Some people might have negative ideas about what HIV is and how people get it. They might judge or look down on people living with HIV. The negative views, attitudes or discrimination that comes with HIV are all part of what we call HIV stigma. 

What does HIV stigma look like? 

Even though HIV is a virus just like chickenpox or measles, some might see having it as a personal failing. It can come with negative moral judgments about who someone is as a person, or assumptions about what type of sex someone is having. Sometimes, these are very clear, while other times, stigma can be more subtle. 

Some examples of what HIV stigma might look like: 

• Suggesting that having HIV makes someone dirty or that someone not living with HIV is “clean”  
• Assuming that having anal sex will always pass on HIV
• Not getting tested out of fear of testing positive for HIV 
• Worrying about getting HIV from sharing a toilet seat in a public bathroom 

People can also experience HIV stigma at a societal level. Some examples of what that may look like: 

• Criminalization of HIV disclosure, even when there’s no possible risk of passing it on 
• Being judged or turned away when accessing healthcare 
• Workplace discrimination, like when someone fires or won’t hire someone else because they have HIV
• Being denied citizenship because of someone’s HIV status 

Stigma or discrimination that happens within institutions like school, work, or healthcare is sometimes called systemic discrimination. Individual peoples’ attitudes about HIV can contribute to systemic discrimination, and systemic discrimination can make it harder for people when they experience one-on-one discrimination or stigma from individual people. So, while HIV stigma can look different in different settings, it’s all connected! 

Where Does HIV Stigma Come From? 

Often, HIV stigma comes from a lack of understanding around HIV. A lot of people don’t know what does and doesn’t carry a risk for HIV, or that HIV is treatable. Sometimes, moral beliefs around sexuality and drug use can also make HIV stigma more common. Negative representation of HIV in the media also increases negative attitudes towards people living with HIV. 

Sometimes, HIV stigma connects with other types of stigma or discrimination. These include sex work stigma, homophobia, or racism. For example, if a sex worker tests positive for HIV, people might accuse them of giving it to other people because of their job. 

What can I do if I experience HIV stigma? 

If you are living with HIV and experience HIV stigma, you’re not alone! You can reach out to organizations like ACCM, RÉZO, or to people you trust for support. Building a personal network or community of people living through similar experiences can be empowering!

If you experience discrimination when accessing healthcare or within your workplace, it can help to know your rights and how to submit a complaint. If you experience discrimination by a medical doctor, you can contact the Collège des médecins du Québec. For complaints against other professionals, such as a nurse, therapist, or dentist, you can get in touch with their professional association. For workplace discrimination, you can file a complaint with the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST). 

If you need a listening ear or help with filing a complaint, you can reach out to ACCM’s support team at support@accmontreal.org.

How can I help fight HIV stigma? 

Everyone can help fight HIV stigma! Educating yourself and others about HIV is a great first step. People who have negative ideas about HIV can change their minds and be more accepting when they learn more about the daily lives of people living with HIV. 

Other ways you can help fight HIV stigma include: 

• Talking to others about U=U and how you can help reduce your risk
• Speaking up when someone is being offensive or shares inaccurate info about HIV or people living with HIV. 
• Being mindful of how you use your language. At SextEd, we say “people living with HIV” but some people might have a different preference. Sometimes, folks use “poz” as a way to reclaim the term “positive”. 

Joining efforts to fight systematic discrimination, or donating to HIV organisations doing the work!