Marlon Hoffman was diagnosed HIV+ in 1989 At that time, there was no support for people living with HIV/AIDS beyond AIDS Regina, now known as Aids Program of Southern Saskatchewan (APSS). It was a new organization, so medical professionals were learning about the disease alongside their patients. The doctoring was non-existent or prehistoric.„They didn’t have a doctor in Regina at first, so we went to Saskatoon for appointments. They gave out AZT and everyone got sick. It didn’t work. I didn’t take any medication for the first five years,“ said Hoffman.
Along with a lack of understanding of the disease and those who had it, came the inevitable prejudice against people who were simply trying to stay alive.
