What does it mean to build a truly loving, inclusive community when it comes to HIV? Many of the assumptions about HIV treatment and transmission come from outdated medical information Misinformation can have a profound impact on the lives of people who are HIV positive, even once their viral load is undetectable and untransmittable.

In this episode, Sara Scarlette, a community leader, parent and trans person living with undetectable HIV will be sharing what it’s like to live with HIV in the modern era. They discuss their first scary moment receiving the diagnosis, their journey to understanding and obtaining antiretroviral treatment, its medical impact, and their social experiences since learning of their HIV status.

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Although pursuing a more authentic, self-authored life can significantly contribute to happiness, it certainly doesn’t eliminate daily stressors or difficult major life events. It also doesn’t necessarily override clinical depression when feeling down involves genetic, neurochemical or hormonal components.

In this episode, Remington, a trans man, describes his experiences navigating clinical depression and the strategies he has used that help him live with more mental ease.

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A multi-disciplinary Mexican queer filmmaker, Gabriel Gutierrez Morales produces documentaries, writes novels and paints portraits that are an exploration of sexuality and identity. In this episode, they talk about how art functions as a self-exploration, including of their own sexuality, gender identity, language as a bilingual English and Spanish speaker, and their young adulthood.

Their most recent works include “Boy Slut”, a fictional film about an encounter between two gay men, a mini-documentary about Cliff Media called “A Certain Kind”, and a forthcoming feature-length documentary about Cliff Media called “A House on the Cliff”.

Like many artists creating content about sexuality, Gabriel has been censored on multiple platforms, including a permanent ban from YouTube. They are also limited the film festivals that accept their work and the audience that their work reaches. As an independent artist, they make only minimal income which they supplement with a low-wage job.

Nonetheless, they persist in their vision of ethical and honest art, work that brings them a sense of meaning and happiness. Their resilience in a reminder of the value of identifying and believing in who you are and the power of your personal vision.