HIV / Aids "Dark Was The Night"

One of the dearest family members I've ever had was mu cousin Gullermo; a medicine student at U.D.O (Universidad De Oriente) here in Venezuela. He was a very organized and in control guy that had a gay closet issue that made him rush into casual sex rather than accepting who he was and try to find a good relationship that could balance his care and love for the family and his needs as a gay human being. There is a lot of that part of my cousin that we'll never know, he lived two lives and one aspects of that life led him to unprotected sex and got transmitted HIV.

He studied medicine, so he did not tell anyone in the family and everyone loved him, I'm sure that if he had told the truth there would have been lots of prejudice and ignorance and rejection surrounding the issue and his life could have been miserable for a while, but just maybe we could've helped him as well, the thing is that he died some years ago and I never knew the real story until I was a grown up.

My dad loved my cousin Guillermo, and my little brother was born after his death, so he named him Guillermo as well.

My cousin was my father's pride and joy and he was mistaken thinking that if my family knew the reality of his life he wouldn't find people that loved him; instead the secret hurt more than the reality ever did.

Days like today celebrate aids awareness, and for me it's not only important to find help if you have aids, but it's also an opportunity to let know that no matter what, even if a bunch of people around you leave you alone and make your existence a little bit more miserable than it is, there are also people who will stick around and help you out and a bunch of new people that will help you overcome and become stronger.

Today aids is not a death sentence and for my cousin, being gay it was not going to be the end of the world, and all the family that loved him without knowing who he was still love him and some of us regret never having the chance to love him for who he really was.

Last year, a bunch of artists put together an amazing album that got out almost like a concept album; some of my favourite singers / songwriters and bands took a part in this album and also made it to raise awareness in the world, awareness is not only learning how not to get it, but also knowing that its not the end of the world and if someone near you has this virus you can and should still love and support him or her. This album was called "Dark Was The Night", and it’s for those of us who have seen amazing people die alone because of this terrible disease, we are the help that brings light to those who live in darkness.

Awareness is a mix of prevention, tolerance, acceptance and love.

Today "Dark Was The Night" have raised over 1 million dollars to create awareness, and not only I love the concept behind this amazing album, it’s also one of my favourite albums of all time. The guys from "The National" put together amazing people in this initiative and made beauty out of it.

The National - Dark Was the Night from Nathanaël Le Scouarnec on Vimeo.

This post's intention was to talk a little bit about this with all of you guys and share a little bit of this album and my close relationship with this virus, and also say that someday we shall overcome.