CAROLINE GUINNESS
page 1 of 3
1 / / 3
contents
of issue 77
back
issues
the
gazette
recipes
small
ads
contacting
us
weblinks
Will highlighting HIV stigma scare people?
I don't know about you, but the new anti-discrimination campaign for people
living with HIV makes me feel slightly edgy.
Since I was diagnosed with HIV in 1986, I have been amazed at just how
little discrimination I have personally experienced. I was very aware
it
was there, in walks of life varying from ignorant health workers to parents
at my daughter's school - but it was never directly aimed at me.
After the first few years of complete hysteria, stirred up by the media,
I have found attitudes to be more apathetic than bigoted, complacent rather
than frightened.
I was certainly terrified of my status being uncovered while my daughter
was in primary school. At the time, there was talk of concentration camps
and quarantine. I would sit on the tube and think, "If everyone in
this carriage knew, they would run away screaming."
Yes, I was terrified of others' bigotry then. So telling my partner at
the time was one of the scariest things I have ever had to do.
But each person I told showed me nothing but love and compassion. I realised
that I was in a privileged position - being part of a discussion where
honesty was called for all round.
I wish it hadn't taken HIV to show me how much honesty is appreciated
by everyone,
how important it is to tell people our feelings for them, and giving them a chance to voice theirs. I got so confident over the years that I gave hundreds
