In light of Eddie Izzard’s South African performances for 46664, I thought I would write about laughter and how I use it in my Positive Voice talks to help get the HIV/AIDS education and awareness message across to young people.
Whenever I am delivering a talk to students, I always preface it by telling them there will be quite a few laughs throughout. Initially I see some sceptical faces, and hear nervous giggles, wondering how on Earth a talk about HIV/AIDS could possibly be funny.
Despite the seriousness of the topic I do actually have some amusing anecdotes from my 18 years of living with HIV. I use these to highlight some of the myths and misconceptions that still exist about the disease. I also use my anecdotes to show the strength of the human spirit even in the toughest of circumstances.
My talk takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions and I hope that, by including some opportunities for laughter, I allow everyone a moment of light relief in what might otherwise be an overwhelming experience.
I tell funny stories to illustrate people’s ignorance about HIV/AIDS. I hope this will help the audience realise the importance of being educated and aware, rather than remaining ignorant.
One of the more poignant, but amusing, moments I remember was when Ian (my former partner) was dying. He spent the last year of his life in a hospice for people with HIV-related brain impairment. Towards the end he really was just skin and bone, so much so, that his bed was this large inflated mattress, to prevent bed sores. While I was visiting, the nurse explained to Ian that she was going to have to deflate the mattress. As the air was released and he sank lower into the bed, he put his hand above the bedclothes and waved goodbye with a grin on his face. At that moment I remembered the man I had fallen in love with, and, even now, the memory still makes me smile.
Like many aspects of my life after my diagnosis, learning to laugh again didn’t happen overnight. There were many gloomy days and nights; weeks and months where I felt like an impenetrable dark cloud was enveloping me. The light at the end of the tunnel was nowhere to be seen. However, in time, a flicker turned into a flame, and I saw fun and laughter return to my life.
I expect there will be some people with HIV/AIDS in the audience for Eddie’s shows – I saw him at Wembley Arena in December last year and I overdosed on laughter, which I like to think contributed to a rise in my T-cell count. Maybe others will benefit too!