Living With HIV | Sharing My Story

Here is my keynote address to the LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference at Indiana University on March 23, 2023. A 20-Year Journey of Living with HIV: Recommendations for Healthcare Providers.

People continue to grapple with our blackness — why? I laughed when the article discussed how some argue that because Harris’ parents are Jamaican and Indian, she has no connection to slavery and can’t be African American. Wow, the lack historical knowledge and understanding of the Africa diaspora. Slaves were…

https://news.iu.edu/stories/2019/12/iub/releases/11-interim-director-for-lgbtq-culture-center.html FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 11, 2019 Bruce Smail   BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Bruce E. Smail will be the interim director of the Indiana University LGBTQ+ Culture Center and special assistant to the vice president beginning Jan. 2. Smail, who has several years’ experience in organizations focused on equity, diversity and inclusion,…

As a person living with HIV since February 10, 2003 (almost 17 years); I pause today to: remember the many lives lost (including friends and colleagues), encourage us living with HIV, celebrate the many advances in HIV, and acknowledge that zero new transmission is very near. I encourage you to…

Today is World AIDS Day. Remembering the many lives lost, my brothers and sisters living with HIV/AIDS, and those impacted by HIV/AIDS. As a person living with HIV for almost 16 years, I pause today to reflect as well as encourage you to know your status, know all your options…

It’s Election Day — If you haven’t voted, you have all day to cast your vote. As President Obama said at a rally, “Don’t Boo, Vote!” It is our responsibility as American Citizens. At the age of 9, I was involved in two campaigns. My mommy, Juanita Smail was running…

In memory of the many lives lost to 9/11/01. A horrific morning that I remember vividly, just a few miles from the Pentagon. The fear, the chaos, and the many lives lost will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace. I visited the memorial in NYC and you could feel the…

After taking two weeks to recoup from my coast to coast journey, I finally started the writing process for my book. This is very exciting step but also a long journey. This morning, as I was writing the elements of the first chapter, so many emotions resurfaced. The first chapter…