HIV and Stigma

The other day, I attended a very compelling workshop on HIV and Stigma and how the stigma has affected those living with HIV/AIDS. I wanted to write something about it because today is Valentine's Day afterall, and what better way to make a statement of love than by showing one's support to a community of people who are often rejected or denied because of their positive status. While lack of love is certainly not the case for all who suffer from HIV/AIDS, there are many who aren't as fortunate. The following are some key issues that people living with HIV/AIDS often have to deal with:

1/ Isolation
2/ Fear
3/ Shame
4/ Guilt
5/ Little or No access to resources
6/ Verbal Stigmatizing
7/ Privacy and choice in terms of disclosure
8/ Criminalization
9/ Workplace discrimination
10/ Social exclusion

A lot of the above issues are based on what our communities think of people who are HIV positive. There are a lot of misconceptions about the disease, particularly in communities that do not give opportunities to openly discuss Sexual Health, STIs, and HIV/AIDS. People living with HIV/AIDS remain 'in the closet' about their positive status for fear of being judged and treated unfairly by their families, friends, and colleagues. Often, they avoid seeking medical attention because they are afraid a family member or relative might find out.

Some of the factors that contribute to the stigma as listed on the Avert website include:

- HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening disease, and therefore people react to it in strong ways.

- HIV infection is associated with behaviours (such as homosexuality, drug addiction, prostitution or promiscuity) that are already stigmatised in many societies.

- Most people become infected with HIV through sex which often carries moral baggage.

- There is a lot of inaccurate information about how HIV is transmitted, creating irrational behaviour and misperceptions of personal risk. For example, some people still think that one can get infected by sharing the same glass or by hugging and kissing an HIV positive person.

- HIV infection is often thought to be the result of personal irresponsibility.

- Religious or moral beliefs lead some people to believe that being infected with HIV is the result of moral fault (such as promiscuity or 'deviant sex') that deserves to be punished.

Both the external and internal stigmas can be daunting to overcome. When I say 'internal', I mean what people living with HIV/AIDS think of themselves and others living with HIV/AIDS and how they too can perpetuate many of the myths on how HIV can be contracted by being careful not to touch children in their families or cleaning everything they touch with bleach.

Certain minority groups within the HIV poz community face many more challenges due to the lack of sensitivity, support, and trust among their peers. Religion and culture play a big role in all of our lives, and the weight of moral condemnation can be a very heavy price to pay for living openly about one's HIV positive status. The fact that even HIV positive people prefer to be in romantic relationships with HIV negative partners is a testament to how deep-seated our prejudices and fears are in regards to this disease.

However, all is not lost for people living with HIV/AIDS. Canada has a great healthcare system and there are plenty of resources for people living with HIV/AIDS including free counselling, naturapathic therapies, doctors who specialize in HIV/AIDS, workshops, training initiatives, employment assistance, support groups, disability insurance, etc. These services can be further improved and developed the more people are open about their status. People living with HIV/AIDS can serve as role models and visit schools, churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, community centres, hospitals, health clinics, etc, to offer their personal stories and empower themselves and their communities through education and activism.

Still, one can't minimize the impact of the stigma. My hope is that we all take the responsibility to raise our awareness and ACTIVELY educate ourselves on HIV/AIDS so we can join the fight against HIV Stigma, and show our unwavering support for a more loving, caring, and compassionate society.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone.