Gardens Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brooklyn, have been infected with or carry C. auris, a germ so virulent and hard to eradicate that some facilities will not accept patients with it. Now, as they struggle to contain the pathogen, public health officials from cities, states and the federal government say that skilled nursing facilities like Palm Gardens are fueling its spread.
The New York Times, Sept. 2019
(Additional reporting byline)
Nearly 40 patients at Palm Gardens Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brooklyn, have been infected with or carry C. auris, a germ so virulent and hard to eradicate that some facilities will not accept patients with it. Now, as they struggle to contain the pathogen, public health officials from cities, states and the federal government say that skilled nursing facilities like Palm Gardens are fueling its spread.
Paid Family Leave is a Game-Changer for New Parents' Health, Not Just Their Economic Security
The Nation, August 2019
The U.S. stands alone among wealthy nations for not providing paid family leave. Instead, the nation guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid time off following the birth of a child--a policy that covers only about 60 percent of private sector workers. Research indicates that paid family leave policies could provide new parents with myriad health, as well as economic, benefits.
The Nation, August 2019
The U.S. stands alone among wealthy nations for not providing paid family leave. Instead, the nation guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid time off following the birth of a child--a policy that covers only about 60 percent of private sector workers. Research indicates that paid family leave policies could provide new parents with myriad health, as well as economic, benefits.
These Days, It's Not About the Polar Bears
The New York Times, May 2019
The United States has a serious climate-denial problem. Enter the fast-growing academic field of climate change communication. Across a swath of mostly Western nations, social scientists in fields like psychology, political science, sociology and communications studies have produced an expansive volume of peer-reviewed papers in an effort to cultivate more effective methods for getting the global warming message across and inspiring action.
The New York Times, May 2019
The United States has a serious climate-denial problem. Enter the fast-growing academic field of climate change communication. Across a swath of mostly Western nations, social scientists in fields like psychology, political science, sociology and communications studies have produced an expansive volume of peer-reviewed papers in an effort to cultivate more effective methods for getting the global warming message across and inspiring action.
25 Years of HIV Research
POZ, July 2019
To mark POZ magazine's 25th anniversary: a review of the extra-ordinary achievements on the part of HIV scientists since 1994. The ever-refined collective mastery they have gained over the virus during this period represents one of the greatest achievements of human ingenuity.
POZ, July 2019
To mark POZ magazine's 25th anniversary: a review of the extra-ordinary achievements on the part of HIV scientists since 1994. The ever-refined collective mastery they have gained over the virus during this period represents one of the greatest achievements of human ingenuity.
Truvada and the Truth: Is HIV Prevention Propelling the STI Epidemic?
The Guardian, October 2018
Among gay and bisexual men, a rapidly expanding STI epidemic is fueling questions about whether the steadily rising number of people who start Truvada for HIV prevention subsequently change their sexual behavior in ways that increase their risk of contracting chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and, in rarer cases, hepatitis C.
The Guardian, October 2018
Among gay and bisexual men, a rapidly expanding STI epidemic is fueling questions about whether the steadily rising number of people who start Truvada for HIV prevention subsequently change their sexual behavior in ways that increase their risk of contracting chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and, in rarer cases, hepatitis C.
Dying to Entertain Us: Celebrities Keep ODing on Opioids and No One Cares
The Village Voice, July 2018
The overall reaction to the overdoses of Prince, Tom Petty, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Heath Ledger has amounted to nothing much when it comes to awakening Americans to the scope of the opioid crisis. By comparison, Rock Hudson’s 1985 death from AIDS, as well as Magic Johnson’s announcement in 1991 that he had HIV, utterly jolted the national conversation about that epidemic.
The Village Voice, July 2018
The overall reaction to the overdoses of Prince, Tom Petty, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Heath Ledger has amounted to nothing much when it comes to awakening Americans to the scope of the opioid crisis. By comparison, Rock Hudson’s 1985 death from AIDS, as well as Magic Johnson’s announcement in 1991 that he had HIV, utterly jolted the national conversation about that epidemic.
The Pride Power 50
City & State Magazine, June 2018
In this special section of City & State, we recognize 50 people in the LGBT community who are key players in the world of New York politics and government, plus 10 up-and-comers. Since we cover politicians on a day-to-day basis, we limited this list to those who are not strictly in government but instead influence it from the outside.
