Education Center

Facing HIV Stigma: Turning Silence into Support

    Condoms

    Knowing how to respond when witnessing HIV-related stigma is one of the most powerful ways to drive change. One of the first steps to ending HIV is to talk about it openly and confront stigma directly when it happens. Speaking up and taking a stand when someone is being treated unfairly because of their HIV status is something everyone can do.

    But standing up to stigma isn't always easy. Many people aren’t sure what to say or how to act when faced with these situations. Below is a guide to help you respond to HIV stigma in everyday life—with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

    Example Scenario 1

    Setting: You attend a family gathering with your younger sister, who recently disclosed her HIV status to the family. While you greet your relatives with hugs and warm hellos, one relative hesitates when approached by your sister and says: “We won’t catch AIDS, right?”

    How You Can Respond:

    • Gently correct the misinformation: “Actually, HIV isn’t spread through hugs or casual contact. She’s taking care of her health, and there’s no risk.”
    • Reframe with dignity and inclusion: “She’s still the same loving person she’s always been. The best thing we can do is support her, not fear her.”
    • Normalize the conversation: “Lots of people are living healthy lives with HIV today. It’s not something to be afraid of—it’s something to understand better.”
    Example Scenario 2

    Setting: You're in a new relationship that’s starting to get serious. You decide it's time to tell your partner that you're living with HIV. After you disclose your status, they react with anger and say: “Why don’t you just date someone who’s already positive? That way you won’t make others uncomfortable.”

    How You Can Respond:

    • Start with empathy: “I understand that hearing your partner is living with HIV can be shocking. It wasn’t easy for me to share this, especially because I know how some people react.”
    • Gently guide toward understanding: “I want you to know that calling people with HIV ‘sick’ or suggesting they should only date others with HIV reinforces stigma. The truth is, people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives with proper treatment. A more respectful term is ‘a person living with HIV.’”
    • Educate with facts: “If someone with HIV takes their medication consistently and achieves an undetectable viral load, they cannot transmit the virus through sex. This is supported by science and is known as U=U—Undetectable equals Untransmittable.”
    • Encourage shared learning: “If we’re going to continue this relationship, I’d love for us to learn more together—about HIV, how it’s managed, and how we can protect each other. Using condoms or considering PrEP are great ways to make sure we’re both safe and supported.”
    Example Scenario 3

    Setting: During your weekly basketball game, someone brings up a teammate who isn’t present today. They mention seeing a Facebook post where he shared that he was going to get an HIV test. Some of the team members respond with judgmental and negative comments about him.

    How You Can Respond:

    • Shift the conversation with a personal connection: “When was the last time you got tested for HIV? I went a few months ago—getting tested is actually a normal part of taking care of your health, just like an annual check-up.”
    • Point out the importance of knowing your status: “Knowing your status helps you stay healthy and protect your partners. Making fun of someone for getting tested isn’t cool—it sends the wrong message.”
    • Call attention to the stigma behind the jokes: “Comments like that can stop people from getting tested, even if they might be at risk. Someone being open about their health deserves support, not judgment.”
    Example Scenario 4

    Setting: A colleague turns to you and says, “That person shouldn’t be bringing food to share at the office party—he has HIV.”

    How You Can Respond:

    • Respond with facts: “Actually, there’s no need to worry. HIV cannot be transmitted through food, even if it’s prepared by someone living with HIV.”
    • Gently address the stigma: “Avoiding someone in daily life just because they have HIV is a form of stigma. It can make people feel isolated or excluded—and that’s not the kind of workplace we want.”
    • Lead by example: Eat the food your HIV-positive colleague brought.”
    • Sit and chat with them at lunch.
    • Include them in group conversations at the event.
    • These small, visible gestures send a strong message: “You are part of this team, and you are respected..