"He turned a smile into a movement. His iconic symbol invites HIV dialogue, reduces stigma, and builds community. Through design, empathy, and fearless love, he embodies PMLE: Practice Makes Love Easy, and I am therefore proud to celebrate Dave Watt as the 10th individual spotlighted in this column. In a world where silence still surrounds HIV, Watt chose to speak-with a smile."
"That symbol became Mr. Friendly, now Team Friendly-a grassroots campaign that transformed HIV stigma into connection, conversation, and care. The movement grew. Chapters formed across the U.S. and Canada. Hotel lobby brainstorms turned into national campaigns. And, in 2015, Mr. Friendly evolved into Team Friendly, reflecting a broader coalition of allies, advocates, and educators, but the heart remained the same: reduce stigma one conversation at a time."
"Before founding Mr. Friendly, Watt had spent years distributing condoms and safe sex materials. But he realized the real impact came from dialogue, from sitting down and saying, "Let's talk," and from creating spaces where HIV-positive individuals weren't treated as second-class citizens, but as full, vibrant members of the community. That's where the Friendly face came in-a visual cue that said, "You're safe here.""
Dave Watt developed a simple smiling symbol to signal being poz-friendly and to invite open HIV conversation. The symbol first appeared during his 2008 Mr. Michigan Leather campaign and evolved into Mr. Friendly, later becoming Team Friendly in 2015. The approach centers visibility without assumption, friendliness without fear, and PMLE (Practice Makes Love Easy). Watt transitioned from distributing condoms to prioritizing dialogue and safe spaces where HIV-positive people are treated as full community members. Grassroots chapters formed across the U.S. and Canada, translating local brainstorming into national campaigns that reduce stigma one conversation at a time.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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