The Poz Vibe Tribe, in collaboration with the HSE (Health Service Executive), has released the second season of the ‘You, Me and HIV’ campaign. Originally launching in January of this year, it is a powerful and important initiative that addresses the stigma and misconceptions around HIV in Ireland. The short videos feature a person living with HIV having an open discussion with a loved one about their thoughts and lived experiences. 

The second season launched on June 27, with Poz Vibe host Enda McGrattan, also known as Veda Lady, sharing the episode on social media and saying, “HAPPY PRIDE FRIDAY EVERYONE. The perfect day to launch Season 2 of YOU, ME & HIV, a POZ Vibe Tribe collaboration with the HSE.” 

The first episode of the second season of ‘You, Me and HIV’ featured HIV activist Luis and his husband, Ciarán, as they discussed having been together for 10 years, their first conversation about Luis’ HIV diagnosis, and how, with medication, a person with HIV cannot pass it on. “I feel safe with you,” Ciarán says in the video. 

 

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“I feel so lucky in life. I feel thankful for the family that we created. I feel loved, and I want you to feel the same because I love you,” Luis continues, expressing gratitude for the life he is able to live with Ciarán thanks to effective treatment.

That is a huge aspect that ‘You, Me and HIV’ is trying to communicate. There is much misunderstanding and misconceptions to the point that many people aren’t aware that those with effective treatment and medication cannot pass HIV to their sexual partners. With the treatment, the viral load is so low that it is undetectable; ‘undetectable’ equals ‘untransmittable’, U=U. 

In another video, Veda and fellow Poz Vibe host Robbie Lawlor discuss Ireland meeting the goals for HIV. “We can be the very first country in the whole world to reach our 2030 goals. And that’s zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and finally, zero stigma and discrimination, and that’s what this campaign is all about,” Lawlor said. They continue by reminding people that they should get tested if they are sexually active, recommending sexualwellbeing.ie to get access to free at-home testing kits. 

In a third video, twin siblings Adrian and Erika discuss how having more information and being properly educated can make HIV less scary, recalling Adrian’s diagnosis and how scary it was because they didn’t really know anything about the virus. Similarly, Kiro and Thiago, husbands and owners of LGBTQ+ barbershop  Queer Hawk, in the fourth episode discuss how Kiro’s diagnosis was a test for their relationship, in part because of all the unknowns. However, they persevered due to their love and commitment to each other.

 

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Veda Lady spoke with GCN about the importance of the campaign: “This campaign really brings a tear to my eyes, it’s all about love, romantic love, familial love & the love that we have for our tribe and our community,” Veda said.

“I have shed many tears over the years because of HIV and AIDS. Most recently because of the U.S. cuts to foreign aid and the three to four million lives now at risk of dying of AIDS related illness in the global south. In sharp contrast here in Ireland, this campaign makes me teary with pride because of the beauty of what we have created together and fills me with hope, that we can make things better for people living with HIV all over the globe.”

‘You, Me and HIV’ shares these stories and conversations to encourage people to learn more about HIV in order to prevent stigma and ensure everyone can live happy and healthy lives.