A hub for up and coming death defying escapes & a learning space for all: to build hope, inspire, captivate and engage our nation in a call-to-action to shift HIV perception, reduce infections among our youth and guide those who are out of care to get back-in!

www.danielbauer.us

It's been some time since I have posted; I wanted to share with you why as well as what you can now expect from me and my posts moving forward. 

Over the last year and a half as I have been re-introducing myself to the world (since my fall in 2002 when I was diagnosed with HIV), I had some most amazing moments getting my hands and heart involved in some amazing projects and calls-to-action; as I started on this adventure of new life my goal was to discover where my true calling would best fall into place in the fight against the wars on HIV that our nation is continually facing. 

I tried the activism thing. . . a bit too radical for me. I tried the social media thing, and found I am too ADD to sit in front of a computer for hours at a time, and besides there are some awesome social media projects out there, so rather than recreate another wheel, its best if I support what's already in motion and do my part to spread those messages. And lastly, while I am an advocate for the rights of those living with HIV/AIDS, I have learned through much feedback and through personal reflections that where I believe I fit, and have found my true calling is to simply remain dedicated to presenting motivational speaking, training and educational programs to youth and HIV service professionals while balancing my dream to be positioned (once again) as one of the most talented escape artists since the Houdini era.

I have now presented/performed to more than 10,000 people (youth, service professionals, general public) over this last year speaking on topics that change the perception of those living with HIV/AIDS; delivering heart-pounding and life-saving messages to youth in an effort to inspire youth to make healthier choices; I have been featured as a plenary speaker at national conferences presenting on topics such as outreach strategy, and the importance of communities including the voices and faces of those living with HIV to inspire change. And as many of you know my show Beyond Belief, which has been a huge hit, toured nationally and is now in the planning to return to New York City later this spring. With all this said, I write this not to just 'float-my-own-boat'; yet more to share with you my commitment to inspiring communities to engage in more education efforts especially at the High School level. Students respond to 'real-talk' about sex and other "out of the classroom and when parents aren't looking" behaviors when they are given the chance to engage on an equal playing field with a speaker bold enough to speak to them at their level. This creates change! I have seen it!

With all this said, moving forward, I will be posting bi-monthly; providing updates on experiences I have had as I continue to speak. What works. . . what doesn't. My hope is that this information will be shared and read by educators, parents, HIV service professionals, the media and anyone else who has an interest in deepening the learning experience among our youth about the risks of contracting HIV and other STI's. Additionally, another one of my core missions will be to reach out to the media whom I believe is the solution to reversing the war on HIV Stigma in our nation. It was the media who frantically educated us about HIV based on FEAR. Since they are responsible for shaping the fear of HIV they will (and do) have the power to reverse the stigma. I will keep you updated with my efforts.

So welcome to my blog once again, a refreshed space providing tools and educational strategies that may provide useful to inspire change, engage HIV service professionals and empower youth to make healthier choices in life.

Thank you for following my blog!

With life, 
Daniel

The Will Clark Show presents one amazing star studded line-up to benefit the awe-inspiring and life-saving work of the Iris House of New York City!!

I AM HONORED that Will Clark (a total super hero of mine who does awesomeness for the HIV/AIDS community) called upon me to team up with two of my New York City favorite stars (and role models), the absolutely sensational Witti Repartee (who is also Empress XXVI of the Imperial Court of New York) and the ultra fabulous MargOH Channing, to be featured guests at The Will Clark Show on Thur., Jan. 17, 2013: 7 pm to 9 pm @ The Ritz, 369 w. 46th St., (which happens to be one of my all time favorite venues in New York City). Together, all of this razzle and dazzle will benefit the Iris House - A center for women living with HIV/AIDS.

I rarely ever (in fact almost never) ask friends, fans or strangers to donate money to any specific HIV/AIDS charity / cause. The reason for this is that I personally am bombarded with gazillions of events every year where I am asked to make donations to further a cause - there are a lot of amazing causes yet my wallet can stretch only so far!  HOWEVER, with that said, I am breaking my rule. . . just this time; AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY!!! The IRIS HOUSE SAVES LIVES. . . and I am now asking you to join me and my fellow fabulousters (Will, Witti and MargOH). . . just this once - to make a difference because I asked you to! (Yep that's as direct as it gets!. . .)

