Jack Mackenroth 2012 Calendar To Benefit American Foundation forAIDS Research
August 10, 2011
Jack Mackenroth has released a 15-month calendar with all proceeds benefiting the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), the non-profit devoted to ending HIV/AIDS and founded in part by the late Elizabeth Taylor.
In 2007, Mackenroth became the first openly gay and HIV-positive contestant on cabler Bravo’s Project Runway. He was forced to abandon the competition due to health reasons.
The 42-year-old Mackenroth invited celebrity photographers to work on the project, including Adam Bouska (NOH8 Campaign), Rick Day, Carsten Fleck, Frank Louis, James Franklin, Karl Giant, Tommy Synnamon, Mattheus Lian, Riachard Gerst, Ray John Pila, Sonny Tong, Thomas Evans, Krys Fox and Preston Cros.
“I have amassed such an amazing collection of images that I wanted to put out a calendar that will help to combat the silence and stigma associated with being HIV-positive,” Mackenroth said.
“If I can raise money for HIV/AIDS research, it’s even better,” he added.
In 2008, Mackenroth told HIV Plus that he learned he was HIV-positive at the age of 20.
“I was having ulcers in my throat, so I went to a gastro doctor here in New York,”Mackenroth said. “He actually tested me [for HIV] without telling me. And he basically just sat me down and he goes, ‘You’re HIV-positive.’ He was a jerk about it. I’m sitting there, I’m 20 years old, and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God!’ I didn’t cry. I thought, ‘Fuck! What the fuck!‘ And back then – that was 1990 – the prognosis was really bleak. I just figured I’d never make it to 25, but I ended up finding some great doctors who really helped me along.”
Mackenroth’s memoir Making Lemonaids will be released this winter.
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