RobbyGee has been photographed multiple times throughout the Portraits of a Pandemic series. As a survivor and thriver living with HIV, RobbyGee has centered his life around providing peer support online, in person, nationally and internationally. He said that one of his greatest concerns continues to be the lack of communication about resources between peers and support agencies.
“I was diagnosed with GRID, now known as HIV, in February of 1983,” RobbyGee said. “At age 17, I was fresh out of 12 foster homes and homeless with no support system besides my faith. Contracting HIV was another devastating blow in my young life, which already felt broken. However, I began to develop strong coping skills. I accepted that my HIV was not going anywhere, and I decided it would not overtake my life.
I had different plans before I was diagnosed, but this has helped me find my true calling in life. In my 42 years of life with HIV, I've lost over 120 friends and associates. I stopped counting in 1999. The loss was too much.”
In January of 2019, RobbyGee founded a grassroots HIV support group in Akron, called SSOULE Group, which meets monthly. In between meetings, he connects one-on-one with each attendee to offer support, information, and resources. “Nothing can replace the feeling of helping people. Until the day I leave this world, this is what I’ll do. It gives me a sense of purpose.”
After the Stay-at-Home order went into effect, two of RobbyGee’s sons (Andrew & Matthew) moved in with him. Andrew, a licensed CNA, remained consistent as RobbyGee’s caretaker. He is currently a community health worker, home health aid, CPR first aid instructor and is also in nursing school. Matthew had some struggles with mental health and addiction, resulting in a less consistent and more dangerous lifestyle for a large part of the pandemic. RobbyGee would often worry his son was in trouble or in danger. “Matthew is clean and sober now,” RobbyGee said. It took 10 years, it was a lot of work, but he is doing amazing now.”
In August of 2023, RobbyGee and his two sons had the opportunity to move out of their apartment and into a home in North Hill. They had been searching and waiting for a long time, hoping to get into a safer area with more room for the three of them. RobbyGee stated that over the years living in their apartment building, he witnessed 8 dead bodies, but now that he lives in a home in a safer area, he feels very blessed.
"I didn’t think I’d live to see 40, and I can’t believe I made it to 60! God is keeping me because of the work I do. God and me have an understanding that he will let me know when my time is coming—He told me about 5 months ago that it’s coming. I have beat death for so long and I’m not afraid to die."
RobbyGee sees his passion for helping others as a way to honor the memories of all those he loved and lost, with the ultimate goal of us all to living to see the end of the HIV epidemic. While much of RobbyGee’s work with the community has been volunteer-based, he has also been working for the Summit County Health Department for more than six years.
RobbyGee reflected on his overall thoughts about the pandemic.
“The pandemic was scary because it reminded me of the beginning of AIDs back then, with so many people dying and not knowing how to handle it. I remember when I got COVID. I already had 3 infections, and then I got COVID. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks. My sister had been watching my Facebook though I didn’t know. As soon as I got home, she called me and we talked for 2 hours. Just to hear her voice alone, it was just amazing. I never got to meet my sisters. I don’t know why they chose not to meet me. Them knowing that I was gay and that I had HIV made it that much harder. I was hurt for a very long time and had given up. Now, I am planning to see my sister in Virginia. She knows I’m gay, but she also knows I’m doing God’s work. I just wanna put my arms around her and never let go.”
We don’t just survive today, we thrive today! We are our brother's keeper.”
September, 2020
Maple Valley