This oral history features Shed Boren, recorded on October 7, 2024 in Coral Gables as part of the Miami AIDS Memorials Project. Boren discusses his childhood in Los Angeles and Texas, his Cuban and Chinese-Cuban family background, early awareness of race and difference, and the development of his gay identity during the 1970s and 1980s. He reflects on early media exposure to Harvey Milk and Anita Bryant, experiences of homophobia, and the social environment surrounding sexuality during his youth. Boren recalls coming out, college friendships, and the fear and uncertainty surrounding HIV in the early years of the epidemic, including the first generation of HIV testing. He shares personal accounts of testing in the mid-1980s, supporting friends living with HIV, and later work in HIV counseling and social services. His narrative documents community impact, stigma, family reactions, and the shift in public understanding of HIV over time.