Vince Laws

HIV-positive Poet & Artist Vince Laws has been asked not to send "unnecessary communication" to East, the organization that provides HIV social care support across Norfolk under their slogan "East provides positive help for positive people".

Mr Laws sent 49 emails over the last year detailing upcoming events he was organising, or involved in, which he felt would be of interest to a charity which gave support to people in the Norfolk area who were HIV positive. However, while the Norwich office of East were supportive, the Kings Lynn office offered no support for any of Mr Laws' events and subsequently asked Mr Laws to remove "all East contacts from [his] database".

Mr Laws said:
“After filling out an online survey for HIV services in the area last year, I realised I could make a difference by being open about my condition, showing that HIV+ people aren’t monsters, and that there is an alternative to sitting back and being a victim of the disease.

“I’m working hard to make a living from my art and poetry, trying to get off benefit, and along the way I’m giving people an opportunity to discuss HIV. Over the last year I’ve performed in front of the Bishop of Norwich, The Lord Mayor, The High Sheriff, on the streets of Norwich, at the Norwich Arts Centre, The Playhouse, on Millennium Plain, live on BBC Radio Norfolk, and on Future Radio. My poetry play, The Small Frayed Knot, commissioned by Future Radio, was chosen by the Albany Theatre in London for a rehearsed reading. An art exhibition I curated in Norwich won widespread praise and included work clearly related to HIV. I’ve been invited to blog on Disability Arts Online, which attracts 6,000 readers each month.

“I’m disappointed in East. I think ‘positive help’ should include creative opportunities – creative writing, for example, has been shown to boost the immune system. I would like to see East supporting the creativity of HIV+ people and if I can help in any way, I would be delighted. Come on East, take up the challenge! Until then, I promise never to email you again.”