Because these are the faces of HIV and AIDS. Because they are not just faces: they are real people – mothers, fathers, grandparents, children, friends – with real hearts that beat and love and hurt just like yours do. Because I met them, which shouldn’t make a difference, but it does, to me, because I met them and I held their hands and talked with them about life and love and hope and Beyonce and that does make a difference, it really does, because having met them, I can’t ignore them, or anyone like them.

I want it to be the same for you. I want to make it the same for you. I’m not sure how to do that, and I know that it sounds profoundly arrogant and pushy to say so, but I do, and I’m going to try.

(How to support my pushiness: learn, blush, shop, watch, listen, drum, donate, tweet, dare. And share: the stories that move you, the resources that help you learn, the programs that help, everything and anything that distributes hope. Spread it around. Please.)