Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Matthew Hodson

@matthewhodson.bsky.social

11K followers 4K following 3.5K posts

Shamelessly HIV+ actor, writer, public speaker based in London. Former CEO of aidsmap and Gay Men Fighting AIDS. He/him. 🏳️‍🌈🇪🇺🌍🌱

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · Nov 16

A 🧵 on #AIDS in the 80s/90s:
I was 15 when I first had sex with a man.
I’d snuck off to London’s Heaven nightclub with the express intent of ridding myself of my ‘gay virginity’, a goal I achieved easily with a visiting American photographer.
1/13

A black and white photo of me at 17. I’m wearing a baggy grey jumper and for some reason a leather cap.

38 250 890

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 12m

Good news!
New HIV diagnoses in the UK fell by 4% in 2024.
The UK remains among the top countries in the world for diagnosis (95% of all living with HIV are diagnosed), treatment (99% of diagnosed on treatment) and viral suppression (98% ‘undetectable’ - and so can’t pass the virus on sexually).

Graph from UKHSA showing overall dramatic drop in diagnoses between 2004 and 2024.
There was a rise after 2020 as a result of increases in testing rates, following significant low levels of testing as a result of COVID.

3 21

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 10h

In these times, I’d be insulted not to be! 😂

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 10h

The first pharma that came up with a cure would make a shedload.
There are challenges with this virus that make the search for a cure uniquely challenging but it’s paranoic to think there’s a cure that’s being withheld.

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 15h

Is he one of those Antifa terrorists I’ve been hearing about?

1 3

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 22h

Less George and the Dragon, more How To Train A Dragon.

1 9

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 1d

Scientists develop a way to ‘flush out’ the HIV reservoir - key to finding a cure.
Note: lab studies only, early days.

Turning HIV’s power against itself may help target hidden virus – another step towards a cure

Researchers used selected molecules to make human cells less tolerant of damage, so that reactivating hidden HIV becomes a clear trigger for cell death. While making cells more vulnerable to dying may...

www.aidsmap.com

1 15 60

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 1d

Today marks 6 years since my mother, Hatta, died.
She was a fierce supporter of #LGBTQ rights, going to Pride marches and setting up a support group for families of LGBT children.
I miss her but I have grown used to her absence.
NB the back of her T-shirt said, ‘And my straight daughters’.

With my mum at Pride 2014. I’m wearing a GMFA tshirt that reads ‘Better choices, better health, great sex’ and she’s wearing a tshirt that reads ‘I ❤️ my gay son’.

10 8 120

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 2d

Jody Dubrowski was murdered in a homophobic attack on Clapham Common 20 years ago.
There will be a vigil held on the Common on the anniversary next week - to honour his memory and the memory of all those who have died as a result of hatred and ignorance.

Shine On - Jody Dubrowski 20th anniversary vigil.
15th October, Clapham Common bandstand.
Arrive 5.45pm, vigil 6pm.
All welcome.

2 26 68

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 3d

I’m so old I remember when the BBC was a trusted news source.

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 3d

It’s an audacious performance.

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 3d

Ok, now you’re just being rude!

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

I thought I was concealing that fairly well!

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

She’d have been more likely to care if he’d had a column in the Church Times.

1 1

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

As it’s #Caturday I’m indulging myself with a slide show of Domzee keeping me company in 2020 (lockdowns, so my hair was wild!).
He left me last month after 20 years.
I feel his paw press on my heart.

19 10 160

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

a man in a black and white sweater is standing in a clothing store and says obviously

ALT: a man in a black and white sweater is standing in a clothing store and says obviously

media.tenor.com

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

New data suggests cis women may be better able to control HIV than cis men.
This could be important in studies searching for a cure.

Women May Naturally Control HIV Better Than Men

Women may be better candidates for functional cure strategies that aim to prevent viral rebound after stopping antiretrovirals.

www.poz.com

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

To be fair, you look amazing here.

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you. I always feel the need to point out that I only post the nice photos. If I look like shit, as in most pics, it gets deleted. Xx

3 6

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

I’m at that age where I look at photos of myself on the cusp of 40 and think, ‘What a twink!’

Me at a beach bar in Ibiza, aged 39. To these tired old eyes I look like a twink.

7 1 100

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 4d

He lived to a great age (20!) so I have lots to be grateful for.

1 1

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 5d

I don’t know. This is the first I’ve heard of him.

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you. I miss him terribly.

1 1

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 5d

a man in front of a screen that says deadlands

ALT: a man in front of a screen that says deadlands

media.tenor.com

1 2

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 5d

Taylor Swift just drove by.

Car in Clapham with number plate:
U LO5T YE

3 30

Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 5d

Although she died six years ago I still feel I can hear my mother’s reactions to various news stories.
She would have hated COVID, I’m glad she was spared that, but this, this she would have celebrated.

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

No 10 announces decision although role will not legally be taken on until January, before an enthronement service

www.theguardian.com

2 1 52