As part of GCN & HIV Ireland’s LIVING exhibition, we spoke to the faces behind the portraits – meet Will.
“I really believe in visibility; I think it’s the only way we’re going to end HIV stigma.
“Like, I had cancer as well. Now, when I had cancer they gave me “Oh who will we tell in your family? Who will we ring for you? Who will come to the hospital?” When I got HIV, I was actually told this in 2007, they actually said to me in the clinic “You don’t need to be the poster boy for HIV. You don’t have to tell anybody.” And that is so annoying.
“Everybody knows, like, that HIV meds have come so far. I can no longer transmit my HIV with U=U but the big problem is still HIV stigma.
“I really think to normalise this stuff, that people [need to] see this exhibition and they’ll look and see “Oh yeah, they’re not ill, they’re not dying”, because people still have that idea, you know?”
You can experience this unique portrayal of people LIVING with HIV in Ireland, until December 17 at CHQ Dublin and find out more in GCN’s December issue 369.
Music: https://www.bensound.com
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