HIV And Discrimination
Why is there a stigma related to HIV and AIDS?
Early on in the epidemic, the HIV primarily affected gay men and there was a lot of misinformation about how the disease was transmitted. There was a lot of fear and hysteria. At the time, without the medicines that we have today, that hysteria was probably appropriate but now, twenty-five years later, we know exactly how HIV is transmitted. We know how to treat it and we have the drugs to do so. The stigma that surrounds HIV and AIDS now still lingers from the old days much like it probably was for say tuberculosis years ago. Every year, we all get a little more familiar with the topic and we all become more comfortable with the progress that's being made. It still happens and I think it still needs to be taken seriously but it happens a lot less and I think things are getting better.
Why is there discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS?
Early on in the epidemic there was a lot of doubt of exactly how HIV was transmitted. When people didn't know how it was transmitted they wanted to avoid anything that was associated with HIV or AIDS. So, people were afraid of catching HIV and all stigma really, at the base, is fear. Fear of the unknown. Now, 25 years later, we know what causes HIV, we know how to treat HIV, and there are very few unknowns with HIV today.
Will I face discrimination if people know I am HIV positive?
I think it happens all the time. It's unfortunate, but it's true. Does it happen in a professional or work environment? Much less. Does it happen in a housing or rooming situation? Again, much less. I think where people are most likely to face discrimination or stigma is in kind of a dating or social setting. People, when it's that close to other people, they may react with fear, and that may lead to stigma or discrimination. In a work or professional setting, however, it's no longer appropriate or not a rational fear.
Is having HIV considered a disability?
Technically, yes, having HIV is considered having a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That was legislation Congress had passed in the United States many years ago to help protect people with a disability from stigma and discrimination. However, having HIV doesn't make you physically disabled. It's a technical definition that protects you under the law, although there's nothing physically wrong with you as an HIV sufferer.
Will my regular doctor stop treating me if he knows I'm HIV positive?
It's important that people with HIV seek treatment from a doctor or healthcare provider who has experience with treating HIV. Studies have shown that people live longer and do better when their doctors have a larger caseload of HIV patients. They have experience and knowledge and that translates to better medical care for the HIV sufferer. It is possible that your regular doctor may be able to treat you as an HIV sufferer, but certainly I would recommend that you find an HIV doctor who has substantial caseloads or patients with HIV and that's one of the first questions you should ask your doctor in terms of HIV treatment.
What if I've been discriminated against because I'm HIV positive?
It depends on the circumstance. There are many different types of discrimination. For example, in work or a professional environment, if you feel you've been discriminated against, there are very specific legal definitions of what must occur for a legal case of discrimination. It doesn't mean that the discrimination doesn't occur, it only means that you have legal recourse to fix the problem. In other situations, such as in a dating or social sitatuation where someone says "no, I don't want to date you because you're HIV positive", there's no legal recourse to that and I think people need to be strong and that's part of life.