I've been a part of the black queer community since I was about the age of 17. We are individuals who have traditionally been marginalised, transgender women, transgender men, cisgender women, cisgender men, as well as those who identify as gay and bisexual. Lots of times our biological families don't understand us, and so we find community with one another.

My name is PJ Moton-Poole. I am the Senior Manager of External Affairs with ViiV Healthcare. I've spent a lot of time working directly with my community, particularly around the issue of HIV. I began as a freshman in college, and I've done everything from distribute safer sex kits to be a resource for individuals to get connected to testing.

Traditionally, black queer people have carried the highest burden of HIV in this country. There are endless resources for other communities, but I didn't really see heroes in this work for my community, and I really wanted to be that. For me, the issues really hit home when I received my own diagnosis in 2013. There was a lot of shame and guilt, but what it helped me to do is really deepen my understanding of some of the struggles that my people face getting the necessary information around HIV.

Essentially, my role at ViiV healthcare is a natural evolution of the work that I've done my entire life. I work specifically with black and latino men who identify as gay, bisexual or queer to create avenues for people to get linked to care. Some of the projects that we support include support groups, testing initiatives, transportation to access services, as well as arts and cultural events that talk to the hearts and minds of people around HIV, particularly around reducing stigma, which we know as one of the biggest barriers to getting people connected to or reengaged in care. Another benefit to this work is it really allows us to listen to the patient's voice and helps us to tailor our research and development so that when we put products out into community, it's reflective of the care that they want, need and deserve.

My hope is that my community will not only take inspiration from the work that I've done in the past and the work that I'm now doing at ViiV, but they can also take inspiration from the life that I live now as a person living with HIV. I'm an artist. I'm a musician. I'm a father, I'm a husband. And I get a lot more time to put energy into those things because I'm less worried about what HIV is doing to me.

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