Rob Quinn - OpenlyPOZ

Rob Quinn is an openly gay HIV-positive activist and blogger. After hitting his rock bottom in 2007, resulting from an HIV diagnosis in 1993, an AIDS diagnosis in 1999, and the need to take an extended medical leave of absence from his child life career in NYC, Rob has since reinvented himself and in 2012 launched the blog www.OpenlyPoz.com

to empower and support his peers who are living positive. As of September 2013, Rob was appointed to a three-year term on the Statewide Consumer Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of HIV/AIDS. Prior to that, Rob served on the Board of Trustees at the AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts (AFWM). He first became involved with AFWM in 2008 as a recipient of their emergency financial assistance program. Rob has since received AFWM’s Community Activist Recognition Award, and co-facilitates Living Positive, the area’s only peer-led support for men living with HIV/AIDS. Rob believes that by putting a face to HIV and talking about in open forums, we can lessen stigma and make sure silent voices are heard. Whether or not you have been directly impacted, we are all affected by HIV/AIDS.