I went to visit the Iris House headquarters where I was given a personal tour, by the truly amazing Michael B. Jones, Director of Development (A.K.A. Witti Repartee), of their services and programs offered to Women (and to men). . . who are living with / affected by HIV/AIDS. . . and let me tell you, I AM INSPIRED! There are many organizations that serve the HIV/AIDS community in NYC which do great work; however the IRIS HOUSE. . . performs miracles; they are "Saving Lives"! [I am still in awe-shock - in fact the goose bumps have not left my arms since my visit last week.]

So, let me share with you what I learned:

Just over the last 2 fiscal years, Iris House has served nearly 10,000 persons through their on-site and community programs! I could write for hours about all the amazing programs Iris House offers . . . however, there is a full outline of all their services and programs which are outlined and explained best on their website; so check them out and see why my heart is still beating with a pulse for their motto "Saving Lives".

While so much of the success and very high rates of changing lives that Iris House achieves really hit home with me, there were a few things that were shared with me that had me in shock. . . I went into tears after I had left . . . One of the main [and many] programs Iris House offers is a food and nutrition program which had lost significant funding back in 2010 - however still managed to serve 116,000 meals in 2012 to persons living with HIV as well as to community members [How freak'n awesome is that!!]. HOWEVER, more times than none when Iris House serves lunch (Tues - Friday); the lines are so long that a NOTE - "SORRY NO MORE LUNCH" is taped to the door when the meals run out. [I seriously had to GASP for air. . . and do all I could to hold back my tears. . . this is sad. . . so sad!!]

So now you know WHY I want you to come out this Thursday and spend 2 hours with me, Witti and MargOH (not only to be entertained - AND OH BOY WILL YOU EVER - and also to play Porno Bingo ($1 bingo cards) with fabulous prizes to be won . . . MORE IMPORTANTLY I WANT YOU to come out to share in and support the magic of life - to make a difference in one person's life. . . to allow another person to not be cut off that lunch line!

Like any non-profit, I wanted to find out how the money, that they are raising during my very special appearance, is going to be allocated. Well, check this out. . . Iris House allocates .88 cents of every dollar raised to direct programs and services! That is nothing short of amazing! So you can dig even deeper that night and be greeted with such warm thanks and love as The Iris House staff will be present at this star-studded Will Clark Show to accept your donations; and you can be rest assured your contribution is absolutely going to make a difference. Now, I know many of my readers are out of the New York City area so in the event you are unable to book a last minute flight and make hotel arrangements to attend the live event, please know you can still attend in spirit by making a donation online HERE.

So from me to you. . . a very special thank you to all those who will come out and join in on this very special evening. . . and to those of you who are unable to attend, Thank you for making a donation online!


NOW. . . for those of you who do come out I plan to perform one piece of really awesome magic! AND. . . as a special performance bonus I will attempt a death-defying feat (Houdini's famed mailbag escape). . . which I have NEVER performed in a setting this close up before! Very dangerous, very [almost] cloth-less and well pretty "sick" if I make it out alive! [Um, yes, that is me in my boxer briefs as a willing volunteer ties my hands and feet up with clothes-line rope - and that sucker tied me up tight too, I almost didn't make it out. . .]

I look forward to seeing you all out! Please do come up and say hi to me after the show [assuming the escape attempt is a success]. . . and let me know you supported the Iris House so that I can be sure to give you a BIG HUG!!


Quickly, again:

- For additional information about the Iris House, please click here.
- To make a donation online please click here.

My name is Daniel and I am Living Pozitively! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

TEST-CHALLENGE: Shirtless by the fire. . . and sex it is!!!

It has been a while since I have done a YouTube video and thought to myself, 'What the heck I'll get shirtless by the fire and talk to you about roasting chests and nuts on (or is it chestnuts  by?) the fire. . ."!

So really this is a 2 part message. . . please watch the YoutTube video below. . . and just below that, I was honored to be interviewed on Put It Together Radio, where host Daniel Garza goes in deep about my message!!

MESSAGE 1. . .

MESSAGE 2  . . . (you might want to pour a beverage for this one! It's a really cool interview and I encourage you to listen to the whole thing. . .)

   click here to listen

 

I am Daniel and I am LivingPozitively! Thank you for following my blog!