City & State Magazine, June 2018
In this special section of City & State, we recognize 50 people in the LGBT community who are key players in the world of New York politics and government, plus 10 up-and-comers. Since we cover politicians on a day-to-day basis, we limited this list to those who are not strictly in government but instead influence it from the outside.
Enough people are taking the HIV-prevention drug to finally lower infection rates in the U.S.
Quartz, June 2018
Six years after the Food and Drug Administration approved a revolutionary HIV prevention pill known as PrEP, public health officials in select U.S. cities have finally begun to conclude that it is likely taking a bite out of local HIV infection rates.
Quartz, June 2018
Six years after the Food and Drug Administration approved a revolutionary HIV prevention pill known as PrEP, public health officials in select U.S. cities have finally begun to conclude that it is likely taking a bite out of local HIV infection rates.
Generation PrEP?
POZ, April 2018
By and large, men who have sex with men who use Truavda as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV are white and over the age of 25. In light of recent HIV diagnosis trends, the lopsidedness of these PrEP uptake numbers reveals the troubling truth lurking behind all the recent fanfare about the HIV prevention method: It is failing to reach many of those who stand to benefit from it the most.
POZ, April 2018
By and large, men who have sex with men who use Truavda as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV are white and over the age of 25. In light of recent HIV diagnosis trends, the lopsidedness of these PrEP uptake numbers reveals the troubling truth lurking behind all the recent fanfare about the HIV prevention method: It is failing to reach many of those who stand to benefit from it the most.
Is Kenneth Cole Shifting Blame for the Harvey Weinstein Charity Controversy?
At stake in amfAR’s civil war is the nonprofit’s quest to find a cure for HIV.
At stake in amfAR’s civil war is the nonprofit’s quest to find a cure for HIV.
POZ magazine, Jan. 21, 2018
Investigative report
They bent the rules for Harvey Weinstein, and now they’re paying the price.
AmfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research has long relied on the now-disgraced Hollywood mogul to supply celebrities, cachet and cash for its fundraising efforts. And now as the nonprofit faces a reckoning born from this dependence, the stakes are particularly high for its famous board chairman: the fashion magnate Kenneth Cole, who has carefully built his eponymous brand around his own image as a philanthropist.
AmfAR’s current existential crisis stems from the sale of a trio of auction lots that Weinstein curated for the HIV organization’s 2015 Cannes Film Festival gala. The enduring firestorm surrounding the film producer’s alleged sexual misconduct has only put these auction transactions, and amfAR itself, under an even more intense microscope.
The convoluted series of financial arrangements that channeled the auction-lot proceeds in question—amfAR carried out these transactions at Weinstein’s insistence—have raised deep concerns among a faction of the nonprofit’s trustees and have given rise to a board-wide civil war. This internal battle has for the past four months played out in the public eye, with many HIV activists joining a call for Cole’s ouster. And as is invariably the case in disputes among the rich and powerful, a flock of high-powered lawyers has descended upon the scene.
Investigative report
They bent the rules for Harvey Weinstein, and now they’re paying the price.
AmfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research has long relied on the now-disgraced Hollywood mogul to supply celebrities, cachet and cash for its fundraising efforts. And now as the nonprofit faces a reckoning born from this dependence, the stakes are particularly high for its famous board chairman: the fashion magnate Kenneth Cole, who has carefully built his eponymous brand around his own image as a philanthropist.
AmfAR’s current existential crisis stems from the sale of a trio of auction lots that Weinstein curated for the HIV organization’s 2015 Cannes Film Festival gala. The enduring firestorm surrounding the film producer’s alleged sexual misconduct has only put these auction transactions, and amfAR itself, under an even more intense microscope.
The convoluted series of financial arrangements that channeled the auction-lot proceeds in question—amfAR carried out these transactions at Weinstein’s insistence—have raised deep concerns among a faction of the nonprofit’s trustees and have given rise to a board-wide civil war. This internal battle has for the past four months played out in the public eye, with many HIV activists joining a call for Cole’s ouster. And as is invariably the case in disputes among the rich and powerful, a flock of high-powered lawyers has descended upon the scene.
"Unpacking Michael Weinstein's Latest PrEP Denialism."
(POZ, October 2017)
After something of a lull, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) president Michael Weinstein has revived his ever-the-skeptic public campaign regarding Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), publishing a critical editorial on the HIV prevention method in the prestigious medical journal AIDS.
