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Joshua vividly recalls the moment he was diagnosed with HIV in 2015.
"My whole body just shut down. I thought ‘this is the end.’ My life's over. I was really scared," he says.
At the time, Joshua didn't know anyone else living with HIV and struggled to find the reassurance he needed. What followed was a difficult period where he felt stigma, isolation and struggled with anxiety. People living with HIV have been found to face higher rates of anxiety than the general population, according to a study in Frontiers in Psychiatry.
For Joshua, finding a doctor he trusts and making decisions together has been an important part of feeling more stable, both mentally and physically.
"I've learned to know that there's nothing to be fearful of," he says, reflecting on that period of his life.
Dance has become another key step in his journey with HIV, allowing Joshua to express himself without words through art.
"I love to dance. I think it really tells my story of HIV," he shares.
Joshua’s passion for creative expression led him to form HIV The Naked Truth, connecting artists from around the world through dance, poetry and music. Since its formation in 2020, events have included fundraising galas, film premieres and live performances, all of which are rooted in the realities and priorities of communities affected by HIV.
"[We’re] a group of like-minded individuals that want to raise awareness through artistic qualities. We want to end the stigma through the arts," he explains.
What began as a personal outlet grew into a sense of purpose, helping Joshua find his voice as an activist and challenge assumptions about living with HIV.
"I suffered so much loneliness and fear of being judged in society," he says. "The arts is a way of celebration, of creativity. It brings us all together."
Now as an HIV activist based in the UK, Joshua sees how stigma persists today, particularly on dating apps, as well as common misconceptions about who HIV affects.
"It affects trans men, it affects transgenders, it affects women," he says, acknowledging the need for awareness efforts to reach beyond gay men.
Joshua sees education as his own way of pushing back against stigma. "I'm doing all I can do to educate others about HIV. If I can do my part, everyone should be doing their part to educate others and just do their part to end stigma."
Joshua is one of Gilead’s Choose U™ ambassadors, helping to provide invaluable resources for others facing similar circumstances in the UK and around the world.
Looking back on the fear and anxiety that once defined his diagnosis, Joshua now carries forward a different message: "I choose you equals you. I choose love."
Watch the video above to learn more about Joshua's journey of gaining empowerment through the arts.