Healthy Gay Lifestyles . . . simply a must!

On days end I scour the internet looking for the next hottest thing that I can include as another tool in my box (ha!) where I can learn about ways to be a healthier man [gay man]!

A few weeks ago I got a call from this online publication (and weekly newsletter) called HealthyGayLifestyles.com asking if I would write a piece, from my perspective, about HIV among us gays! Before I wrote the piece, I checked out the magazine. . . and I was most impressed with the information, tools, resources and much more it had to offer! So without going into a long-winded blog-post about this online magazine . . . check out how cool it is for yourself!! AND encourage your fellow gay friends to also check the magazine out. Here's a bit of info about what to expect:

HealthyGayLifestyles.com is the new online magazine and newsletter for the empowerment of gay men. It’s mission is to supply the tools that can give EVERY gay man the ability to lead a healthy, wealthy, and more balanced/blended lifestyle. To create a community where thousands of gay men from all over the world come together in support and celebration of each other.

Gay men have an enormous influence on what our world will look like in the future. Our responsibilities are endless. Gay men deserve to be respected, honored, and praised for our contribution to society.

Please join us on this magnificent journey to lead the life you have always dreamed of, the life you deserve. Sign up today to receive your FREE weekly article offering lifestyle solutions for gay men and your FREE copy of “The Truth About Gay Relationships.”

Live Your Best Life,

Healthy Gay Lifestyles

www.healthygaylifestyles.com

****************

I signed up for their weekly newsletter and hope you will too!

  SIGN UP TODAY

Also - don't forget boys and gals, please make sure to Just Get Tested for STDs and HIV!
Thanks for following my blog! I am Daniel and I am living pozitively!!

09.27.12 - National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

As a very out and proud gay man and 10 year warrior living with HIV/AIDS, I stand tall in an effort to bring a greater awareness to this year's National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on September 27, 2012.

This morning I was searching the internet to see how this year's awareness day is shaping up; and to find elements of hope that would not only inspire me but also lend a voice to a call to action. In my search, I came across the following powerful statement by Frank J. Oldham Jr., President and CEO of the National Association of People with AIDS. I believe he sums up what I is a very necessary call to action as a gay man - a call to action I feel I must embrace and put into motion. In his words, I share this with you:

"We have a responsibility. To the quarter-million brothers and lovers we have buried. To the allies who have supported our fight for treatment access and civil rights. To ourselves.

We have a responsibility – to know our own status. Every gay man who is active with multiple partners (or thinks his partner may be) needs to get tested every three months.

We have a responsibility – to know how to protect ourselves and others. We’re excited about the potential of treatment-as-prevention and PrEP, but we all still need to keep our condoms handy.

We have a responsibility – to be as open as we can be about being HIV-positive. Sometimes disclosure isn’t safe, and safety comes first – but our brothers need to know they know people just like them who are living with the virus. And any new partner needs to know our status before the clothes come off.

We have a responsibility – to demand access to healthcare for ourselves and for all Americans. It’s not just a human right, it’s common sense. It costs the public sector more to ignore epidemic than to deal with it, and we need our elected officials to know we know that.

We have a responsibility – to demand to be treated as “normal.” We are normal. We should insist on marriage because it’s our right, and because it forces our neighbors to reconsider the homophobia that gave the HIV epidemic its opportunity to explode in the gay community and move on from there.

We have a responsibility – to love. Last year on National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we gave a Positive Leadership Award, NAPWA's highest honor, to Alvin Collins and John Sullivan. Alvin had been one of the unlucky few who, despite the best modern treatment for HIV, don't do well. John stuck to Alvin through thick and thin – and Alvin stuck to John. Alvin died this Spring. We have a responsibility to honor that love.

We have a responsibility. We changed the world in the eighties, insisting on treatment and research when Washington didn’t want to hear us. Today we have the medical and behavioral prevention tools we need to make new HIV infections a thing of the past. We insisted then. We can do it again."

So on this day - I will embrace these words and calls to action above! I hope you too will join and follow me!

I am Daniel and I am living pozitively! Thank you for following my blog!

AFRAID to get back into HIV care: WORST MISTAKE I ever made!

