9 FACES OF HIV STIGMA
HIV stigma. It is a term that has become synonymous with the virus itself. But what does it mean, exactly?
It isn’t something that can easily be explained by just one definition, feeling or action. The stigma of HIV must be examined through the collective experiences of the people who have been affected by HIV and those who suffered from AIDS.
These are nine faces of HIV stigma.
1.) THE BOY WHO IS AFRAID TO GET TESTED.
He knows that an HIV test is long overdue. But his fears and insecurities about his past sexual missteps have him coming up with any excuse to avoid a prick of the finger. So he avoids his HIV status for another day and asserts that he is negative to his new love interest. They say what you don’t know won’t hurt you, right?
2.) THE GIRL WHO FEELS DIRTY.
She may have come to terms with being HIV-positive, but she still can’t bring herself to date, much less have sex. She wants love, but is just too afraid that a man who learns of her status will think she’s dirty. And that’s because she feels that way about herself.
3.) THE MAN WHO LIVES IN A NEW CLOSET.
He came out as a gay man years ago, but his newfound positive status has him right back where he started – living a secret. He’s too afraid to tell his friends – even his gay ones – because he thinks they will judge him for being HIV-positive. So back in the closet he goes.
4.) THE GUYS WHO MAKE AIDS JOKES.
In a group of gay men, a couple of friends crack a few HIV jokes and make fun of someone who they know is positive. But these guys fail to realize that someone who may be one of their closest friends is also living with the virus. Now, their friend feels even worse about his status and what his friends would think of him if they knew.
5.) THE WOMAN WHO WEARS HER STRUGGLE ON HER FACE.
She has survived the worst of the AIDS crisis and is proud of her experiences, but earlier HIV medications gave her “that look” commonly associated with HIV. It’s called lipodystrophy. And even though she may be unashamed of her story, it still hurts when someone glares at her and thinks they know who she is or what he has gone through.
6.) THE GUY WHO THOUGHT IT COULDN’T HAPPEN TO HIM.
After hearing the words “reactive for HIV” during his most recent test, he rifles through the past year searching for where he went wrong. Sure, he had made a few mistakes, but he was dating the guys, not just sleeping with them. He genuinely thought that if he tried to do the right thing and look for relationships instead of just sex, he would be protected from HIV. Turns out, HIV doesn’t differentiate the “good” people from the “bad.”
7.) THE TRANSGENDER WOMAN WHO EVERYONE FORGOT.
She hears people talk about how gay men are the most at-risk for HIV infection. Meanwhile, one out of four trans women are HIV-positive, a number that is far higher than that of gay men, yet it is rarely discussed. She represents the girl who is at the greatest risk for becoming HIV-positive, yet no one seems to be worried about her or her status.
8.) THE GUY WHO IS JUDGED FOR USING PREP.
After the last time when the condom never made it to where it was supposed to, he knew it was time to take action. So he went to the doctor, got tested for HIV, and asked him for a prescription for PrEP. He didn’t expect his regular hook-up, whom he had slept with unprotected, to criticize and judge him for acknowledging his unsafe behavior and taking action.
9.) THE COMMUNITY THAT ISN’T THERE.
The community that wasn’t there.Whether you are infected or affected by HIV, there is a support community waiting to help. But stigma keeps people from speaking out and getting the support they need. Instead, they face their issues in the dark. Whether you need a shoulder to lean on or have a burning question, there is someone who can help you, but you have to ask.Don’t let HIV stigma silence you and those you love.
To view visit the information source: http://www.hivequal.org/hiv-equal-online/9-faces-of-hiv-stigma/
