Robert Brunet

Robert Brunet is a 30-year + long-term survivor of HIV and Cancer. He has been an advocate and activist for HIV and Queer Equality by working with organizations as diverse as ACT UP New Orleans, the New Orleans Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival, the Louisiana Committee for the 1993 March on Washington, and the National Planning Committee for the 25th anniversary of Stonewall. He was a founding member of the New Orleans LGBTQ+ Community Center and co-facilitated numerous direct-action and protest committees in his community.

His life was irrevocably changed when he and his partner received their HIV status. Robert discovered he also had Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a viral cancer associated with the infection. For the next few years, he focused on the needs of people living with HIV and being the primary caregiver of his partner until he passed away, two short years later.

Robert served as Vice-Chair for the New Orleans People with Aids Coalition and the Food Bank. He started and facilitated the AIDS treatment discussion group ‘STRATEGIES’ hosted by the NO/AIDS Task Force. He wrote a weekly column on HIV, lifestyle, and politics for IMPACT magazine. In 1998, he was featured in an article about serodiscordant relationships in OUT Magazine.

In 1998, Robert found new love on Mardi Gras day, and they have been married since 2017. After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, he now lives in Atlanta with his husband, Scott. He enjoys rescuing dogs, raising Monarch butterflies, and spending time with his two grandchildren. He has continued his HIV advocacy as a regular contributor to HIV.net.

His life took another turn when his husband was diagnosed with Colon Cancer, and his role as caregiver began once more. This led Robert to request an early colonoscopy, during which they discovered a cancerous lesion in his rectum, and shortly after, squamous carcinoma on his tongue.
Currently, 2 years after therapy, he continues to discover what it means to live the post-cancer lifestyle while caring for someone with a terminal diagnosis.

Click here to read all of Robert's articles on Cancer-Community.com