Forget the dizziniess, puking, diarrhea and other wacko-side-effects that come with starting the once-a-day antiretroviral (ARV) pill Atripla (um - this is my experience, I have friends who are fine with this ARV);  it was when the killer whales came out at night swarming the wooden raft I was trapped on in the middle of the black sea; [me] deathly afraid as they smashed the corners of the raft trying to get me to roll into their death-jaws; AND THEN WAKING UP BREATHING DEEPLY DRENCHED IN SWEAT; that made me think twice about popping this pink sucker daily ever again! These effects. . . these wicked evil dreams went on for weeks. . . I couldn't take it! I simply just couldn't take it anymore! So I stopped.

Fact is when people asked me if I was taking my meds (after I stopped) - I lied. I told them I was. It was none of their business and I certainly didn't want to hear the damn lectures about the importance of taking HIV meds. ["Blah, Blah Blah in my head!"] I had big muscles, my diet was good and after my first blood checks, I was undetectable. So there was no need (or so I thought) to have to go through the hell of getting past the side-effects of the medication anymore. I "took control" of my own health (meaning stupid-in-my-head-kicked-in) and I stopped taking the pill. As long as I could see big muscles on the outside, I figured my insides were okay. Besides, I figured if this one medication had all these side effects I could not handle, all the rest must be the same; so there was no reason to even ask my doctor for another dose [prescription] of punishing.  So in plain-jane-terms. . . I said to myself,  "Fuck-it! I am done!"

In a previous post I talked about my baby brother Andy and his struggles; I share the story about when he called me [back in 2010] and I had to rush to the hospital because he told me that the doctors were about to intubate him (he refused to take meds - back then AZT); he couldn't breathe on his own. He couldn't handle the med's side-effects. He asked [begged] me to not let the doctor's do this to him. He wanted to just die.He was done fighting for life. When I arrived I was too late - the tubes were inside him; However, even the doctor's told me it was too late - even with the tubes inside him; with PCP and so many other complications his body would not win. Regardless, I had to honor Andy's wish and have the tubes pulled out of him. What was really scary for me was the very moment my eyes laid upon him. I froze! OMG!!!!!! I thought I stared death [my own death] in the face! I was now truly afraid - sooooo afraid - to tell anyone that I had stopped my medication. I was ashamed.

Early June 2011, I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance as a result of various health complications; following tests and more I learned that my t-cells had crashed. UGH!!!!!! I figured there was no saving me now. I figured I would become just like Andy. DEAD so early in life. Man was I scared shitless!

REALITY!!! The doctors told me I still had a fighting chance, but only if I stayed in care; it was my choice to make. So I dropped the ego, let go of my fear and listened! I took an active role in following direction and I started on new meds. Truvada / Kaletra cocktail. Once I got past the puking and "shit" (literally) and saw my t-cells climbing and my viral load decreasing, man did I ever feel better about myself. 1-year later I have managed to get back on stage, live my dreams and fight for every fiber of life I have with which I have been blessed.

I can't tell you how grateful I am to be back in care and living a VERY HEALTHY lifestyle. I am living like I have never before. Every 3-4 months I go to get my blood checked just to make sure things are still good; I am beyond anal retentive about taking my meds in the morning and night! Actually I now freak out if I am an hour late! HA! That's how important I now realize it is to maintain regular care of living with HIV.

With all this said, I hope others - out there - who have dropped out of care; including those of you who have stopped taking meds - no matter the excuse- that you - ALL OF YOU  - will reconsider!

If my blog and personal experience is not enough, then this coming Tuesday, I invite you to join me as I sit on a panel for a Partners In+ Care webinar session to learn about the importance of staying in care. YOUR LIFE MATTERS! SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN RETURNING. . . COMING BACK TO MANAGING YOUR HEALTH CARE.

Here's the info:

Partners in+care Webinar Series
Reaching Out to Keep Our Friends in Care
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 4:00pm ET


Agenda: We all know people who know their HIV+ status, but are not in care. How do we work with our friends, family, lovers and others to make sure they get into and stay in care? Tyler TerMeer of the Ohio AIDS Coalition will talk about his experiences in working with loved ones on staying in care. In addition, we will have a panel conversation to flush out issues why our loved ones are not in care and how we can respond to make sure they lead happy and healthy lives. The panel includes Dr. Loida Bonney of Emory University College of Medicine and Daniel Bauer of Living Pozitively in addition to Tyler TerMeer!

