In this AIDS Awareness Day special, we sit down with Marc Thompson HIV activist, community leader and one of the most vital voices in Black queer British history. Born and raised in Brixton, Marc has spent four decades reshaping the landscape of HIV awareness, queer visibility, and racial justice in the UK. His story is one of survival, disruption, joy, and relentless advocacy.

From coming out at 16 in the mid-80s to being diagnosed with HIV at just 17, at the height of the epidemic, Marc brings raw honesty about stigma, family, survival and the realities of living through a moment that was claiming the lives of so many.

We dive into what it meant to be a young Black gay man navigating racism in clubs, fetishisation, homophobia, misinformation, and the impact of being othered by both mainstream gay culture and the wider world. Marc shares how he found his tribe in Brixton, the house party culture that shaped him, the early Black gay community organising that saved lives.

This episode is a piece of living history, a reminder that HIV stigma still exists, that conversations must continue, and that the work isn’t done. Marc’s wisdom, humour, and resilience make this one of our most important episodes yet.

Follow Us on Social Media:

TikTok: @AMAAB

Instagram: @AMAABF