MICHAEL CALLEN

MICHAEL CALLEN SONGWRITER, AIDS ACTIVIST

According to the CDC, the average life span of a person with AIDS is 3 years, but individuals vary greatly in the length of time they can survive. One of the longest known survivors with full-blown AIDS, Michael Callen became a symbol of hope, a role model, and an advisor for many others with with HIV-related illnesses.

Born April 11, 1955, Michael Callen grew up in Indiana. A young singer/songwriter of modest accomplishments, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1982. He wrote such songs as "Living in Wartime" (1987), "Nobody's Fool" (1988), and "On the Other Side" (1988). Collaborating with Marsha Malamet and Peter Allen (see card 1), he wrote "Love Don't Need a Reason" (1987), which has become almost an anthem in the fight against AIDS.

As an activist, Callen spoke at meetings and appeared on radio and TV talk shows. With his physician, Dr. Joseph Sonnabend (see card 59), he wrote articles on AIDS. In 1985 he was a co-founder of the national service group People With AIDS Coalition (see card 105) and the founding editor of its newsletter PWA Newsline. He wrote How to Have Sex in an Epidemic (1983), and Surviving AIDS (1990), and edited Surviving and Thriving with AIDS (1987).

Callen says that factors in his survival include a strong relationship with his doctor; avoiding the anti-viral drug AZT (see card 71); practicing good nutrition (see card 70); taking charge of his own treatment; and having many goals in life. In 1990 he wrote, "With a lot of hard work and lots of luck I've beaten amazing odds. No one can take that away from me." In a 1992 article on dying, he added, "Mine has been a good life. How many people can say that?" Next Card 9: TINA CHOW: Model, Designer