Dial-in#: 866.394.2346
Participant Code: 394 154 6368 #
URL: http://www.nqcqualityacademy.org/incarecampaign/

I hope this post inspires at least one person living with HIV/AIDS to consider the importance of getting back into care. I hope you will join in next Tuesday and chime in [or simply just listen]!

I am curious - has anyone else stopped care? Why? And what did it take for you to get back into managing your HIV care? I want to hear from you!

I am Daniel and I am living pozitively. Thank you for following my blog!

p.s. I encourage everyone to JustGetTested! Sex is fun! Infection is not!!

FIGHTING STIGMA: HIV and the past.

I came a across these words this morning written by Kate Raidt "I don’t think there is a single person on planet earth who has not experienced trauma, heartbreak, verbal, emotional or physical abuse, failure, humiliation or grief. In fact, most of the most important and successful people in the world have experienced all-of-the-above in doses most of us could never imagine. I heard long ago: It’s not what happens to you, but how you handle it that defines your character. Repeat after me: I cannot change the past. I cannot change the past. I cannot change the past. I cannot change the past. I would never ask anyone to simply “Forget the past. Get over it. Suck it up”. We are human beings and unless you have a brain transplant it is impossible to forget the past. I feel in order to get through an event that has emotionally or physically crippled you, you must acknowledge it, embrace it, learn from it and use it as motivation to make your dreams come true. How in the world can someone use something tragic and motivation to be successful?"

As an entertainer and activist, I am trying to find the balance in life that both embraces my passions and dreams while fighting stigma. However these past couple of weeks have had their trials and tribulations which I am finding to be more upsetting than most times. So I thought I would write about it and ask for your advice to help me get through this.

See, this past July I performed a show for an organization; I was referred to them by a former friend. After entering into a verbal agreement and confirming some details via emails, the organization is now backing off their end of the bargain. I decided to possibly pursue small claims legal action and when I communicated this, the organization decided to take my past and use it against me to start a smear campaign.

Living the life of a public figure is NOT EASY. There are good days, bad days, good press and bad press! I thought airing my dirty laundry, would allow me to move past my past, while standing tall about the kind of life I want to live today and rebuild hope so that I can walk with dignity. As the words clearly stated above, we are not all angels in this world! I have done my fair share of crap! I even publicly talk about some of that so that others who may feel that a fresh start is not possible. . . would also discover hope and start living their lives with genuine purpose to make a difference in this world.

Well, yesterday, a few HIV Activists, trudged up an unfortunate article that was written about me, and they decided to launch a smear campaign against me. Stating "Now the real truth about Daniel Bauer is out." These are activists who I have done amazing things with this past year. Activists, some of whom unfortunately I no longer speak with. Partly my fault, partly their fault.

While I am not happy about things that have happened in my life well over 10 years ago since my diagnosis, or other bumps and bruises that took my place in my life, I have owned up to them; each and every day. I am just stunned that because I felt the need to protect an agreement that was made (and maybe this is Karma - because I have certainly broken my fair share of agreements in the past) - that this organization who backed out on their agreement and individuals associated with this organization felt it was okay to take this one article written about me, post it all over facebook and begin this negatively launched smear campaign against me.

To those of you who picked up the phone to begin this childish campaign and to those of you who posted the posts and so forth; "Go ahead and do what you need to do. . . while I am not proud of my past. . . I am proud to be who I am today. . . proud to inspire people to reach for the stars, proud to be open about living with HIV and proud of myself for not allowing anyone who tells me otherwise to keep me from living with dignity."

To those of you HIV Activists who felt it was okay to do this. . . I hope you think about what kind of lives you want to live. I aired my dirty laundry - and now you choose to use it against me when I am public about the dark days I have overcome?!? Simply not cool!

So readers I guess what I need is. . . is some advice . . . how would you get past this? How would you handle fellow HIV Activists who felt the desire to try and bring you down because of your past?

Thank you for reading. . . and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.

I am Daniel and I am living pozitively.

P.S. Remember - Knowing your status is "SMART" - so Just Get Tested!!!