Love Plus: A Legacy of Courage, Connection, and World AIDS Day Impact - Naked truth chapter 17

A time to remember good times, bad times and great friends

“It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance.” - Elizabeth Taylor

December 1st is a hard day for Martha to forget. It’s Romania's National Day and also International AIDS Awareness Day—both deeply emotional occasions filled with vivid memories.

If someone were to say, "You can influence your destiny; you just have to wish and hope," Martha would respond, "Nope, think again." How could anyone dream of visiting South Africa when it felt so distant and remote? Back then, it was just a place she saw on TV, watching documentaries with wide eyes, not even daring to imagine that one day she might actually go there. And discovering countries like Lesotho and Swaziland? She hadn’t even known they existed until she encountered them through what turned out to be the best job of her career—at least, so far.

Who could dream of such things? She was living in Romania, just ten years after the revolution.

For four years, Martha and her team would dive into a whirlwind of activity months before this pivotal date. It was a time to join millions of voices from around the globe, raising awareness and uniting in a common purpose. The anticipation, the urgency, and the shared commitment made those months electric with energy.

One year stands out vividly in her memory. The president at the time was Emil Constantinescu, and a few members of her team had the rare honor of being invited to a reception at Cotroceni Palace to mark the day. It was a grand occasion, steeped in formality and significance.

LOVE PLUS AND POLICE ACADEMY

Martha recalls the moment she and the country manager decided—somewhat boldly—to attend dressed in one of the Police Academy campaign costumes. This campaign had been a phenomenal success, sweeping through seaside resorts, discos, and bars across Romania. It had struck a chord with the youth, cleverly riding the wave of the popular Police Academy movies to deliver its message of safe sex and promoting the Love Plus condoms in an engaging and memorable way. The costume was a symbol of the campaign’s impact, a playful nod to its reach and resonance.

The entire campaign was a testament to creativity and bravery, especially in a deeply religious country where topics like safe sex and HIV/AIDS were taboo. Tackling these sensitive subjects required boldness, innovation, and the team’s efforts were nothing short of groundbreaking.

During the reception, a photograph was taken of Martha and President Constantinescu as they reviewed the PSI annual report. The image captured a moment of connection, with the president attentively listening to Martha as she explained the details of the campaign and its success. To their surprise, this photograph was later printed in one of the most popular newspapers of the day. It brought the campaign into countless homes, raising awareness far beyond the initial audience.

Thanks to her position in the organisation, Martha had the privilege of working with many volunteers from across the country—dedicated individuals who donated their time and effort to a cause she felt deeply connected to.

DANA’s STORY

This is how she met Dana. Dana was a strikingly beautiful woman, the same age as Martha, brave and outspoken. She had a fiercely loyal four-legged companion, Sasha, a strong and protective Rottweiler who adored her with unwavering devotion. Dana, carried a unique story—she was HIV positive.

She became one of the organization’s most influential advocates, particularly during face-to-face talks and campaigns in high schools and military barracks. Dana had an extraordinary ability to connect with her audience.

She formed powerful bonds, engaged them in meaningful conversations, and became, so to speak, our 'secret weapon At the end of these sessions, Dana would surprise everyone by sharing that she was HIV positive herself. Her revelation left a lasting impression, driving home the crucial message: You cannot tell who is HIV positive just by looking at them.

Dana’s life had been forever altered by a tragic accident—she was infected by her ex-husband. Yet, instead of retreating into bitterness, very challenging life from more reasons one can even say, she channeled her experience into a mission of awareness and education. Martha and Dana quickly formed a bond that transcended their professional connection—it grew into a deep and enduring friendship.

Dana, ever the passionate soul, introduced Martha to the art of salsa dancing, patiently teaching her the first steps. Their shared moments extended beyond their work, filled with laughter, tears, trust, and mutual support. Over the years, they leaned on each other in times of need, sharing empathy, compassion, and an unspoken understanding of life’s challenges.

It goes without saying that the work of countless agencies, talented creatives, volunteers, donors, and the power of human creativity made the Love Plus campaigns not only memorable but highly impactful. How else could they have achieved second place in both sales across Romania and brand awareness in only one year? Dana’s energy and dedication are forever intertwined with the success of the project, and I know she will never be forgotten.

Dana’s story is far from over, and we will meet her again in future chapters, when we discover how life can be taken away in just a matter of days.

SOUL MUSINGS

Time and time again, Martha finds herself lost in thought, revisiting the memories of those she deeply loved and admired—souls who brought light, kindness, and meaning to this earth. These cherished individuals, taken too soon or burdened with heartbreaking destinies, remain etched in her heart, their presence a bittersweet reminder of life’s fragility.

And yet, she cannot help but wrestle with the unfairness of it all—the painful irony that so many selfish, cruel, and despicable characters continue to thrive without a care in the world. It fills her with an ache that words cannot fully capture, a longing for justice in a world that often feels so unbalanced and lost!

“We must use all our powers to bring an end to this horrendous disease. It is destroying our children. It is destroying our young people. It is destroying our future.” - Michael Jackson

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As it is Romanian National Day, it is time to introduce a few poets I love:

"Hora Unirii"
by Vasile Alecsandri

I.
Rise, brothers, rise,
Raise your hearts and voices high,
For the hour of union has arrived,
And our dream of freedom is nigh!

II.
From the mountains, from the valleys,
From the rivers, from the sea,
Let us join hands together,
In the name of liberty!

III.
With hearts as one, we shall stand,
For a better land, for a free land,
Let the joy of unity reign,
In the strength of our people’s hand!

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"Testament"
by Adrian Păunescu

I leave you my eyes, so that you may see
The hills and the rivers, the sky so free,
I leave you my heart, so that you may know
The warmth of the land where the proud rivers flow.

I leave you my hands, so that you may touch
The soil of our ancestors, that you may clutch
The truth of the past, as it moves ahead,
And speak of the dead in the words that are said.

I leave you my soul, which was forged in pain,
A soul that has known both the joy and the strain,
A soul that has lived through the storms of the fight,
To keep the Romanian flame burning bright.

I leave you my voice, so that you may sing,
Of freedom, of love, of the joy that we bring,
And with every word, and with every breath,
I leave you the spirit that conquers death.

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"Înfrântul" (The Defeated)
by Radu Gyr

I have been defeated, but I remain standing,
Like the oak that has fallen, but still is demanding,
Not with my knees on the earth, but my heart in the sky,
For the wind that has crushed me, will make me rise high.

Defeated, I stand, but my spirit is whole,
I am bound by no chains, I am free in my soul,
Though the battles are lost, the victory remains,
For the soul of a people cannot be restrained.

End of chapter 17. Until next time, be well!

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