(POZ, October 2017)
After something of a lull, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) president Michael Weinstein has revived his ever-the-skeptic public campaign regarding Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), publishing a critical editorial on the HIV prevention method in the prestigious medical journal AIDS.
"Nevertheless They Persisted"
(POZ, September 2017)
In the face of potential budget cutbacks or continued flat funding, HIV scientists and advocates are waging a powerful war against the global epidemic. The 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Paris saw myriad reasons for hope but also considerable cause for concern about the future of the global fight.
(POZ, September 2017)
In the face of potential budget cutbacks or continued flat funding, HIV scientists and advocates are waging a powerful war against the global epidemic. The 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Paris saw myriad reasons for hope but also considerable cause for concern about the future of the global fight.
"Measuring Success as PrEP Turns Five"
(POZ, July 2017)
The science behind Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis reveals an awesome tool that is apparently already helping shrink U.S. HIV rates. But troubling disparities persist, as PrEP's use remains largely relegated to white men who have sex with men (MSM) age 25 and older. Such a trend may ultimately widen existing racial disparities in HIV rates among MSM.
(POZ, July 2017)
The science behind Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis reveals an awesome tool that is apparently already helping shrink U.S. HIV rates. But troubling disparities persist, as PrEP's use remains largely relegated to white men who have sex with men (MSM) age 25 and older. Such a trend may ultimately widen existing racial disparities in HIV rates among MSM.
"HIV 2020"
(POZ, June 2017)
The dawning of the 2020s will bring HIV into its fifth decade. Crystal balls are by their nature hazy, and the current political climate raises many worrisome questions about how shifting federal priorities may affect people living with and at risk for HIV. Nevertheless, thanks to recent promising strides in HIV research and public health efforts to tackle the virus from all sides, leaders in the field are increasingly optimistic about what the next decade of the epidemic will look like.
(POZ, June 2017)
The dawning of the 2020s will bring HIV into its fifth decade. Crystal balls are by their nature hazy, and the current political climate raises many worrisome questions about how shifting federal priorities may affect people living with and at risk for HIV. Nevertheless, thanks to recent promising strides in HIV research and public health efforts to tackle the virus from all sides, leaders in the field are increasingly optimistic about what the next decade of the epidemic will look like.
"The Republican Health Care Plan Would Devastate People With HIV"
(POZ, June 2017)
President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget and the House Republican health care bill, if enacted, would deal a devastating blow to people living with and at risk for HIV. Additionally, the president’s proposed cuts to global HIV funding could prove cataclysmic to developing nations.
(POZ, June 2017)
President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget and the House Republican health care bill, if enacted, would deal a devastating blow to people living with and at risk for HIV. Additionally, the president’s proposed cuts to global HIV funding could prove cataclysmic to developing nations.
"As the U.S. Wrests Greater Control Over HIV, What's the Key to Success?"
(POZ, April 2017)
Things are looking up in the U.S. HIV epidemic, with a likely increasing proportion of those living with HIV on treatment and virally suppressed. Going forward, addressing disparities, especially racial ones, is vital for further progress.
(POZ, April 2017)
Things are looking up in the U.S. HIV epidemic, with a likely increasing proportion of those living with HIV on treatment and virally suppressed. Going forward, addressing disparities, especially racial ones, is vital for further progress.
In March 2017, I was a guest on National Public Radio's 1A program to discuss Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV along with the NIAID's Anthony Fauci, the National Minority AIDS Council's Matthew Rose and author Evan J. Peterson.
"PrEP Fails in a Third Man, but This Time HIV Drug Resistance Is Not to Blame."
(POZ, February 2017)
A Dutch man has contracted a non-drug-resistant strain of HIV while, according to numerous sources of evidence, adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). His case has puzzled experts because the only two cases of PrEP failure documented thus far, both reported within the past year, involved rare drug-resistant strains of the virus that apparently evaded the two drugs in Truvada.
(POZ, February 2017)
A Dutch man has contracted a non-drug-resistant strain of HIV while, according to numerous sources of evidence, adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). His case has puzzled experts because the only two cases of PrEP failure documented thus far, both reported within the past year, involved rare drug-resistant strains of the virus that apparently evaded the two drugs in Truvada.
"PrEP: A Dream Deferred."
(POZ, January 2017)
Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is failing the demographic that needs it most, black men who have sex with men (MSM). Meanwhile, Truvada’s increasing popularity as HIV prevention among white MSM means PrEP is apparently on a path to widen already tragic racial disparities in infection rates among MSM.
