DES MOINES, Iowa — According to the most recent report from Stop HIV Iowa, in 2022 Polk County had the largest amount of people living with HIV in Iowa at 975 diagnoses.
In honor of World AIDS Day, The Project of Primary Health Care hosted a gathering Sunday on the steps of the Iowa Capitol to remember the lives lost from AIDS, which progresses from HIV, and recognize those still living with it.
This coming March will mark 29 years since Des Moines resident Michael Miller was diagnosed with AIDS.
“I've literally had family members who don't speak to me today because of it,” Miller said. “I've had friends that have told me that I deserved it. That it was my punishment for being gay.”
At the event, Primary Health Care reminded people that there is treatment for HIV. Taking prescribed medication can make people undetectable. The event concluded with a walk to The Blazing Saddle where everyone played trivia.
“Undetectable is untransmittable,” prevention services manager Sarah Wignall said. “So those undetected can't pass it on to their partners.”
Primary Health Care also reminded people that HIV is preventable. Taking the PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) pill daily can significantly reduce the chance of getting the virus.
The AIDS epidemic didn’t just affect Miller's health, it took his long-time partner Douglas Radford in 2001.
“Everybody was always fearful of him just because he had that aura about him,” Miller said. “But when you met him in person he was a huge teddy bear.”
Miller wanted to share his hurt in hopes of stopping the stigma.
“If we had more people speaking out about HIV and AIDS and being not afraid, I think that the stigma itself would become less and less,” Miller said.
