A Survivor Who Refuses to Fade
Gay men are often told they become invisible with age, but Mark S. King refuses to disappear. At 65, the award-winning journalist, blogger, and HIV activist remains a magnetic voice of resilience. “My joy is a big f**k you to AIDS,” King declares, his laughter a rallying cry against fear and silence.
King’s journey began during the darkest years of the HIV epidemic. He lost friends, faced his own diagnosis when treatment was nonexistent, and lived through a time when society turned its back. Yet his life story is not a tragedy; it is a testament to the power of survival and self-definition.
Turning Pain Into Power
Even in the lethal early days of the AIDS crisis, King and his fellow activists found humor as a weapon. “AIDS protests were hilarious,” he recalls, remembering the infamous stunt of placing a giant condom over Senator Jesse Helms’ home.
Through satire and defiance, King learned that joy could be as radical as protest.
That same spirit fueled the creation of his celebrated blog My Fabulous Disease in 2003. Frustrated with stigma and tired of internalized shame, King reclaimed the narrative:
“I’m f**king fabulous. If HIV is going to live in me, it’s going to take on my characteristics—not the other way around.”
The blog blossomed into an award-winning chronicle of life as an HIV-positive gay man in recovery, earning King induction into the LGBTQ+ Journalist Hall of Fame and recognition as one of the most influential voices in HIV advocacy.
From Trauma to Empathy
King resists the temptation to use his past as a cautionary tale for younger generations. “It takes generosity not just to tell my tragedy,” he explains. Instead, he channels his experience into empathy, offering guidance without wielding fear as a weapon.
He sees echoes of the 1980s in today’s political climate, cuts to HIV prevention programs, rising anti-LBGTQ+ sentiment, and attacks on trans rights. But unlike the past, today’s resistance is broader and more diverse.
“All those cameras in the ’80s were focused on white bodies,” he notes. “The movement today looks more like our actual community.”
King urges LGBTQ+ people to reject divide-and-conquer tactics:
“Don’t let them lop off letters from LGBTQ as if it will hold the wolves at bay. They’re coming for all of us.”
Aging Boldly in the Public Eye
As one of the longest-living openly HIV-positive activists, King knows others watch to see how his body handles decades of treatment. Rather than fear the scrutiny, he embraces it:
“We put our bodies on the line so that somebody else might live better, longer, healthier. That’s good enough for me.”
His upcoming 65th birthday will double as a fundraiser for The Reunion Project, supporting long-term HIV survivors. Maintaining purpose, he says, is essential to aging with dignity and fighting the loneliness that can haunt older gay men.
Lessons in Living Well
King credits his longevity to the love of his husband, consistent healthcare, and simple pleasures—like double-chocolate brownies. His advice is refreshingly human:
“Find the joy in the next piece of cake. Write outside the lines. Do something naughty. Help somebody else. That’s why we’re here.”
It’s a philosophy that turns survival into celebration. King’s life proves that aging, HIV, and activism can coexist with unshakable joy and that joy itself can be a radical act of resistance.
Why Mark S. King Matters
Mark S. King is more than a survivor; he is a living bridge between generations. His story reminds us that HIV is not just history, it is an ongoing fight that demands empathy, humor, and relentless courage.
In a world still grappling with stigma and political attacks, King’s laughter and activism remain a beacon for anyone determined to live loudly, love fiercely, and never surrender to fear.