Are those who launched PrEP to blame for failing to anticipate its anemic uptake among black MSM?
(POZ, January 2017)
Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is failing the demographic that needs it most, black men who have sex with men (MSM). Meanwhile, Truvada’s increasing popularity as HIV prevention among white MSM means PrEP is apparently on a path to widen already tragic racial disparities in infection rates among MSM.
Are those who launched PrEP to blame for failing to anticipate its anemic uptake among black MSM?
"Racism Got You Stressed? That May Be Holding Kids Back at School, Too."
(The Nation, Oct. 2016)
Research suggests the stress all of today's widespread racial conflict generates may itself do lasting damage to the next generation of people of color in the United States. According to a new paper out of Northwestern University, race-based stress kick-starts psychological and biological changes among black and Latino children that compromise their school performance and ultimately widen school achievement disparities between races.
(The Nation, Oct. 2016)
Research suggests the stress all of today's widespread racial conflict generates may itself do lasting damage to the next generation of people of color in the United States. According to a new paper out of Northwestern University, race-based stress kick-starts psychological and biological changes among black and Latino children that compromise their school performance and ultimately widen school achievement disparities between races.
"Decision 2016: The Politics of a Pandemic."
(POZ, Sept. 2016) National, state and local races will affect HIV prevention, care and treatment—both at home and abroad.
“Everyone pays attention to national elections or top-of-the-ticket elections,” says Greg Harris, an HIV-positive Illinois state legislator. “But for people with HIV, the real decisions that impact their lives, including housing, funding, supportive services—whether it’s mental health treatment or substance abuse—are all made at the local level.”
(POZ, Sept. 2016) National, state and local races will affect HIV prevention, care and treatment—both at home and abroad.
“Everyone pays attention to national elections or top-of-the-ticket elections,” says Greg Harris, an HIV-positive Illinois state legislator. “But for people with HIV, the real decisions that impact their lives, including housing, funding, supportive services—whether it’s mental health treatment or substance abuse—are all made at the local level.”
August 2016: My article for POZ, "When Can We Expect PrEP 2.0?" (Dec. 2015) won a silver medal in health and fitness reporting from NJLGA, the Association of LGBT Journalists. The article asks what the future holds for new forms of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV, including long-acting injectables, less toxic drugs, even a subdermal implant that can deliver contin-uous drug for months.
"Antiretrovirals: A Success Story." (POZ, June 2016)
Celebrating 20 years of effective HIV treatment
In July 1996, infectious disease experts gathered in Vancouver for the 11th International AIDS Conf-erence. These gatherings had become bleak affairs in recent years, as data painted in stark relief the fact that the handful of drugs approved since AZT in 1987 had proved a feeble line of defense against HIV. But data had recently begun to surface suggesting that emerging drugs might allow clinicians the means to finally send the virus into retreat.
Celebrating 20 years of effective HIV treatment
In July 1996, infectious disease experts gathered in Vancouver for the 11th International AIDS Conf-erence. These gatherings had become bleak affairs in recent years, as data painted in stark relief the fact that the handful of drugs approved since AZT in 1987 had proved a feeble line of defense against HIV. But data had recently begun to surface suggesting that emerging drugs might allow clinicians the means to finally send the virus into retreat.
"A Tale of Two Cities." (POZ, May 2016)
New York City and San Francisco want to end their HIV epidemics.
San Francisco recently launched a multipronged HIV-fighting campaign called “Getting to Zero,” in which the members of local academia, the public health department and community-based organizations, as well as government officials and health care providers, are working in lockstep. Meanwhile, the major players in New York’s epidemic have formed a similar alliance.
New York City and San Francisco want to end their HIV epidemics.
San Francisco recently launched a multipronged HIV-fighting campaign called “Getting to Zero,” in which the members of local academia, the public health department and community-based organizations, as well as government officials and health care providers, are working in lockstep. Meanwhile, the major players in New York’s epidemic have formed a similar alliance.
"Is Charlie Sheen Pining After the Wrong Clinical Trial of Long-Acting HIV Meds?"(POZ, March 2016)
During his February appearance on The Dr. Oz Show, Charlie Sheen said his profound dislike of adhering to a daily HIV regimen had piqued his interest in participating in a clinical trial of an investigational treatment called PRO 140, which is a weekly self-injectable monoclonal antibody against the virus. But would he be better off joining a trial of a longer-acting treatment, one dosed only every eight weeks?
