So true @A myHIVteam Member. When I came out as HIV+ at my new job (just had my 1 year anniversary there 2 days ago) the people I worked with freaked out after I was trying to clean my blood up the proper way, but they didn't have the things I needed so I improvised. The owner of the company talked to me and was worried I might give HIV to other people or get it in the food. The first thing I told him was, "This is not 1981 anymore, there is a lot of information out there." Then I don't remember how the conversation went, but I got to where I told him ANYONE can get it. His reply (I work for a Christian company): "I don't have to worry about it, I will never get it, I don't live 'THAT' way." When I asked "WHAT" way he was referring to, he said, "You know, the forbidden way." Again I told that this was not 1981, and not all people got it from "THAT" way. I told him I had got it from a blood transfusion in 1992, and even today he SHOULD be worried about it whether he lived "THAT" way or not. He said, "How do I have to worry about it, when I don't live that lifestyle?" Again I asked him what lifestyle and that he wasn't immune. I told him about the possible 50,000 Christian people who thought they were immune also, between 2008 and 2015, who got letters from the government warning them that their doctor or dentist did not properly disinfect and sanitize their equipment and put them at risk for HIV. I then asked him "have you been tested since your last doctor or dentist visit? because you could be HIV+ right now and not know it." The look on his face was priceless. Since then we have got a biohazard bloodborne pathogen kit, and videos and educational material on bloodborne pathogens and have a policy in place on how to handle blood now. We now get along great with one another, and he has learned a lot about HIV.

Mentioned Users

A myHIVte...

IDK, it depends on the topic. HIV is still a virus. So there's nothing wrong with a heathy fear of it. IMO, what could be done to reduce stigma is teach people how to roll out u=u and how it relates to them personally. Especially in a culture that wouldn't believe you if you said you were negative. As far as everything else. All you have to do is thrive. Every year i'm alive past my diagnosis is a testimony that HIV isn't a death sentence.

36 years with HIV this March 2021. Where is the media in all of this? To educate people? I mean as people we can only do so much in getting the word out to open up peoples minds. Most people are not interested in becoming educated about HIV because they think "Oh not me, I will never get it" "put the blinders on" Until they do get infected. Then they clam up and go inwards.
It remains a "self motivation" to want to learn something about something.
We live with the condition, we adapt to it, we tolerate the stigma, we rise above,
we thrive amongst ourselves. What/who else do we need?
2021 is way better than 1985 regarding HIV, the so called "faggot disease" as it was referred to in the 80's
I don't give a fuck about what people think of me having HIV. I am confrontational to a point of defending others besides myself when someone starts discriminating and I see it and experience it. I have been beaten up for defending a complete stranger who was shy or timid to defend themselves.
My adrenaline is there for a reason. I will still do the same even today at my age. Us "fags" have to fight for what is right some of the time. It gets easier for the next generations with new laws and protections in place. But right here, right now, it is my adrenaline and my fists.

EDUCATION!
There are a lot of uneducated people out there. People are afraid of what they don't know about

Volunteer+Educate+Advocate.
+32 yrs +Poz+1985+Vancouver, B.C.