Josh Robbins
{{short description|American HIV/AIDS activist}}
{{Use American English |date=December 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates |date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Josh Robbins
| image = Josh Robbins.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|1|12}}
| birth_place = Jackson, Tennessee, US
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Middle Tennessee State University
| occupation = HIV/AIDS activist, blogger, social media marketer, talent agent
| known_for =
| website = {{URL|http://imstilljosh.com}}
}}
Joshua W. Robbins{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuawrobbins|title=Josh Robbins|date=|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=December 30, 2014}} (born January 12, 1983{{cite web|url=http://www.whosay.com/imstilljosh/bio|title=Josh Robbins|date=|publisher=WhoSay|access-date=December 30, 2014}} in Jackson, Tennessee){{cite web |url=http://www.thebody.com/content/71013/this-positive-life-newly-living-with-hiv-josh-robb.html?getPage=3 |title=Newly living with HIV, Josh Robbins is "Still Josh" — and still an Advocate (page 3) |work=This Positive Life |publisher=TheBody.com |date=March 25, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.outandaboutnashville.com/story/holiday-memories-josh-robbins |title=Holiday memories: Josh Robbins |work=Out & About Nashville |date=December 1, 2010 |access-date=December 30, 2014 }} is an American HIV/AIDS activist,{{cite news |url=http://www.poz.com/articles/poz100_p_r_2806_24776.shtml#Josh_Robbins |title=The POZ 100: P–R |work=POZ |date=December 2013 |access-date=December 28, 2014}} blogger, talent agent,{{IMDb name|3865899}}{{cite web |url=http://aids.about.com/b/2014/01/20/people-to-watch-josh-robbins-imstilljosh-com.htm |title=People to Watch: Josh Robbins @imstilljosh.com |date=October 29, 2014 |access-date=December 28, 2014 |publisher=About Health |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230185025/http://aids.about.com/b/2014/01/20/people-to-watch-josh-robbins-imstilljosh-com.htm |url-status=dead }} writer, and social media marketer. His work has been featured on The Advocate, Human Rights Campaign, POZ and a myriad of additional publications. Robbins was named to the POZ 100 List in 2013.
Advocacy
Before his HIV diagnosis, Robbins was raising awareness about HIV in the LGBT community and fundraising for the AIDS service organization Nashville CARES. He was also a volunteer for the HVTN 505 clinical vaccine trial.{{cite web |url=http://www.imstilljosh.com/about/ |title=About I'm Still Josh |publisher=I'm Still Josh |date=May 25, 2014 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }} He has been described as "one of a growing legion of bloggers who are breathing life into HIV activism".
Robbins published a video on YouTube of being told of his HIV diagnosis in January 2012,{{YouTube|pjwrRou8--0|I'm HIV Positive I just found out I'm HIV + ... now what? I'm still Josh}}. Recorded January 24, 2012; uploaded February 28, 2012; accessed December 28, 2014. after revealing his HIV status on Facebook.{{cite web |url=http://www.thebody.com/content/71013/this-positive-life-newly-living-with-hiv-josh-robb.html?getPage=2 |title=Newly living with HIV, Josh Robbins is "Still Josh" — and still an Advocate (page 2) |work=This Positive Life |publisher=TheBody.com |date=March 25, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2014 }} Robbins also hosts the weekly digital series, HIV Video Minute with Josh Robbins, and created the "Ask HIV" iPhone app.{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ask-hiv/id946510091?mt=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208145410/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ask-hiv/id946510091?mt=8 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |title=Ask HIV |publisher=iTunes Store |date=December 18, 2014 |access-date=December 28, 2014 }}
In 2018, Robbins was named the national spokesperson for DatingPositives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/30/health/std-sti-dating-sex-kerner/index.html|title=Dating while you have an STD|website=CNN|date=October 30, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-23}}{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/social-discovery-ventures-launches-dating-platform-for-all-sti-positive-people-300693732.html|title=Social Discovery Ventures Launches Dating Platform For All STI-Positive People|last=DatingPositives|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.datingpositives.com/|title=DatingPositives.com – A Popular Global Online Dating Site for Eligible Singles Worldwide|website=www.datingpositives.com|access-date=2019-05-23|archive-date=July 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717103038/https://www.datingpositives.com/|url-status=dead}}
= Social media =
Robbins uses digital and social media to advocate for HIV education to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS.{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/hiv-hot-spots-stark-reminder-deadly-disease/story?id=20707963&singlePage=true |title=HIV hot-spots a stark reminder of deadly disease |work=Good Morning America |publisher=ABC News |date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=December 28, 2014 }} In 2014, Robbins introduced the "HIV Video Minute with Josh Robbins" digital video series, licensed to HIV+ magazine.{{cite web |url=http://www.hivplusmag.com/hiv-plus-video-minute |title=HIV Video Minute |work=HIV+ |access-date=December 28, 2014 }}
= Blogger and author =
In 2012, Robbins launched his blog focusing on encouraging those living with HIV/AIDS, described as a combination of "fact-based reportage and highly personal social blogging — in a way that [is] both insightful and utterly engaging". In 2014, Robbins self-published: HIV Won't Kill Me: Encouragement eBook{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pHbxAgAAQBAJ |title=HIV Won't Kill Me: Encouragement eBook |author=Josh Robbins |publisher=imstilljosh.com |asin=B00INKSP4W |date=February 25, 2014 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }} He also published Social Media Is Not Prison, So Unlock Yourself: Tips from a Social Media HIV Activist.{{cite book |url=http://www.thebrandagement.com/?attachment_id=6747 |title=Social Media Is Not Prison, So Unlock Yourself: Tips from a Social Media HIV Activist |author=Josh Robbins |publisher=imstilljosh.com |asin=B00P0EYMIW |date=October 29, 2014 |access-date=December 29, 2014 |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230193226/http://www.thebrandagement.com/?attachment_id=6747 |url-status=dead }}
