Plus Friends Dublin is a group for people living with HIV to meet other people who are HIV Positive. The group meet to offer support to each other and organise social outings for its members.
The group aims to bring together like-minded people in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for a range of activities from going for food and drinks to cycling around Phoenix Park. You can join the group on Meetup.com where you can chat with other members.
Past events include attending the GAZE film festival, pub quizzes and community workshops on living with HIV.
The group takes away “the awkwardness of having to conform to the ideas and misconceptions of what it means to have HIV”.
Their next event takes place at the end of the month – Friday, August 23rd. You can sign up and get involved here. Plus Friends are always looking for new ideas and volunteers to help run the group. If you’d like to help out in that area, join and then contact the group’s administrator.
Despite the fact that there is no risk of sexual transmission of HIV with an undetectable viral load, ignorance and discrimination can still limit opportunities for people living with HIV, meaning that they are more likely to live in poverty and be affected by poor mental health.
In addition to the U=U message, groups like Plus Friends help reduce the stigma associated with living with HIV and can help people come to terms with their HIV status.
Living with HIV in Ireland and want to meet others? Plus Friends in an amazing MeetUp group where we organize drinks nights/walks in the park/cinema trips etc.
Next drinks night is on at end of the month. I can’t wait. Open to all living with HIV ❤️ (please share) #PlusFriends pic.twitter.com/dCMpHj74HE
— Robbie Lawlor (@Robbie_Lawlor) August 12, 2019
Robbie Lawler of ACTUP Dublin shared a Tweet inviting newcomers to join the group:
“Living with HIV in Ireland and want to meet others? Plus Friends is an amazing MeetUp group where we organise drinks nights/walks in the park/cinema trips etc. Next drinks night is on at the end of the month. I can’t wait. Open to all living with HIV.”
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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