What is the history of HIV?

• HIV is known to have originated from a chimpanzee in West Africa and has been in the United States and Canada since the mid 1970s.

• This epidemic hurt many individuals, families, and communities. However one of the most harmful elements of the HIV epidemic was the stigma it caused.

• When the first noted cluster of HIV cases emerged in Los Angeles in 1981, people believed that the virus was only contracted by men who had sex with men, and the CDC labeled the virus as “GRID” or “Gay Related Immunodeficiency Syndrome”. This was later changed to AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

• In 1987, the United States placed a ban on immigrants with HIV from entering the country. This wasn’t lifted until 2010. 

• Blood Bans began when US blood banks refused men who had sex with men (MSM) from donating blood. This wasn’t lifted until 2015, but currently policy prohibits the donation of blood from MSM if sexual contact with another man has occurred in the last year. 

U=U or Undetectable=Untransmittable. 

• The original U=U campaign emphasises ‘undetectable = untransmittable’. This means that when someone with HIV takes medication to treat the infection, the amount of virus in their body drops so low that it can no longer be detected on an HIV viral (RNA) test. When their viral load is this low, they cannot transmit HIV to another person.

• Therefore, HIV treatment is a preventative measure against HIV transmission. 

• To learn more about U=U, refer to the Western Australian AIDS Council’s video linked here and the National Institute of Health linked here. 

What causes HIV stigma?

• HIV stigma comes from fear and misinformation about HIV that often originated from misinformation in the media. 

What are the effects of HIV stigma and discrimination?

• For those living with HIV, stigma can reduce people’s quality of life and has a negative effect on overall health. Shame, isolation, and fear that comes from stigma can drastically affect the well being of those living with the virus. 

• For those not living with HIV, stigma increases the risk of transmission by reducing access to accurate information that keeps people safe. Stigma can also increase fear and anxiety about contracting the virus. In addition to this, stigma can inhibit conversation around sexual health. If HIV is not openly discussed, it puts everyone at risk. 

How does this apply to the adult industry?

• HIV stigma is a community health issue and public health issue. When HIV stigma exists, it will perpetuate a decrease in safety and an increase in risk for everybody. 

What can be done to reduce HIV stigma?

• Understanding that HIV is not a virus that only certain groups of people can get and understanding how HIV is transmitted and how to protect oneself can help reduce stigma. 

More resources: 

• Stigma is often perpetuated in the way we talk about HIV and sexual health. For example, referring to a negative STD/HIV test as “clean” implies that people living with HIV (or another STD) are “dirty”. Using the words “positive” and “negative” is more specific and less stigmatizing. Visit the Stigma Language Guide linked here for more information about other ways you can change the way you talk about HIV to reduce HIV stigma.

• HIV stigma is a worldwide issue! To learn more about HIV criminalization globally, the HIV Justice Network linked here provides educational information on groups actively working to reduce HIV stigma, and keeps track of HIV discrimination cases around the world.