His books have been translated into over twenty languages and he writes for a variety of newspapers including The Mail on Sunday, Daily Mail, The Telegraph and The Guardian.
Andrew will be reading from his new book My Mourning Year and discussing it with Sarah Hutchings (from Cityreads) at Waterstones in Brighton on Tuesday, April 18, at 7.30pm.
My Mourning Year is the diary of the year after his partner Thom died (twenty Years ago)
The world has moved on since the 1980s when a HIV diagnosis became a death sentence or a cue to withdraw from society.
People living with HIV now have the same life expectancy as those who are not thanks to advancements in treatment, however, stigma when socialising – along with disclosing one’s status – are both persisting issues in 2017.
In the fight against HIV, we speak of equality yet even with the community itself all things are not equal.
Living in a city means that you are usually within striking distance of support and health services – vital life lines that will support someone through the ups and downs of such a diagnosis. So, what happens to those who are learning to live with a diagnosis in more rural areas?
Living with HIV means a massive change in lifestyle, as well as continuous concerns of stigma and discrimination, consideration must be given to treatment regimens along with options for future. While we all need support from time to time, considering such things does require specialised support which can be extremely difficult to access.
Northern Ireland is a case point – with only one dedicated HIV support centre in the province, for many people the commute to Belfast is unsustainable due to the physical and financial drain meaning they must go without this vital coping mechanism.
Andrew Goyvaerts (28) from Northern Ireland had experienced such a journey, both metaphorically and physically, by spending hours travelling by bus to access HIV support services following his own diagnosis in 2013. Instead of giving into the situation he decided to work out a way for him and others in the same position to address this problem, Andrew decided that an online support platform would be the most viable solution.
Further to this, as anyone living with HIV will tell you, forming new relationships and dating is one of the biggest challenges faced in life following diagnosis.
At first, Andrew sampled mainstream apps yet found there was no simple way to disclose his newfound status – and when he did, on more than one occasion his experiences was off-putting to say the least.
And so, Andrew created ‘Hugs’ a social/dating app for people living with HIV that aims to provide an online support forum while also raising awareness to the condition among the public and dispelling myths that play a factor in so many experiences of stigma.
Hugs is a welcoming and easily accessible digital space where members of the HIV community – both heterosexual and LGBT – can come together for support and friendship. After just one year, Hugs has hit 7,500 downloads with plans to launch more features, including a peer support group this Autumn (2017).
Andrew Goyvaerts
Andrew Goyvaerts, Founder/CEO, of Hugs, said:“Living with HIV does bring with it more hope than ever before but coming to terms with such a diagnosis does take time and people need support. Having arrived at the concept of the Hugs app, I sought funding from a government agency but they deemed the project too controversial, following this I secured funding from an amazing private investor – the rest as they say is history.
On a personal level, Hugs isn’t a capitalist venture – it’s born from my own experience and something I hope to grow into a sustainable lifeline that will be available for decades to come. The Team behind Hugs are asking for greater understanding and support outside of the HIV community, so that we all may begin to overcome the stigma of a positive diagnosis. Our “Undetectable equals Untransmittable” campaign underlines the fact that people living with HIV who are undetectable while consistently taking medication cannot transmit the virus – a message that we want to share outside of the HIV community. This is a labour of love for me, but it’s time to get greater support”.
London Gay Men’s Chorus (LGMC) who star in the film Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? record special introduction to the new trailer for BFI Player.
Heartbreakingly beautiful yet uplifting,Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? is a politically edged exploration of family, faith and opposing cultures from Israeli sibling directors Tomer and Barak Heymann.
Saar is a gay man from a religious family in Israel. After being kicked out of his conservative kibbutz because of his sexual orientation, Saar flees to London where he enjoys a gay lifestyle denied to him in Israel. He lives the dream, but wakes up to a nightmare when he discovers that he has contracted HIV.
When he breaks the news to his family, they struggle with fears and prejudices. With the support and warmth of Saar’s surrogate brothers – the London Gay Men’s Chorus – he begins a reconciliation process with his biological family in Israel.
Saar finds himself torn between the two worlds and must make a decision: should he return to Israel and embrace his family once more, or stay in London and live in exile forever.
Saar and the rest of the London Gay Men’s Chorus provide a glorious soundtrack for this tender, honest and intimate film by acclaimed directors Barak Heymann and Tomer Heymann (Mr. Gaga, Paper Dolls and I Shot My Love). Shot over several years, this documentary is about the power of forgiveness and the power that home has, no matter how far we go.
Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? was supported by the BFI Film Fund and in Official Selection at BFI London Film Festival 2016.
The first ever Bear-a-oke organised by Brighton Bear Weekend at Bar Broadway on Sunday, April 2 was a great success with singers coming out from across the city to join in the fun.
Hosts Chris Hibbert and Jonbee created a party atmosphere in the bar while singers from the crowd picked a diverse range of songs from Disney to The Smiths, making it a night for everybody.
It was so successful that Bear-a-oke is becoming part of the programme over the main Brighton Bear Weekend in June.
The Brighton Bear team would like to thank Bar Broadway, their two wonderful hosts, the singers and all the people who gave so generously to The Rainbow Fund.
Graham Munday
Chair of Brighton Bear Weekend, Graham Munday, said:“We were delighted with the number of people who turned up as soon as we were open especially as we are up against the Sunday cabaret circuit and it was a lovely sunny day. We were stunned when opening the buckets at how generous people had been. I want to thank all the people who made the event special and am looking forward to the next one in June.”
The next Brighton Bear Weekend event is the Easter Quiz at the Camelford Arms on Thursday, April 13 starting at 9pm and the Easter Special of Underbears at Subline from 9pm on Easter Sunday.
The Brighton Bear Weekend takes place in Brighton from June 15-18, 2017.
The Rainbow Fund make grants to LGBT/HIV organisations who provide effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.
For more information about Brighton Bears, click here:
Join Actually Gay Men’s Chorus tomorrow, Saturday, April 8 for Bring On The Men and flex a little muscle in a celebration of music and masculinity.
Enjoy an eclectic evening of song which recognises some of music’s leading men, the dashing and devilish characters, award-winning songwriters and lyricists, who inspire audiences with more than a dash of testosterone.
Debonair, heroic and mischievous, this repertoire from stage and screen triumphs from Sondheim to Miss Saigon, Bond, Bizet and Broadway.
The performance will be conducted by Musical Director, Samuel Cousins and making a welcome return to Actually will be cabaret artiste Miss Jason and guest soprano Sophie Causbrook.
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