The outlook has never been better for HIV-positive people in the UK. More and more is being understood about HIV. Thanks to potent anti-HIV treatments, it is now possible to live a longer and healthier life with HIV than ever before, and many doctors are hopeful that most people with HIV in the UK will be able to live a more or less normal lifespan.

There have recently been some important changes in the law, and it is now illegal to discriminate against HIV-positive people in areas including employment and the provision of good and services. In addition, over the course of the last ten years there has been a transformation of the legal rights of gay people in this country, with the repeal of all discriminatory laws and the provision of important new rights, such as Civil Partnerships.

There have also been significant shifts in general public opinion over the last couple of decades and, generally speaking, it is now less acceptable to display prejudice against people because of their colour, their race, or because they are gay.

Nevertheless, HIV and the people who live with it are all too often stigmatised or experience discrimination.

A recent opinion poll found that 75% of the British population thought there was still a lot of stigma attached to HIV, and approximately 50% thought that people who became HIV-positive due to unprotected sex or drug use had only themselves to blame.

Media reporting of HIV can be highly inaccurate and can encourage the beliefs that people with HIV are to blame for their infection, are inevitably going to die because of HIV, pose a dangerous risk to the health of others, are using an unfair share of scarce NHS resources, or are “flooding” into the country.

Many people with HIV encounter stigma, discrimination of prejudice in their daily lives. There have been cases of HIV-positive people being discriminated against at work, or even when using the National Health Service (NHS). Others have been rejected by their families, friends or communities because they have HIV. Criminal prosecutions for the transmission of HIV in the UK have stirred up old prejudices, led to much sensationalist and ignorant reporting and made many people with HIV feel stigmatised and threatened.

This booklet provides factual information that can be used to counter the ignorance that leads to fear, prejudice and discrimination.

There is information on some important legal rights (and responsibilities) that people with HIV have. It’s important to be able to stand up against stigma and prejudice and this booklet provides some information on ways to do this, including the contact details of organisations that can help you if you need practical support, advice or specialist services.