Jonathan Blake
I was diagnosed in October 1982 with what was then called HTLV3 now known as HIV: it was deemed a terminal diagnosis back then with at that point nothing to aid but Palliative care when the time came.
My number at the London Middlesex Hospital was L1: London 1.
In December of 1982 I attempted suicide, but with my mother’s voice in my head “you clear up your own mess don’t leave it to others” ringing in my ears I couldn’t do it.
So, if I couldn’t kill myself I had better get on and live.
That’s what I have attempted to do ever since. I have been fortunate to meet Nigel Young, and to become part of Lesbians & Gay Men Support the Miners In 1984-85 – so was too busy and involved to dwell on my diagnosis.
My strategy has always been to keep busy & volunteer Done me proud but I have been very fortunate with how this virus has treated me.
When the film ‘Pride’ came out in 2015, and my HIV status was globally shared, Patrick Cash the playwright and author asked me if I would like to do an HIV conversation with him I jumped at the chance.
Eight weeks later he also asked if I’d like to read a new set of Monologues he’d written. I was once again I was performing, for the first time since 1981, as Barney in the ‘HIV Monologues’.