Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Juan Michael Porter II

@juanmichaelii.bsky.social

1.4K followers 66 following 410 posts

Black gay man; living with HIV since 2015. Podcast host of the International AIDS Society. Freelance journalist and consultant. juanmichael.com #IDsky #Medsky

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Dec 1

The mural behind me says: Todos Juntos Podemos Para El SIDA.

Together We Can Stop AIDS—but first, we have to end #HIV stigma.

Today is #WorldAIDSDay. I started sharing my HIV status 6 yrs ago to help the world understand that people living w HIV can do anything. Please don't stigmatize us.
#IDsky

A Black man jumps in the air. He is wearing a white t shirt, blue pants, and brown boots. One leg is stretched behind him, while the other is tucked beneath him.

He is jumping in front of a Keith Haring mural in Barcelona. It reads: Todos Juntos Podemos Para El SIDA.

Together We Can Stop AIDS.

1 21 78

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · 9d

Because HIV disproportionately harms Black people, we've gone from picking cotton in fields to picking pills out of bottles as a cash crop for pharmaceutical companies, which use our blood as collateral to enrich their coffers.

Things can be different:
www.thebody.com/article/soli...

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · 11d

TOMORROW is the start of Long COVID Justice's new support group for people living with HIV and other complex conditions. It all starts at 3 PM (EST) on Zoom with Gabriel San Emeterio, LMSW, as the facilitator!

Register at:

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#HIVLongTermSurvivors #LongCOVID #PLHIV

1 2

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · 16d

Tomorrow is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. For people living w #HIV, these awareness days are an opportunity to tell folks to do their part to protect themselves from the virus -- just as we saved millions of people from HIV with our advocacy when no one else was coming to save us.

1 2

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

CalMatters @calmatters.org · 17d

California lawmakers started the year signaling they were ready to get tough on data centers, aiming to protect the environment and electricity ratepayers. Nine months later, they have little to show for it. https://cal.news/4pGZ43s

📷 Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Transfer switches take up space at One Wilshire, a high-rise office building almost entirely converted into a server farm or data center in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

HED: California lawmakers wanted to get tough on data centers. Here’s what survived

8 15

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · 17d

Making fun of the current president may feel good but it is not activism. Rather, if it's the only way that you're activating, I think you can follow up with something more effective.

1 2

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · 18d

People Living With HIV Need:

Folks who love people living with HIV enough NOT to believe every bad thing they hear about us.

We’re people first; just like you.

Adapted by @juanmichaelii.bsky.social from the words of Ivory Toldson, PhD.
#HIV #Liberation #NoStigma

1 2

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · 21d

I'm grateful to everyone who fought so that people living with HIV could survive. And though it might be easier to run away, I will continue to fight for liberation in their names.

It's the only way any of us will have a chance to live, dance, & thrive.
#JMPII

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · 22d

It's National Dance Day in the States.

Celebrate as you will―even if you're in a tiny space that limits your movement. Even if your body is limited in what it can do.

Just #dance, for the sake of dancing.

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 24d

When I was young, I didn't understand the myth of Cassandra because to my young brain, if someone was telling you that disaster was coming, the adults would want to change it. I miss being that naive. And of course no one listened to Cassandra, she's a woman.

4 13

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · 24d

Let's invest our energy in liberating our communities and avoid cultivating our minds for white supremacy.

AKA: If all you're doing is talking about white supremacy, you're not doing anything for the people who rely on you for safety, comfort, & love. Water the flowers instead of the weeds.

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · 27d

The proper terms is serodifferent.

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 10

Thank you, dear! It's been wonderful! AND I hope you have a holiday in your near future. You and your team are doing incredible work, which means you should have time to recharge <3

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 10

I'll be in Korea for the next two weeks. My responsiveness is slower than usual. But if you know how to send a punk, queer, trans owl ― you can definitely reach me.

Meanwhile, get your legs up, put a ring on it, and smile.

1 2

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 9

I spoke to the CIHR Pan-Canadian Network for HIV and STBBI Clinical Trials Research about continuing the mission to contain #HIV, even without PEPFAR or support from the U.S.

www.ctnplus.ca/news/picking...

2 2

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · Sep 8

The HIV Caucus is for EVERYONE who believes in empowering people living with HIV & containing the epidemic. Even if you're not living with HIV.

People who aren't living with HIV can join as supporters by filling out this membership form:
www.hivcaucus.org/form-languag...

1 3

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 7

For decades.

Kelundra @pieceofkay.bsky.social · Sep 7

Some of the most harmful pieces of propaganda is the lie that Black people are inherently violent. Most people who are victims of violent crime are victimized by people who look like them. This is true for all people, not just Black people. Crime stats orgs have found this to be true for decades.

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · Sep 6

"I am the problem, but I am also the solution."

1 1

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · Sep 5

Today, the Caucus is joining an action to #SaveHIVFunding w our peers where we unveil the #CutsKill AIDS Quilt Unveiled on Capitol Hill lawn.

It is our revival of the AIDS Memorial Quilt only we're not mourning ― we're demanding access so that our community can live & thrive!

1 3 7

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 2

I keep getting stares because of my shirt.

I guess people need a reminder that #HIV Is Not a Crime.

Thank you SERO Project for the shirt and for empowering us all to share this message.
#NoHIVStigma

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 1

Book club?

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 1

It's such a distraction and... let's keep the momentum going. Not get bogged down in acting like fans.

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Sep 1

We can applaud Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, for leaving CDC and excoriating its current misinformation agenda without deifying him.

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · Aug 29

Are you ready to caucus with the @plhivcaucus.bsky.social?We've released our schedule for USCHA. Join us and let's make it happen.

Be sure to visit us at our booth in the Exhibition Hall. We sharing information, listening to what people need, and making plans for the future.

See you in DC!

1 2

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · Aug 29

Him: But you don't look like you have HIV.

Funny thing. Yeah I do

When we have access to antiretroviral therapy, #HIV looks like having a family, learning to cook, having sex, & dancing at home in your undies.

B/c of the science of viral suppression & U=U, we aren't just surviving―we're thriving.

Reposted by Juan Michael Porter II

plhivcaucus.bsky.social @plhivcaucus.bsky.social · Aug 28

2 weeks ago, @pwnusa.bsky.social launched their 2025 “Celebrate & Honor Black Women in the #HIV Movement” campaign. As we prepare to convene at #USCHA, let’s remember to celebrate & honor all of the incredible Black women in our movement. We can start by paying them.
www.pwn-usa.org/celebrate-an...

2 2