End HIV stigma and discrimination, and then we can end HIV

It was the early 2000s, and I was still a teenager. I wasn’t out yet. I was so angry when Billy died because I didn’t understand. Billy didn’t have to die, but he couldn’t afford the medication he needed to save his life, and he couldn’t get insurance because of discrimination against people with preexisting conditions.

I met Billy doing community theater. By the time I had met him, HIV had taken its toll, but he was one of the most beautiful people I’d ever met. He must’ve been around the age I am now – his early to mid-30’s. He had such a kind heart.

Despite his terminal situation, he loved this world and he loved people. He’d help anybody any time. He was gentle, and sweet, and he really cared about others. He was compassionate, and never careless with people. He had a tranquility about him that I still find hard to comprehend. Billy was an inspiration, and he didn’t have to die.

But he did. We were all heartbroken. We cried. We hugged. We sang “Seasons of Love.”

So why was I lucky? Because a whole generation of our community had to watch this happen to so many more amazing people than I did. Over several decades, they lost countless friends, acquaintances, family members, best friends, lovers. Losing Billy still breaks my heart, so I can’t even imagine the pain they carry, the grief that visits.

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During the Canada Post strike announced September 25, 2025, the following measures will be undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. Results required urgently can be faxed upon request. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. We recommend requesting medication at least 2 weeks in advance in case of delivery delays, particularly to rural/remote parts of BC. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During the Canada Post strike, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service

The BC-CfE Laboratory is streamlining reporting processes for certain tests in order to simplify distribution and record-keeping, and to ensure completeness of results. Beginning September 2, 2025, results for the ‘Resistance Analysis of HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase’ (Protease-RT) and ‘HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Genotype’ tests will be combined into a single ‘HIV-1 Resistance Genotype Report’.
For more details and example reports, please click on the button below