Felix W. Garmendia

My name is Felix W. Garmendia I was born an American citizen in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Lived in the island for 28 years. The religious intolerance drove me away in search of a happy life.

In 1989, I arrived in NYC. Utilized the excuse of enrolling in New York University where I finished a Magna Cum Laude masters degree in art education and art criticism. After finishing my masters, I worked as an elementary school art teacher for fifteen years, In the Bronx and Hispanic Harlem.

In 1989, I tested poz for HIV after three years of self imposed celibacy in order to avoid AIDS. It was the dark ages of this crisis. In those days, HIV was a death sentence. I Survived the AZT days as the only option for medication in the eighties. I still remember clearly the 18 pills a day that will make me reenact Linda Blair's famous role in "The Exorcist". I lost most of my friends to AIDS. Those horrible days when everytime the phone rang your heart sank in fear of receiving more bad news.

It's going to be 22 years soon after that dreadfull December 19th. Surprisingly so, my HIV is very under control. My T Cells are around 700 and have been undetectable for so many years I can't even remember. It's ironic that instead of HIV being the illness that should have stoped my party days, I just found out that I'm indeed suffering from a very debilitating condition called "Inclusion Body Myositis". This condition is basically a severe muscle inflammation that eventually deteriorates all muscles in your body to the point that they become totally incapable of functioning. It has been seen in people with HIV but most likely ,mine is an auto immune disease. In basic words, my immune system is too strong, you have to laugh!

I have been in a relationship with my partner Denis for 11 years. We met in a filthy chat room in AOL. :). He has been poz for 25 years. These days he is my overall care taker, since I have been homebound for three years. I have been a gay activist since the day I came out of the closet. Strong believer in living life out and loud to teach others with examples that gay people are just like everybody else. If we all selfishly hide, I assure you we will never see a cure. Nodoby helps those who are invisible..

I'm a proud Latino, Gay, HIV poz, Atheist and Democrat. Had a very intense life and have no regrets whatsoever. Did it all at least once and those things that I liked, more than once. Have a wonderful family that supports me unconditionally since I'm not the only member of the family with HIV. One of my brothers is carrying the virus as well due to his severe heroin addiction of 35 years.

Manhattan has been my home and the infusion of life that I have received in this capital of the world, It's keeping me alive among other things. I like to collect Victorian antiques, antique jewelry and art books. I speak fluent Spanish.
 

I'm a channel operator at www.hivchat.org, most of my day i spend it chatting to people who are being affected by HIV.

I like to go to Central Park and to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
 

"Carpe Diem"
(To the extent that it is permanently tattooed on my left arm :)

My Pictures

 

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