25 faces: Leaders fighting HIV/AIDS in Colorado

12 Ken Bazan

“I grew up at a time when we knew what was going on (with the risk of HIV/AIDS) – young people don’t,” said Ken Bazan, 44, current Emperor of the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire.

“The most memorial moment was at JRs a few years ago,” Bazan said. “Someone said he didn’t need to use protection because you can life a full life with HIV. My jaw hit the floor.”

Bazan became deeply involved with the issue of HIV/AIDS five years ago when he got involved with the Imperial Court and had the opportunity to raise funds for HIV/AIDS care and education.

“The whole thing leads to education,” Bazan said. “HIV still has a severe impact on peoples’ lives today – not only emotionally, but financially and physically. And it affects more than just them.”

He said he’s worried that young people now aren’t taking good enough care of themselves.

“The virus itself shouldn’t be feared,” Bazan said. “But the behavior that leads to infection should be feared.”