Month: October 2019

“Josh Robbins Comes Out.” That was the headline on the April 2012 cover story of Nashville’s LGBT monthly publication, O&AN, detailing my announcement in my community that I was newly diagnosed with HIV. 

During the photoshoot for the cover story, I remember explaining to the photographer and editor of the publication how important it was to me that I looked healthy, strong and sexy. I didn’t want to look too pale, too thin — I didn’t want to look sick.

It was important to me to look as normal as possible, so I wouldn’t look like the stereotypes. It’s funny how much image plays into how the public sees a chronic condition like HIV.