I want to make sure that all people living with HIV -- but especially the minority community -- understand that this disease is not going anywhere.

I think it would give young people a lot of hope. And not just young people living with autism, but all young people. It would help them to reach their goals and dreams. and tell them never to give up. And also, be ready for your shot when called upon.

At the time [I was diagnosed], it was a white man's gay disease,

We're not letting you just come into our community anymore without a partner or without one of us being a partner in that deal,

It's absolutely a low-income and minority problem. We saw a lot of disease in high-income people too, but if you don't have the insurance to go to the dentist, or if you have public insurance but the reimbursement rates are so low the dentists won't accept you, then some of those parents might not take their children at all.

The important thing is this Just because I'm doing well doesn't mean that they're going to do well if they get HIV. A lot of people have died since I have announced. This disease is not going anywhere.