Not a gay guy?

There are currently about 26,000 people with HIV in Ontario. These folks are men, women and children; friends, neighbours, lovers, colleagues. Although, this campaign is specifically targeted at gay men, HIV stigma and discrimination exist in every community and affect all people with HIV, regardless of their sexual orientation.

This is your issue too.

HIV stigma is affecting our health. HIV stigma makes it harder for people to get access to the information they need to avoid getting HIV and harder for people to access HIV testing.

HIV stigma makes it harder for people with HIV in your community to get the health care they need to stay well. And, HIV stigma can lead to social isolation for people with HIV, who may live in fear of telling family, friends and employers that they have HIV. People with HIV are leading full lives with access to proper health care, but HIV stigma doesn't make it easy. To learn more about HIV stigma, click here.

Get active and help fight HIV stigma:

  • Volunteer for a local AIDS Service Organization;
  • Participate in HIV/AIDS fundraising activities;
  • Get educated about HIV, about the experiences of people with HIV and about how to protect yourself from HIV;
  • Talk about HIV with your friends, but in a way that shows that you have empathy, understanding and awareness about what it can be like to live with HIV;
  • Challenge stigmatizing behaviours and attitudes when you encounter them in social situations; there are examples on this website
  • Be open to the possibility that you have friends, family members, neighbours or colleagues with HIV; Act accordingly.
  • Demand that your schools teach young people about HIV, about what it can be like to live with HIV and about how young people can protect themselves from HIV infection;
  • Ask your local politician what they are doing to raise awareness about HIV in your community, including HIV stigma.
  • Pass the link to this web page onto friends and family; they can fight HIV stigma too!
Thank you for supporting the fight against HIV stigma. It's a fight for a healthier community!
What are some effects of HIV stigma? HIV stigma can have a range of effects, including:
Increased Depression
People with HIV experience higher rates of depression and social ...
People with HIV experience higher rates of depression and social isolation, which may be explained in part by the stress and isolation that comes with keeping a secret about a health condition that has such a profound impact on the lives of people with HIV. Imagine not being able to tell your family that you are living with a life-threatening condition. Imagine losing that family and community support when you need it most.
Increased Disinformation About HIV
Our beliefs that HIV happens to people who do 'bad things' or that ...
Our beliefs that HIV happens to people who do 'bad things' or that HIV is only affecting gay men contribute to an environment where young people are not adequately educated about HIV and where people who are not gay do not perceive themselves to be at risk for HIV. As a result, they may not act to protect themselves from HIV, increasing their risk.
Increased Reluctance To Get Tested
People may not access HIV testing. In Ontario, about one-third of people ...
People may not access HIV testing. In Ontario, about one-third of people with HIV have not been tested and diagnosed with HIV. They do not know they have HIV and so may be less likely to act to protect themselves or their partners. HIV stigma makes it less likely that people want to know their HIV status because of the stigma they feel and the discrimination they will face once they have been diagnosed.
Increased Reluctance To Disclose
People who have HIV are much less likely to tell their sexual partners ...
People who have HIV are much less likely to tell their sexual partners they have HIV out of fear of rejection or even violence. We know, once people are diagnosed with HIV, they usually tell their sexual partners they have HIV or take steps to ensure their partner does not become infected. A culture of silence about HIV makes it harder for all of us to protect ourselves from HIV.