During his February appearance on The Dr. Oz Show, Charlie Sheen said his profound dislike of adhering to a daily HIV regimen had piqued his interest in participating in a clinical trial of an investigational treatment called PRO 140, which is a weekly self-injectable monoclonal antibody against the virus. But would he be better off joining a trial of a longer-acting treatment, one dosed only every eight weeks?
"PrEP Fails in Gay Man Adhering to Daily Truvada,
He Contracts Drug-Resistant HIV."
(POZ, February 2016)
Researchers have for the first time documented a case of an individual contracting HIV, a multi-drug resistant strain, while apparently adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The scientists concluded that it is indeed possible for individuals who are adherent to PrEP to contract HIV when they are exposed to a virus that is resistant to both drugs included in Truvada. While this case is concerning, experts in the PrEP field suggest that such failures of PrEP will likely remain rare.
He Contracts Drug-Resistant HIV."
(POZ, February 2016)
Researchers have for the first time documented a case of an individual contracting HIV, a multi-drug resistant strain, while apparently adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The scientists concluded that it is indeed possible for individuals who are adherent to PrEP to contract HIV when they are exposed to a virus that is resistant to both drugs included in Truvada. While this case is concerning, experts in the PrEP field suggest that such failures of PrEP will likely remain rare.
"Sorry, Pollyanna, Happiness Doesn't Make You Live Longer."
(Second Nexus, Feb. 2016)
If you pay attention to the preachings of self-help gurus and panacea-promising magazine articles, you might think that a sunny disposition is the key to a long life. But a study published in the Lancet in December casts serious doubt on this received wisdom, finding that, while happiness may influence healthy behaviors, it has no apparent direct effect on the risk of death.
(Second Nexus, Feb. 2016)
If you pay attention to the preachings of self-help gurus and panacea-promising magazine articles, you might think that a sunny disposition is the key to a long life. But a study published in the Lancet in December casts serious doubt on this received wisdom, finding that, while happiness may influence healthy behaviors, it has no apparent direct effect on the risk of death.
"Eyewitness Testimony Is Unreliable… Or Is It?"
(The Marshall Project, Oct. 2015) A new study of the data says it depends on timing.
The question of how confident witnesses are when they first identify a subject in a lineup might seem like a minor detail. But it’s at the center of a vigorous debate among eyewitness memory experts. The outcome of this debate could have important ramifications for the criminal justice system, and could add an important layer of nuance to the critiques of eyewitness testimony.
(The Marshall Project, Oct. 2015) A new study of the data says it depends on timing.
The question of how confident witnesses are when they first identify a subject in a lineup might seem like a minor detail. But it’s at the center of a vigorous debate among eyewitness memory experts. The outcome of this debate could have important ramifications for the criminal justice system, and could add an important layer of nuance to the critiques of eyewitness testimony.
"It's Science: Raising the Minimum Wage Would Make America a Happier Place." (The Nation, Oct. 2015)
“There’s this idea that our society is premised on the pursuit of happiness,” says Laura Smith, a psychologist at Columbia University’s Teachers College. That premise, she reasons, is tied to the implicit American social contract, “which is that a hard day’s work is going to be the pathway to full enfranchised citizenship. And when full-time contributors to the necessary fabric of society can’t earn enough to lift their families out of poverty, our tacit social contract is compromised.”
“There’s this idea that our society is premised on the pursuit of happiness,” says Laura Smith, a psychologist at Columbia University’s Teachers College. That premise, she reasons, is tied to the implicit American social contract, “which is that a hard day’s work is going to be the pathway to full enfranchised citizenship. And when full-time contributors to the necessary fabric of society can’t earn enough to lift their families out of poverty, our tacit social contract is compromised.”
"The Cure For HIV Is Not Around the Corner." (POZ, Oct. 2015) Cutting through the hope and the hyperbole.
Erroneous media reports aren't the only cause of the public's misperception that a cure for HIV is "within reach." Even non-profit leaders such as amfAR and Bill Gates have contributed, willfully or not, to this gross distortion of the truth. This article seeks to set the record straight and give readers and accurate sense of where we are in the quest for a cure.
