The Positive Side

Deidre wrote the cover story for the Spring 2020 issue of The Positive Side magazine, published in both English and French (Vision positive) by the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Titled “Stigma, Sex & Safety,” Deidre interviewed Cassidy Quinn and Isabella Gamk, two trans women living with HIV, about their experiences navigating housing, employment and healthcare in Canada.

”On World Aids Day 2017, 26-year-old trans adult performer Cassidy Quinn disclosed publicly on Twitter that she had been diagnosed with acute HIV. While people were predominantly supportive, Quinn attracted the interest of porn tabloids, including notorious gossip website TheRealPornWikiLeaks.com. Despite this, she continued to work in the industry, provoking a much-needed conversation surrounding HIV stigma and prevention.

When Quinn found out she was HIV positive, she was at the height of her career. She had recently undergone breast augmentation, was working regularly and would soon learn she was nominated for several industry awards. This major revelation about her health caused upheaval for someone who was carving out a place for herself in porn.”

Read the digital version of this story.

This story was nominated in the “Profiles” category for the 2021 Canadian National Magazine Awards.