The "Stay-Out-of-Jail" Card And to be perfectly honest, I DID have a card like that made up, years ago (though only one). The laws on disclosure do vary from state to state. Nondisclosure of HIV is a felony in some, a misdemeanor in others, and other states have no laws (yet) on the books. But it's good karma, nonetheless.

"They're Way Too Small for Me" This comic doubled as a public service spot for AIDS Survival Project, produced at People TV Atlanta. The actual storyboard elsewhere on the web shows some of the volunteer actors who were in the shot. The idea of how much a condom can "cover" came from an idea from an old Real World - San Francisco episode when the late Pedro Zamora demonstrated to a school class just how far one could be stretched. When that incident was retold in Judd Winick's graphic novel Pedro and Me , it sparked the "plot" of the spot. And incidentally, a condom can also fit over other produce. Try it and see it for yourself!

Barebacking Whether or not two HIV-positive cowboys hit the saddle. Ride 'em, cowboy. "Babrebacking" got to be a trendy word for, IMHO, "reinfection." But hey, it's just my opinion... I still remember when "BB" in a personal ad meant "body builder."

Disclosure Today This was the comic that almost made it into POZ Magazine. The theme of the issue was dating (I think) and all the pitfalls for the HIVer. Well, after cleaning up the artwork to send, they decided to run a different comic of mine, just because some movie with the Force was about to open, and I had a ready-made cartoon for it. I liked this one better.

Good Sex And couldn't we all use some? A strip from the first year ... back before anyone was calling it barebacking. Special guest appearance by my buddy Kevin

Baggage If you regularly read this strip in any of the papers or newsletters that carry "HIV + Me", you might have missed this one. It was sent out to the editors two days before the 9/11 attacks. While it doesn't have anything to do with it (obviously, as I'm not psychic), enough people got worried any reference to baggage and airlines would make people uncomfortable.

We Have SO Much in Common. Can an HIV+ person find love with someone HIV negative? Can they only truly share their lives with someone of the same HIV status? Should it be all that important? (You're asking me??? You see a ring on this finger?)

The HIV+ Dating Game Yes, too much Game Show Network, though I'm not even sure GSN shows The Dating Game. This strip (which BTW looked gorgeous in its appearance in A&U) features actual comments I've received over the years to a simple question.

The "Good" Name of Tina OK, I will admit in my youth (about one score ago, so to speak) I had partaken of my share of party "favors" but in the end, I decided clearer judgment and not enfangering my body were more important. That's not to say I don't have my vices, but the rise of crystal meth in the HIV community frankly scares the shit out of me. (And yes, I know my drawing of Tina Yothers looks more like Sally Struthers...)