Introduction to stigma and discrimination

Many people with HIV in the UK have a lot to be optimistic about.

HIV treatment is bringing a longer and healthier life to thousands of people in this country from all the communities affected by HIV.

Many people with HIV are living full lives. Indeed there are very few things that you can’t do just because you have HIV.

There have been some important changes in the law to protect the rights of people with HIV. Since 2005, an important law called the Disability Discrimination Act has made it illegal to discriminate against people with HIV in areas such as employment, housing and education.

The rights of gay men have been extended and it’s now much less acceptable than it used to be to display racism.

But sometimes people with HIV experience stigma, prejudice or discrimination.

Different people with HIV have different experiences of stigma and discrimination. Although they are commonly reported experiences, it’s not inevitable that you’ll encounter them. If they do occur, it may be that they don’t have any real impact on your wellbeing or that you’re able to respond effectively.

But because everybody is different, it can be helpful to have some general information on ways of responding to stigma, prejudice and discrimination if they do occur. It’s also good to know where you can turn for professional support and advice if you need it.

The stigma and discrimination that people with HIV sometimes experience is often based on simple ignorance or downright prejudice.

There are lots of popular misconceptions about HIV that can provide a foundation for stigma and discrimination, so it’s good to know how wrong some of these are:

First of all, people with HIV aren’t a threat to other people. Yes, HIV can be transmitted, but it’s difficult to catch. You can’t give HIV to someone through day-to-day contact. Condoms are a good way of preventing sexual transmission of HIV and it’s possible to prevent nearly all cases of mother-to-child HIV transmission. There’s currently a lot of debate about the impact of HIV treatment on infectiousness. Although anti-HIV drugs aren’t a replacement for safer sex and condoms, there’s a consensus that they do substantially reduce the risk of infection occurring.

HIV is often wrongly regarded as a ‘death sentence’. It is true that people do still become ill or even die because of HIV. But it’s good to know that HIV treatment is highly effective. There’s real evidence and optimism that, thanks to HIV treatment, many people with HIV will be able to live a more or less normal lifespan.

Nor is finding out that you have HIV the end of the world. Many people with HIV either maintain or form new relationships after their diagnosis. They also benefit from the love and support of those close to them and live full and fulfilling lives.

That’s not to deny that having HIV won’t affect your life. At the very least it’s likely to make life more complicated. For some people, it can cause real problems. And sometimes this is because of stigma or discrimination.

Knowing how to deal with these issues when they arise can mean that you’re more able to respond to them.