Auntjuan Wiley
Auntjuan Wiley, president and CEO of AIDS Walk South Dallas, has been named to POZ magazine’s annual POZ 100 list.
The list recognizes HIV-positive individuals working to end the epidemic. This year’s list honors those living with the virus since before effective treatment was available. Many got HIV before 1985.
“I am extremely honored to be recognized as a part of the POZ 100. Living with HIV for 21 years has not been an easy journey but yet rewarding. It has given me the drive and passion to do what I do everyday and have done for the last 26 years and that is to empower people to not focus on the diagnosis but to LIVE,” Wiley wrote of the honor via e-mail.
Wiley is the only North Texas resident and one of only five Texans to appear on this year’s list. The other Texans include Houston’s Cecilia Ross, Bruce Turner and Steven Vargas and Glenda Small of San Antonio.
“Living with HIV has changed tremendously in the past three decades, with advances in treatment being the biggest factor,” said Oriol Gutierrez, POZ editor-in-chief. “In 1996, we saw the introduction of effective treatment, transforming outcomes for people with HIV.”
The list includes everyone from activists to college professors and researchers.
“This year’s POZ 100 is a testament to those who are not only surviving but also thriving while living with HIV and who are actively fighting the epidemic,” Gutierrez said. “This year’s list was chosen from our most enthusiastic response ever and we know readers will be informed, moved and inspired by their stories.”
He noted the list represents individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who were born with HIV and straight men and women.
“In addition to the many HIV advocates and educators on the list, there is an array of diverse individuals, LGBT and straight, from myriad cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds who represent the arts, communities of faith and research.
The full list is here.
Congrats to all the honorees.
