I’ m Positive 2020

December 1st at Onassis Channel on YouTube.

There is nothing more powerful than a father or mother’s embrace, the smile of a proud child, or the unconditional, unlimited understanding and love of a partner.

At this year’s Ι’m Positive, launched at Onassis Channel on YouTube on December 1st, World AIDS Day, the notion of acceptance takes center stage at this year’s I’m Positive thanks to the real-life stories of five people living with and without HIV. The actors Giorgos Makris and Michael Ikonomou, a same sex couple, are on hand to talk about adoption and foster care.

Marios Atzemis, an HIV-positive former substance user, talks about being accepted by society. The actor, Giorgos Karkas, who has been imprisoned and targeted by the authorities and mass media, solely on the basis of his sexual orientation with his parents, appears with his parents and talk about being accepted by your own family. Erofili Kokkali talks to us about acceptance and understanding, working with people every day without discrimination and without resorting to stereotypes.

Ogundimu Olamide Olatunde a gay Nigerian man forced to leave his home because of his sexuality, and his country because of his work supporting people with HIV, talks about stigma in his own community.

Acceptance means to love and to listen, to be aware and empathetic and understanding. Let us open our eyes and ears, then, to the stories of five lives being lived alongside us, and speak openly against the stigma and prejudice that follows in the wake of every virus in every society.

Sotiris Tsiodras, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, is also taking part in the discussion. He has many years of teaching and professional experience under his belt, and in 2003 drew plaudits for his 2003 postdoctoral research thesis titled “Effects of protease inhibitors on metabolic syndrome in patients infected with the HIV-1 virus”.

With: Antonios Karkas, Giorgos Karkas, Maria Kantartzoglou, Marios Atzemis, Michael Ikonomou, Giorgos Makris, Erofili Kokkali, Ogundimu Olamide Olatunde and the Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Sotiris Tsiodras.

Moderated by Dimitris Theodoropoulos and Lydia Papaioannou

An Onassis Stegi production in collaboration with the Greek Association of People Living with HIV - Positive Voice

With Greek and English subtitles.

The discussion will remain online at Onassis Channel on Youtube

Discover their stories: https://www.onassis.org/whats-on/discussion-im-positive-2020

Download photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lg3f4e0rw87b174/AACUyZnqg9OL1Z2Vtj9Ed5l9a?dl=0