From Margins to Movement: Justin Anantawan’s Journey of Belonging, Becoming, and Making a Difference

Justin Anantawan’s journey is one defined not only by success but by resilience. As a gay, HIV-positive Asian-Canadian, he has confronted exclusion, stigma, and trauma—yet continues to speak out, advocate, and uplift others who live at similar intersections of identity.

Deepak Bidwai, an LJI journalist for Simcoe Community Media, spoke with Justin during a community gathering hosted by Simcoe County leader Angela Vos at her farmhouse. The conversation revealed a story of hardship, healing, and determination to transform personal struggle into collective strength.

Born in Canada to Thai and Chinese immigrant parents, Justin grew up in Mississauga, navigating a mostly white, Catholic school environment. His early years were shaped by bullying, shame, and a deep sense of not belonging. He describes this period as one marked by silence—where identity felt like a burden rather than something to celebrate. Coming out at 22 was a turning point. His family responded with love and support, but Justin emphasizes that acceptance of oneself is a process that unfolds gradually, often against the weight of long-standing fears and internalized stigma.

Today, Justin works as a harm reduction coordinator at Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) in Toronto, a role that allows him to merge advocacy with lived experience. His HIV diagnosis in 2017, after working abroad, was a life-altering moment—but one that propelled him to use his voice in new ways. By speaking openly about his status, Justin challenges misinformation and breaks down barriers of silence. He describes this openness as both an act of personal healing and a form of public resistance against stigma.

Justin’s advocacy extends far beyond Canada’s borders. For more than a decade, he has volunteered in Kenya, Gambia, and Jamaica—teaching music, supporting LGBTQ+ youth, and sharing stories through photography. Paradoxically, he often felt more accepted in these overseas communities than at home, particularly in places where HIV is more visible, normalized, and better understood. His time abroad reinforced the idea that dignity and compassion transcend borders.

Despite ongoing challenges—including mental health struggles and encounters with discrimination—Justin grounds himself in creativity and connection. Music remains a source of joy and purpose; he sings to raise funds for a Kenyan orphanage and uses performance as a way of channelling emotion into impact. Time spent outdoors also offers him peace, providing space to reflect and recharge away from the pressures of city life.

He credits organizations such as ACAS, the AIDS Committee of Toronto, the PWA Foundation, and CANFAR for offering vital support and community. These networks, he says, not only sustained him personally but also modelled the kind of care he now strives to extend to others. His message to those living with HIV is clear: seek out education, support, and solidarity—because no one should have to carry the weight alone.

Ultimately, Justin hopes that future generations will face less stigma and greater compassion. His story stands as a testament to resilience, but also as a call to action: to build a world where honesty is met with empathy, and where identity—whether shaped by culture, sexuality, or health status—is not a source of shame, but of strength.