In 2014, Robbins created an iPhone application called Ask HIV, described by Product Hunt as an "HIV/AIDS hotline on your iPhone".{{cite web |url=https://www.producthunt.com/posts/ask-hiv |title=Ask HIV |publisher=Product Hunt |date=December 18, 2014 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }}
In 2018, Robbins received the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association "Excellence in Journalism" Award for blogging.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nlgja.org/blog/2018/07/nlgja-announces-2018-excellence-journalism-award-recipients/|title=NLGJA Announces 2018 Excellence in Journalism Award Recipients - NLGJA|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-23}}
Entrepreneur
Robbins is a veteran talent agent, owning and operating BNA Talent Group with niche divisions for actors, hosts and children{{cite news |url=http://www.musicrow.com/2009/09/nichols-performs-for-dalai-lama-bna-talent-group-opens/ |title=Nichols performs for Dalai Lama & BNA Talent Group opens |work=MusicRow |date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }}{{cite web |url=http://bnatalent.com/about-nashville-talent-agency-bna-talent-group/ |title=About Nashville talent agency BNA Talent Group |publisher=BNA Talent Group |date=November 19, 2012 |access-date=December 29, 2014 |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230190035/http://bnatalent.com/about-nashville-talent-agency-bna-talent-group/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.wbir.com/news/article/277031/2/Businesses-step-up-efforts-to-attract-LGBT-customers |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141230174814/http://www.wbir.com/news/article/277031/2/Businesses-step-up-efforts-to-attract-LGBT-customers |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |title=Businesses step up efforts to attract LGBT customers |publisher=WBIR-TV |date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }} and a division managing brands called The BRANDagement at BNA Talent Group.{{cite web |url=http://www.thebrandagement.com/#section-our-team |title=Our team |publisher=The BRANDagement at BNA Talent Group |date=November 9, 2014 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }} His clients have appeared in studio feature films and on television.{{cite news |url=http://www.musicrow.com/2011/01/bna-talent-signs-lopez-and-tallant/ |title=BNA Talent signs Lopez and Tallant |work=MusicRow |date=January 14, 2011 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.towleroad.com/2014/08/country-musician-rebranded-straightwashed-for-heterosexual-audience.html |title=Country musician Josey Greenwell rebranded, 'straightwashed' for heterosexual audience |work=Towleroad |date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/09/19/is-terry-gilliam-currently-in-production-on-something-called-the-legend-of-talladega/ |title=Is Terry Gilliam currently in production on something called The Legend of Talladega? |work=Bleeding Cool |date=September 19, 2010 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }} He also works with companies interested in casting models and actors aimed at LGBT consumers. As a business professional, Robbins is vocal for LGBT issues in the workplace.{{cite news |url=http://blog.viacom.com/2013/07/open-for-business-panel-gathers-professionals-to-discuss-lgbt-issues/ |title=CMT 'open for Business' panel addresses LGBT issues, future of the workplace |publisher=Viacom |date=July 10, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }}
Personal life
Robbins identifies as an out gay man{{cite web |url=http://www.thebody.com/content/71013/this-positive-life-newly-living-with-hiv-josh-robb.html |title=Newly living with HIV, Josh Robbins is "Still Josh" — and still an Advocate (page 1) |work=This Positive Life |publisher=TheBody.com |date=March 25, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }} and is open about his HIV-positive status.{{cite news |url=http://www.outandaboutnashville.com/story/josh-robbins-comes-out |title=Josh Robbins comes OUT |work=Out & About Nashville |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2014 }} He supports HIV/AIDS organizations including Nashville CARES{{cite web |url=http://www.nashvillecares.org/about/publications/sm_files/2013%20Annual%20Report%20Electronic.pdf |title=Annual Report 2012–2013 |publisher=Nashville CARES |date=2013 |access-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230180853/http://www.nashvillecares.org/about/publications/sm_files/2013%20Annual%20Report%20Electronic.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.thebody.com/content/71013/this-positive-life-newly-living-with-hiv-josh-robb.html?getPage=4 |title=Newly living with HIV, Josh Robbins is "Still Josh" — and still an Advocate (page 4) |work=This Positive Life |publisher=TheBody.com |date=March 25, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2014 }} and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. He was diagnosed with HIV during his participation in the HVTN 505 clinical trial{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/another-hiv-vaccine-fails-govt-halts-us-study |title=Latest HIV vaccine doesn't work; govt halts study |work=The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=April 25, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231005853/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/another-hiv-vaccine-fails-govt-halts-us-study |url-status=dead }} though he explained that his infection was not a result of the vaccine.{{cite news |url=http://www.outandaboutnashville.com/story/national-hiv-vaccine-trial-hvtn-505 |title=National HIV vaccine trial, HVTN 505, immunizations stopped |work=Out & About Nashville |date=April 29, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2014 }} Robbins has a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism, advertising and marketing from Middle Tennessee State University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://imstilljosh.com}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Robbins, Josh}}
Category:People from Jackson, Tennessee
Category:Middle Tennessee State University alumni
Category:American HIV/AIDS activists
Category:American LGBTQ businesspeople
Category:LGBTQ people from Tennessee