Greg Louganis didn’t think he’d make it past 30…and now he’s being honored for #WorldAIDSDay at the National AIDS Memorial in San Francisco.
GREG
I didn’t think I would see 30.
KARL
Hello there, welcome to Plus Talk on Plus Life where we’re all about turning positive into a plus. Our friend, Greg Louganis, is here. Hi, Greg.
GREG
Hi.
KARL
It’s nice to have you here in the Plus Life Studio.
GREG
Thank you, it’s great to be here.
KARL
We wanna talk about World AIDS Day. I’ve got a lot of questions for you, so let’s dive straight in. What does World AIDS Day mean to you, Greg Louganis?
GREG
Oh, gosh. You know, it’s transformed so many in so many ways for me, you know, the meaning of it, just recognizing, you know, the people that we’ve lost, and also giving hope to those who, you know, are HIV positive or seroconvert, that there is life. And, you know, it’s funny ’cause like, we were talking about that. When I was first diagnosed in ’88, 6 months prior to the Olympic Games, I didn’t think I would see 30. And then 30 came and went, and then 40 came and was going. I was like, I was planning to go out. I mean, I was not planning on being here.
KARL
How old were you when you found out?
GREG
I was 28.
KARL
28.
GREG
When I was diagnosed.
KARL
How do you process that, that somebody says you’re not gonna make it to 30?
GREG
I was fine with it, I was fine. ‘Cause I accomplished a lot of things. So I was like, okay, you know, it’s okay. I’d be totally fine with that. You know, but, as time went on, it’s like, okay, you know, I’m still here, I’m still here, I’m still here, I’m still here. You know, it’s like, now what do I wanna do?
KARL
How do you figure out how to live?
GREG
That’s been, you know, a bit of a struggle. It is like, well, what is my purpose? What else do I need to accomplish? Because I, you know, I’ve climbed so many mountains.
KARL
You really have.
GREG
I really have.
KARL
Literally.
GREG
I mean, even, you know, after the diagnosis and all that stuff, you know, I did “Jeffrey” in New York for six months, and then I did a one man show, which was like a huge mountain for me to climb. And, you know, so I accomplished all these things. I’d done musical theater, I’d done all kinds of things. And it’s like, now it’s like, well, now what do I wanna do? You know, the whole acting thing, I loved it. Do I have that passion, you know, to continue on? I feel prepared for whatever anybody wants to throw my way, but, you know, it’s not the passion that I see in a lot of kids, you know, that that is, that’s what they live for, you know?
KARL
We talk about remembrance and celebration. Why do you think, in this day and age, we still need to be talking about HIV and AIDS?
GREG
Well, I mean, for one, it’s a part of our history and some of us are still living it. For me, you know, like, I was saying, it’s like, you know, well, what is my purpose? How can I be in service? And, you know, what does that look like? What does that feel like? And I’m not sure. There’s a huge uncertainty.
KARL
Yeah.
GREG
Okay, you know, of what’s next.
KARL
Which is why, I guess, it is important that this is something. And also, let’s be real, it hasn’t gone away.
GREG
It hasn’t gone away.
KARL
How do you think we keep the energy and the momentum and the conversation still relevant?
GREG
I mean, prevention, prevention, prevention, education. I think, you know, there’s a lot of parts of the world that, you know, still need to learn. And so, you know, it really is important ’cause we did, I mean, we lost so much, so many people, you know, so much talent, some incredibly talented people. And, you know, honor their memory, but understand where we came from. And also a lot of us are getting older, you know, and that is, that’s a whole new set of problems.
KARL
Do you think that our system here in the United States is ready for that set of problems, those unique problems?
GREG
It’s interesting because, you know, you look at other cultures, and they really revere their elders. And to see, you know, how that happens, the stories that are passed down, generation after generation, things that we learned better ways of living. We really, you know, other cultures celebrate their elders. In our society, we don’t. It’s like, oh, you’re over the hill. You’re, you know, you’re this, you’re that.
KARL
You’re in the way, you’re a nuisance.
GREG
Right.
KARL
On a World AIDS Day, we celebrate and we remember, it’s a call to action. But for you personally, what do you wanna see more of when it comes to ending HIV and AIDS?
GREG
When you work from the outside-in, that judgment transforms into forgiveness, and then all that’s left at the center is love.
KARL
Well, you said in the past, in order to navigate the stresses of daily life, you have to find your rhythm, and I like that. When did you find your rhythm when it came to living with HIV?
GREG
Initially, I would have to say, you know, it was denial, denial, denial. Right? It’s fine, I take my meds in the morning, take my meds in the evening, go about the business of living. It really is not burying your head in the sand, you know, seeing for what, seeing it for what it is, but not giving it more importance than it deserves.
KARL
What advice would you give someone who’s perhaps living in the closet with their HIV diagnosis? Feeling very alone, life is over. Oh, look at them, fine for them. He’s famous, Greg Louganis. His, you know, TV guy, Carl Schmid. It’s easy for them, privilege. But there are a lot of people out there who feel very alone and very lost.
GREG
There is all kinds of groups everywhere, whether you’re dealing with recovery, you know, going to the rooms of AA. I got sober in the rooms of AA. And that’s a part of your story that you share because you let go of all of these things that we may feel shame or guilt over. The one thing that I take issue with is don’t take up residency. I don’t go to, you know, AA meetings so much anymore because I was finding that I was taking up residency and feeling sorry for myself.
KARL
How do you empower or encourage those who are not as fortunate as us?
GREG
Lead by example. I mean, that’s how I learn. I mean, I don’t really learn a whole lot through books. I’m not much of a reader. But I am an incredible observer. So I try to, you know, be consistent and congruent with what I say and what I do.
KARL
You’re being honored this year on World AIDS Day at the National Memorial Grove in San Francisco, in Golden Gate Park. To know that your name is gonna be etched in amongst all those other names and it’s there, it’s a lasting legacy forever, what goes through your mind when you’re told that?
GREG
You know, it’s an incredible honor to have that. It’s not necessary for my existence, but it is, it’s an incredibly sweet gesture. And also to be a part of that, you know, a part of that group, a part of that legacy is a tremendous honor in that it’s gonna be set in stone.
KARL
We’re thrilled that you’re being honored at this year’s World AIDS Day, at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco, and that your name will be part of that really, really special, special place that I encourage everyone to go to. You know, it’s just such a magical place. If you’re in San Francisco, get down to Golden Gate Park and experience it because it really is something special.
GREG
Yeah.
KARL
Greg Louganis, thanks for sitting on the Plus Life sofa. That is gonna do it for this episode of Plus Talk. A real special thanks to my guest, Greg Louganis, for joining me,
GREG
Thank you.
KARL
Here. And remember, you can follow us across social media platforms. We are @PlusLifeMedia, and you can also check out the website PlusLifeMedia.com. Until next time we say, be nice to one another. Find a little self-love, right?
GREG
Yeah.
KARL
We’ll see you soon, bye-bye.