Sexual Health Stigma Theme 10

So much of our work on HIV and STIs has involved learning to undo our own long-held and intransigent stigmas, through a process of committed re-education. Even in recent years, so much has changed concerning our knowledge of HIV and STIs, how they operate in the body, different treatment options, and ways of coping and managing infections and diseases if or when you contract one. Given the success of the new antiretroviral treatments, for example, we now know with certainty that the HIV pandemic can be stopped. The probable reason we have not been able to stop it so far is the stigma surrounding HIV and those who live with it, which too often prevents young people from getting tested and treated. The way that we fight the battle against stigma is through education, storytelling, and art. Let’s work together to banish stigma!