Community Corner
"Picture: Positivity" Exhibit: Bob Reed
An exhibit currently open in San Jose depicts local men and women living with HIV or AIDS. It features the work of Santa Clara University students.
(Picture: Positivity, an exhibition of photographs, biographies and artist statements can be seen at the Santa Clara County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding, San Jose, now until June 20. The photographs are taken by Santa Clara University students. Here is background information about one of the subjects, and a statement from the student about their photograph on exhibit.)
Bob Reed
57
Fort Knox, Ky./San Jose
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Bob Reed lived through a social revolution that took place in the 1970s and ‘80s. After being married for five years, he came out as gay. Knowing the Bay Area to be a safe haven for the gay community, Bob moved with his son from Idaho out to California. The sexual revolution was taking place and despite its amazing possibilities, he says, the appeal of drugs, alcohol, and sex posed many unknown dangers.
Bob and his friends enjoyed going to the clubs in San Francisco, but suddenly his life changed. Somewhere during the revolution, Bob had contracted HIV. He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986. Bob says that he felt that he should have known better, as he was a nurse and well-educated, but the disease did not discriminate.
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Living with HIV/AIDS has been a battle for Bob. He keeps an address book of his acquaintances and friends. One-by-one, he has seen over 20 of his friends die from AIDS. Bob struggled with AIDS-related illness after illness, but says he feels he has been fortunate to survive this long. Finally, after struggling with intense nausea for several years, things began to turn around in 2008. He says the new medications for AIDS and its associated infections have really helped.
Bob lives with his partner and two cats and is feeling better than ever, he says. He spends his time volunteering in the community,including helping out at the HIV testing center and speaking to classes all around the valley. Bob says he hopes to make a difference in the community and protect others from experiencing the same tragic losses he has been through.
Photographer’s Statement
Christina ShuhWhen someone hears that an individual has HIV or AIDS they often become consumed with how or why the person contracted the disease, instead of focusing on the challenges the individual has and will continue to face. This disease comes with its own struggles, and people forcing judgments and upholding stigmas do not help.
HIV/AIDS affects everyone: It steals time away from us and the people we love. When they are gone, we are left only with memories.
Working with Bob Reed, I was able to see how important memories are and the effect they can have on an individual.
Bob has lost many close friends to HIV and AIDS, leaving him only some photos,news articles, and memories. While those memories are sometimes haunting and painful, they inspire Bob with a fighting drive to make a difference in his community. He does whatever he can so that others do not experience the same tragic pain and loss he has.
Fortunately, not all Bob’s memories are engulfed in pain. They are memories of experiencing life and being surrounded by loving and caring individuals. The most destructive memory is the memory of hate.
In working with HIV/AIDS patients in the United States as well as in Botswana in Southern Africa, I discovered that many people expressed hatred toward them, their hostility mostly rooted in fear. Working to break down the stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS and increasing community education will remove the fear. Reduction of fear and hatred can lead to less painful memories. When all we have left is memories, it is important to make them joyous.
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