This Week’s #HornetGuy, João, Is an Out and Proud Brazilian HIV Activist
This week’s #HornetGuy is João Geraldo, a 35-year-old human rights activist for people living with HIV. He works as a consultant and communicator creating digital content about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). He lives in Brasília, the Brazilian capital and loves traveling, dating, working and spending time with his family and friends.
“I consider myself passionate about my work, family, friends and for being alive,” João says. “A perfect weekend, for me, is the one I can stay home cooking for my husband and friends, playing with my two pets or traveling to a different place, but always with nice people. I can’t stand staying by myself.”
He says that becoming HIV-positive caused him to reflect on his life and start considering what’s truly valuable.
He now lives his life with a sort of intensity, he says. “[Everyone] who lives with me comments about the intensity that I live my relationships and experiences. Everything is macro, everything is super, everything is great. Some people can’t understand it and I can’t explain it, I’m just that way.”
He also admits that he’s a bit “hyperactive” (his word). “I’m always moving my body,” he says. “Slow or quiet activities make me bored. I need to see and feel the movement all the time, even when I’m at home.”
João has been on Hornet for a long time now. “Initially, I was looking for meeting new friends and sex, and even to talk about HIV,” he says. “Over time, this has been changing, and today, I am letting it happen, without much expectation.”
He became comfortable using the app because of its clean and clear design and the fact that it lets him post many pictures in his album (his favorite feature). But he also likes that he can be open about his HIV-status in the app.
“My HIV status is open in the app, and many times people living with HIV have contacted me for supporting them and thanking me for speaking about it so naturally,” he says. “Many of them complain about the taboo that is living with HIV and talk about it. I do not have any problem with this and I’m happy to see that I positively affect people’s lives, even without knowing them in person.”
If you want to spark a conversation and connect with Jose, you can follow him on Hornet: @nettinhos4.
