Living with HIV now is a very different experience to living with HIV ten or twenty years ago. And living with HIV in the UK is quite different to living with HIV in some other parts of the world.

For those able to access it, HIV treatment has brought a longer, healthier life to tens of thousands of people. The UK’s medical services for people with HIV are among the best in the world.

There have been legal changes too. Since 2005, it’s been illegal to discriminate, in areas like health care and employment, against a person because they have HIV. It’s also illegal to discriminate against a person because of their race, sexuality or gender.

Public attitudes are also changing. In most social groups, it’s no longer considered acceptable to display prejudice against people because of their disability, ethnicity, gender or sexuality.

People with HIV are living full lives and there are very few things that you can’t do just because you have HIV. Crucially, most people with HIV find that they are loved, accepted and supported by those close to them.

But we don’t live in a perfect world. People with HIV do still come across stigma, prejudice and discrimination. This can often be the worst part of living with HIV.

“I don’t turn around and tell them that I am HIV positive because I know what their reaction would be.”

It’s worth knowing that stigma and discrimination are taken seriously by the organisations that work for the rights and wellbeing of people with HIV. There has been progress tackling these issues, although more needs to be done.

To deal with stigma and discrimination, it can be helpful to understand what causes them, to work out ways of responding to them, and to find out where you can go for help and support.

You’ve made a good first step dealing with these issues by reading this booklet.