SAN DIEGO -- The history of archiving can be traced to beyond 2,000 BCE, and is an essential practice to helping us understand a given place, time or event. The past 30 years have introduced a defining event in LGBTQ history: the advent of HIV/AIDS and its affect on our community.

In 2004, The arcHIVe Project founder Rodney Rodriguez watched as a friend received a HIV-positive diagnosis. The feelings of shame, fear and guilt experienced by that friend made Rodriguez decide that he needed to do his part in creating a world where HIV could be discussed without judgment and stigma.

SAN DIEGO -- AIDS/LifeCycle is coming to San Diego this Sunday, Feb. 10 to recruit riders and volunteers for the 12th annual bicycle ride taking place in June.

Club AIDS/LifeCycle is a fun event taking place at The Ranage from 4-7 pm where potential participants can learn more about the ride, ask questions, and register. Event staff, volunteers, and past riders will be on hand to give a sneak peak of some of the amazing and amusing experiences that participants can expect on the 7 day ride.

The event will include a fun re-enactment of the ride, music, food, drinks and prizes.

Linebacker Manti Te'o isn't the only man with a dubious online love interest. I have an imaginary Facebook boyfriend, too. I'm pretty sure mine is an actual person. Felipe and I both like to post YouTube videos in an invitation-only Facebook group for gay men who are into esoteric, heterodox pop music -- twee, shoegazey, alt/rock electro/techno small-label releases.

December 2012 brings me full circle as I complete the first year of Profiles in Advocacy, returning to the topic that started it all, the current A. Brad Truax award recipient. I am thrilled that this year’s honoree is both a friend and colleague at University of California, San Diego (UCSD): Teresa Oyos of the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP) housed on UCSD’s Hillcrest campus.