Erroneous media reports aren't the only cause of the public's misperception that a cure for HIV is "within reach." Even non-profit leaders such as amfAR and Bill Gates have contributed, willfully or not, to this gross distortion of the truth. This article seeks to set the record straight and give readers and accurate sense of where we are in the quest for a cure.
Sept. 2015: For my coverage of Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV, I received the Excellence in HIV/AIDS Coverage Award from NJLGA, the Association of LGBT Journalists, as well as a bronze award for health information reporting from the National Health Information Awards. The article, "PrEP and Prejudice", which appeared in POZ magainze's Oct/Nov 2014 issue, examines the science surrounding the new HIV prevention method (taking a pill each day reduces risk by over 99 percent) while asking tough questions about whether PrEP will ultimately reduce HIV incidence among gay and bisexual men.
Michelangelo Signorile interviewed me for his SiriusXM satellite radio show, The Gist, on Sept. 4, 2015.
We spoke about the new scientific paper about the group of more than 650 men who have sex with men who have been receiving Truvada as PrEP (to prevent HIV) from a San Francisco clinic. During the average seven months that the members of the group have been on PrEP, there have been no new HIV infections among them.
We spoke about the new scientific paper about the group of more than 650 men who have sex with men who have been receiving Truvada as PrEP (to prevent HIV) from a San Francisco clinic. During the average seven months that the members of the group have been on PrEP, there have been no new HIV infections among them.
"What 311 Calls Can Tell Us About Gentrification."
(New York magazine, August 2015)
A fascinating sociological study out of NYU found that New York City complaints about neighbors tend to spike at the "fuzzy," ill-defined boundaries between segregated neighborhoods. New York, which is one of the most racially diverse cities in the country and also one of the most starkly segregated, is quite the crucible, with a long history of such racial tension.
“Fact-Checking AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Latest Anti-PrEP Screed.”
(POZ, July 2015)
An audit of AHF's anti-pre-exposure prophylaxis ad, which the nonprofit published in various gay newspapers, revealed a laundry list of errors, if not flat-out lies about Truvada's use as HIV prevention. AHF eventually issued a strident rebuttal to the POZ fact check.
(POZ, July 2015)
An audit of AHF's anti-pre-exposure prophylaxis ad, which the nonprofit published in various gay newspapers, revealed a laundry list of errors, if not flat-out lies about Truvada's use as HIV prevention. AHF eventually issued a strident rebuttal to the POZ fact check.
“Is It Time for the End of ‘AIDS’?”
(POZ, July 2015)
Two decades into the antiretroviral era, the often misused term 'AIDS' has an awkward place in the dialogue about the HIV epidemic. Is it time to phase the term out altogether?
(POZ, July 2015)
Two decades into the antiretroviral era, the often misused term 'AIDS' has an awkward place in the dialogue about the HIV epidemic. Is it time to phase the term out altogether?
“The Audacity of New York's Hope to End AIDS”
(POZ, May 2015)
“We’re beginning to see a real ray of light in what has been a 35-year nightmare,” said Andrew Cuomo, who presides over the state with the largest number of people living with HIV, an estimated 154,000 New Yorkers. He acknowledged that when the early sketches of the blueprint were drawn, “people thought it was an outrageous goal.” He then asserted that “sometimes what sounds outrageous is exactly what we need to do.”
(POZ, May 2015)
“We’re beginning to see a real ray of light in what has been a 35-year nightmare,” said Andrew Cuomo, who presides over the state with the largest number of people living with HIV, an estimated 154,000 New Yorkers. He acknowledged that when the early sketches of the blueprint were drawn, “people thought it was an outrageous goal.” He then asserted that “sometimes what sounds outrageous is exactly what we need to do.”
“PrEP Is Ready for Primetime.”
(POZ, March 2015)
The use of Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay and bi men has entered a new, particularly exciting phase. Gone is the silence surrounding this daily-pill HIV prevention method. Increasing signs indicate that Truvada use will ultimately slow, and actually send into retreat, the expanding rates of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men . And a chorus of advocates is clamoring to promote the powder-blue pills where they’ll do the most good.
(POZ, March 2015)
The use of Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay and bi men has entered a new, particularly exciting phase. Gone is the silence surrounding this daily-pill HIV prevention method. Increasing signs indicate that Truvada use will ultimately slow, and actually send into retreat, the expanding rates of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men . And a chorus of advocates is clamoring to promote the powder-blue pills where they’ll do the most good.
