It Gets Better: The Song

As a support of the Dan Savage-led "It Gets Better" Project, it was great to see my composer friend (and future Tony Nominee) Jay Kuo assemble a lot of Broadway's young talent to capture this message in song. Check it out!

Mondo Guerra: Interview

By Jeff Walsh

On last week's Project Runway, one of the best designers this season, Mondo Guerra, created his own fabric for the challenge. The pink fabric with the plus-sign design became high-waisted pants that won him his third challenge in a row. When he was asked about the inspiration for the print, he clammed up and just said it was very personal to him. Nina Garcia, one of the judges, said she wished she knew the story that inspired the fabric.

In that moment, Guerra's life changed. The 32-year-old designer made the decision to share what he had kept a secret for the past 10 years, one that his own family didn't even know. He is HIV-positive.

When Guerra said this, the designer had his fellow contestants crying, and as he finished speaking, you could literally see the weight coming off of his shoulders, and a designer we already adored became that much more human, vulnerable, and less troubled.

HIV is sort of this thing that we hear about, but it rarely is made real to us. I know people that have it, but it's like knowing someone with high blood pressure. They take some pills, and their life seems fine. But it is always important to remind ourselves that this is an important issue in our community, and one that should be taken seriously.

The youngest designer this season, Andy South (who we'll probably interview in Oasis before the season ends) is the same age now as Guerra was when he was became infected, so it really hit home for him. South was kind enough to share his thoughts with us on Guerra revealing his HIV status.

Whether you like Project Runway, fashion, or not, Guerra's story is still reinforcing a lesson that we all need to hear: that whatever private issue is burdening you in life is probably not worth the effort of keeping it a secret.

Here's what Mondo and I said this morning:

Andy South shares his thoughts on Mondo

After seeing this past week's episode of Project Runway, where Mondo Guerra revealed he is HIV+ during the runway show, I knew I wanted to get him in Oasis (you can read my interview with Mondo here). I think HIV/AIDS is an important issue to bring up with LGBT youth whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Andy South is also gay and the youngest contestant on the show this season, which is why I already planned to feature him in Oasis as the season progressed. Because Andy is closest in age to the members of our site, I asked him to share his thoughts on Mondo revealing his HIV status on Project Runway last week. This is what he wrote:

"Mondo and I are 10 years apart in age, and knowing he has been living with HIV for that amount of time made me really think about where I am in my life. Mondo was infected when he was my age and it really opened my eyes to how unpredictable life is.

Latest journal entries.

jazzybchick's picture

Guess who's back with a brand new track?

I'm back! I'm doing better than ever! I am still single but happy. I still talk to my ex, and we're friends now. I believe you can be friends with your ex. My life is back together. I love it. I'm hoping that the doctor let's me off my anti-depressants really soon! I'm on a sleeping pill because my body has a hard time falling asleep. I'm finally sleeping in my own room. I used to be scared of my room but I like it now. I have 4 new best friends. We hang out like all the time. This weekend is one of my friends birthday! I'm so excited. We're going to Universal Studios together.

Who would you rather be stuck in an elevator with?

people that hate you
0% (0 votes)
god
33% (3 votes)
the person you have a crush on but the person doesn't like you
56% (5 votes)
people from a high school reunion
0% (0 votes)
your mother
11% (1 vote)
Total votes: 9
oldjenny44's picture

what is it about me

that makes people hate the way I love that makes them want to get away from me.
they don't even know
the real story
because if they did

what is it about me
that makes the girls want to judge
their eyes don't lie

they are the ones that are afraid
afraid I might love them
afraid that if they felt the same way

what is it about them
that makes me think
that makes me sin

does god know
does he even know
he made me this way
he knows every inch
every pain
every dirty thought
yet he doesn't punish me

is the bible a lie?
is my love a lie?
I feel it like I feel the air

oldjenny44's picture

hidden

She always sees me, talks to me, knows my name and the reason for my laughs. She knows everything about me. She's nice but if she knew who I really was, how I really felt, she would hate me, the very part of me that loves, has to be hidden.

Hidden out of sight. Hidden from the world. Hidden from myself.

I wouldn't care if anyone else knew, just her. The very person I want to tell I am too afraid to tell. Because if she knew she wouldn't love me she wouldn't even care. I don't even think she would still want to be friends.

Mike07's picture

Starting to Come out :)!

So Last night I told one of my good friends Ruby that i thought i was a bisexual because she is openly a bisexual so i thought that she would understand better:)

It was so relieving to finally admit who you truely are to someone obviously this site has helped, It gave me the courage to tell somebody, but telling a friend and having them hug you and reassure you and help. The feeling is great!

angel syndrome's picture

easy to kill

my heart was a street so dark, a small country road where drunk drivers drive too fast, where metal bodies collide with small animals. winter was an unbearable season. on the good days the ice was thick and the cars went right off the road, out of control ; on the worst of them the snow was so heavy to even see and people preferred to stay indoors.

jeff's picture

Proceed with caution...

Site appears to be back, but I never heard from adrian that he fixed it (which usually happens), so good chance it broke itself and then fixed itself, which means very likely it will break itself again...


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