Lorenzo was reading a booklet for his college English course when he saw this warning: “Plagiarism is like AIDS — it is a destroyer and a killer.”

“Maybe 30 years ago that was a little bit true, but now it isn’t,” said the La Crosse man, who is living with HIV. “Seeing that just blew my mind.”

Lorenzo, a La Crosse area resident living with HIV, is pictured holding a photo of his mother, who was diagnosed with HIV when the epidemic started, and a good friend of his who died of AIDS. The pictures show a timeline, he said. Photos courtesy of Jessica Mootz and Mark A. Lee.

Lorenzo, who asked that his real name not be used, said it represents a lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS that continues in the La Crosse community.

Lorenzo said he’d like to help break that stereotype and create more awareness about what living with HIV is really like.

That is essentially the goal of the Images Project, a collaboration between the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) and the photography department of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Through the project, nine La Crosse area residents living with HIV, including Lorenzo, had their photos taken to demonstrate that anyone can contract HIV and those with it are still leading full lives.

All the photographs, taken by UW-L students Jessica Mootz and Mark A. Lee, will be on display as part of the Worlds AIDS Day events this week. The Images Project will open at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse.

The message of people living positively with HIV comes through in the pictures, said Mootz.

“All of them are so in touch with themselves and what they want,” she said. “They are living their lives to the max, and I think it really comes through in the pictures.”

Many clients came in with ideas for the photos, said Mootz. Then, the photographers worked with them to create an image that was representative of their life with HIV.

One large man came into the photo shoot with a Superman T-shirt and the seven or more bottles of pills he takes daily. To illustrate his strength in the fight against AIDS, the photographers tied a red sheet around his neck, and he stood with his hands on his hips and a fan blowing the cape behind him with all the bottles of pills he takes in the foreground. The picture was emblematic of him rising over the disease, said Mootz.

Lorenzo, a “Harley guy,” drove to the photo shoot on his motorcycle and took several of his photos wearing this riding gear, to demonstrate that he is “living free,” he said.

One photo of Lorenzo shows him holding a photo of his mother, who was diagnosed when the AIDS epidemic started, and another of a good friend of his who died of AIDS. He said the picture shows a timeline from when his mother was diagnosed and so little was known about HIV and AIDS, until today when Lorenzo can live free because of strides in medical treatment and people who “think outside the box” like Melisa Myers, a prevention specialist, and Amy Jo Duquette, case manager, at ARCW.

Another photo is of Lorenzo holding his wife, showing their close relationship. The photo also helps break the stereotype that HIV is a “gay disease,” said Lorenzo.

“HIV can infect anyone that it comes in contact with it,” said Myers.

Trish, who also asked that her real name not be used, found out 10 years ago that she had HIV and was told she had three days to live.

At the time, she fell into the stereotypical thinking that her life was over, she said. However, Trish’s attitude changed over the years, she said. She started wearing makeup and feeling more confident. Now Trish said she is feeling good about herself and is living healthy.

“You just take it day by day, live your life positive and do the best you can, ” she said.

That attitude comes through in her pictures. As the photographer focuses in on Trish, she is wrapped in a satin robe and jewels, sitting with her arms gently wrapped around herself.

This confidence is also portrayed in photos of June, who asked that her real name not be used. She has been living with HIV and has had some self-image problems, she said. Her confidence was boosted when several photos of her for the Images Project were developed. One black and white photo is a head and shoulders shot of June wrapped in black toile fabric. Only her piercing blue eyes stand out in color.

“The pictures just made me feel glamorous. I felt so good about myself I thought maybe I should put these on the Internet or something,” she said with a laugh.

While Lorenzo, Trish and June all had photos taken with their faces in the shot, others wanted their identity completely hidden. One photo of a father with HIV and his child, shows only the child’s small hands overlapping his father’s hands.

“You don’t have to show someone’s face to show them,” said Mootz. “Obviously being a dad is one of the most important things in this man’s life.”

Lee said it is not fair that this man or anyone living with HIV should fear sharing their identity. He said that is another reason that the Photo Images project is so important.

“It is one more step toward acceptance, understanding and awareness,” said Duquette.

Lorenzo said the photographers helped him take a good look at himself and realize that he has been positive for a long time, and it is OK to share that. By displaying his pictures at UW-L and in the La Crosse Tribune, he is taking another step toward disclosure, he said.

“I have never felt more comfortable with myself being positive,” he said.

Lorenzo hopes his images will start a dialogue. While he is unsure where the conversations will lead, he has faith that people are educated and can move away from the stereotypical thinking he has seen in the past.

World AIDS Day 2007 events

Wednesday:

5 to 6 p.m.: Overview of World Aids Day, HIV/AIDS and activity

6 to 7 p.m.: HIV positive speaker

7 p.m.: HIV testing

All events at Cartwright Center at UW-L campus

Saturday:

6:15 p.m.: Candlelight vigil. Meet at the LGBT Resource Center of the Seven Rivers Region, 303 Pearl St., La Crosse. The walk will end at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse, 207 5th Ave. S.

7:15 p.m: Reception and Images Project revealed at Children’s Museum.

The ARCW is also conducting a hard-goods drive for personal care items, including shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant. Area residents can drop donations at the ARCW office at 2519 South Ave. Donations an also be dropped off in the entryway of any UW-La Crosse dormitory.

For more information about ARCW and World AIDS Day events in the Coulee Region, call (608) 785-9866

KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226.

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