“Propecia Side Effects. What You Don't Know About Propecia (Because They Don't Know Either)." (AskMen.com, March 2015)
Even though the balding wonder drug Propecia was approved back in 1997 and has been prescribed to millions of follicle-challenged guys since then, scientists still don’t have a firm handle on how safe it is.
Even though the balding wonder drug Propecia was approved back in 1997 and has been prescribed to millions of follicle-challenged guys since then, scientists still don’t have a firm handle on how safe it is.
“Pushing His Luck.” (Hep magazine, spring 2015) How one man finally hit the jackpot of a hepatitis C-free life.
Jack Berlin doesn’t want you to think he’s anything special. He may be a successful businessman, but he’s no smarter than anyone else. He’s just a responsible, pay-it-forward kind of guy who’s been very lucky: fortunate to have found a profession that taps his passions and propels him to work hard; blessed with a rich family life.
Oh, and he kicked hepatitis C in the butt.
Jack Berlin doesn’t want you to think he’s anything special. He may be a successful businessman, but he’s no smarter than anyone else. He’s just a responsible, pay-it-forward kind of guy who’s been very lucky: fortunate to have found a profession that taps his passions and propels him to work hard; blessed with a rich family life.
Oh, and he kicked hepatitis C in the butt.
“It Really Might ‘Get Better’ for LGBT Teens.”
(The Atlantic, February 2015)
In 2010, sex columnist Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller took to YouTube to reassure LBGT teens, "It Gets Better." So was born a movement.
Now a study out of Northwestern University has lent empirical support to Savage’s promise, showing that life really may improve significantly for many LGBT youths in the U.S. as they grow into young adulthood.
(The Atlantic, February 2015)
In 2010, sex columnist Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller took to YouTube to reassure LBGT teens, "It Gets Better." So was born a movement.
Now a study out of Northwestern University has lent empirical support to Savage’s promise, showing that life really may improve significantly for many LGBT youths in the U.S. as they grow into young adulthood.
“Selling the End of AIDS.”
(POZ, Oct. 2014)
As excited slogans anticipating an end to the AIDS epidemic gain favor, skeptics worry that such lofty promises will fall flat, leaving once-excited donors and other stakeholders disillusioned to the point of closing their pocketbooks and turning their eyes to other concerns.
(POZ, Oct. 2014)
As excited slogans anticipating an end to the AIDS epidemic gain favor, skeptics worry that such lofty promises will fall flat, leaving once-excited donors and other stakeholders disillusioned to the point of closing their pocketbooks and turning their eyes to other concerns.
“The Normal Heart: From Stage to Screen.”
(POZ, May 2014)
After starring in the Broadway production of Larry Kramer’s cri de coeur about the dawning of the AIDS crisis, Joe Mantello joined the cast of the upcoming HBO version as well. His performance in the emotionally arresting film is nothing short of devastating.
Here he talks with POZ about this piece of theatrical history.
(POZ, May 2014)
After starring in the Broadway production of Larry Kramer’s cri de coeur about the dawning of the AIDS crisis, Joe Mantello joined the cast of the upcoming HBO version as well. His performance in the emotionally arresting film is nothing short of devastating.
Here he talks with POZ about this piece of theatrical history.
“Coinfected With HIV and Hep C? Time To Party Like It’s 1996.” (Hep magazine, March 2014)
If you think that having HIV means you can’t be cured of a coinfection with hepatitis C, then think again. If you think the only way to rid yourself of hep C and to spare your liver of its damaging consequences is to undergo a year of interferon treatment, suffering from the drug’s miserable flu-like side effects, there is good news for you. The hep C treatment revolution is upon us.
If you think that having HIV means you can’t be cured of a coinfection with hepatitis C, then think again. If you think the only way to rid yourself of hep C and to spare your liver of its damaging consequences is to undergo a year of interferon treatment, suffering from the drug’s miserable flu-like side effects, there is good news for you. The hep C treatment revolution is upon us.
In this image, captured by an electron microscope, HIV (orange) is budding off this CD4 T immune cells (green).
“How HIV Instigates Cellular Suicide to Cause AIDS.”
(POZ, January 2014) Researchers have struggled to assemble the clues as to how the immune systems of people with AIDS are so devastatingly brought to heel. It has been a long and winding path toward under-standing the precise cellular mechanisms con-necting HIV to AIDS. Now, one team of scientists has made a significant break in the case, clarifying the step-by-step process by which the virus causes the syndrome and challenging previous theories about how CD4 cells faced with the virus die off en masse.
(POZ, January 2014) Researchers have struggled to assemble the clues as to how the immune systems of people with AIDS are so devastatingly brought to heel. It has been a long and winding path toward under-standing the precise cellular mechanisms con-necting HIV to AIDS. Now, one team of scientists has made a significant break in the case, clarifying the step-by-step process by which the virus causes the syndrome and challenging previous theories about how CD4 cells faced with the virus die off en masse.
“PEPFAR Turns 10: Success at a Crossroads.”
(POZ, Dec. 2013) Over the summer, the 1 millionth baby was born HIV-free thanks to a huge push by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Worldwide, new HIV infections have fallen by a third since 2001. New infections among children have tumbled 52 percent during the same period. AIDS-related deaths have since dropped 30 percent since 2005. Also, 13 hard-hit nations each recently hit an important tipping point: A greater number of people are getting on ARVs each year than are newly infected with the virus.
(POZ, Dec. 2013) Over the summer, the 1 millionth baby was born HIV-free thanks to a huge push by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Worldwide, new HIV infections have fallen by a third since 2001. New infections among children have tumbled 52 percent during the same period. AIDS-related deaths have since dropped 30 percent since 2005. Also, 13 hard-hit nations each recently hit an important tipping point: A greater number of people are getting on ARVs each year than are newly infected with the virus.
“A Cater-Waiter to the Elite.”
(The New York Times, October 2013)
Once there was an intrepid young man who, freshly draped with the lush greenery of an Ivy League degree, saw the world at his feet. Those feet soon became callused and blistered, however, by the demands of an interminable sentence of hard cater-waiting (just punishment for his majoring in English)...
(The New York Times, October 2013)
Once there was an intrepid young man who, freshly draped with the lush greenery of an Ivy League degree, saw the world at his feet. Those feet soon became callused and blistered, however, by the demands of an interminable sentence of hard cater-waiting (just punishment for his majoring in English)...
“Too Close for Comfort.”
(Out, Nov. 2013)
Why serial monogamy isn't so safe. Most HIV transmissions among gay men happen within stable sexual part-nerships, not flings.
According to the latest estimates, a staggering 68% of new HIV transmissions in gay and bi men occur in relationships or in the context of two guys sleeping together regularly. For guys aged 16 to 24, we’re talking about 79%.
(Out, Nov. 2013)
Why serial monogamy isn't so safe. Most HIV transmissions among gay men happen within stable sexual part-nerships, not flings.
According to the latest estimates, a staggering 68% of new HIV transmissions in gay and bi men occur in relationships or in the context of two guys sleeping together regularly. For guys aged 16 to 24, we’re talking about 79%.
“The Case of the Baby ‘Functionally Cured’ of HIV: A Detective Story.” (POZ, April 2013) Was the famous baby really functionally cured of HIV? (Ultimately the answer was no; the virus rebounded in the child in 2014.)
“A baby is ‘functionally’ cured of HIV.”
Such a claim is so profound and seemingly unprecedented, it should come as no surprise that skeptics would pick over every piece of available data and every last word out of the mouth of the scientists involved with the case.
“A baby is ‘functionally’ cured of HIV.”
Such a claim is so profound and seemingly unprecedented, it should come as no surprise that skeptics would pick over every piece of available data and every last word out of the mouth of the scientists involved with the case.
“Falling Through the Cracks.”
(POZ, March 2013)
We can strengthen two of the weakest links in the U.S. health care chain for people with HIV/AIDS: linking people to care and re-taining them in care. Doing so requires a collective approach. In the meantime, only an estimated 16 to 36 percent of Americans with HIV have a suppressed viral load. This figure is the last calculation in a series of statistical wake-up calls that have shaken the HIV community since the 2010 introduction of a a new catchphrase: the “treatment cascade.”
(POZ, March 2013)
We can strengthen two of the weakest links in the U.S. health care chain for people with HIV/AIDS: linking people to care and re-taining them in care. Doing so requires a collective approach. In the meantime, only an estimated 16 to 36 percent of Americans with HIV have a suppressed viral load. This figure is the last calculation in a series of statistical wake-up calls that have shaken the HIV community since the 2010 introduction of a a new catchphrase: the “treatment cascade.”