Someone I love is HIV positive

The idea that HIV might become an issue or affect someone in my family never occurred to me. The person I love does not feel comfortable telling people their status. I feel very uncomfortable being the keeper of such a huge secret, but it is not my secret to tell. We both carry a burden.

I understand now that some people living with HIV don’t feel comfortable disclosing their status to friends and family. I also understand that they feel pressure to disclose their status from other people living with HIV who did feel comfortable enough to disclose. The question to disclose or not disclose to friends and family is another burden to bear.

I wanted to sit down and write this story today because for most of my adult life I knew very little about HIV. I did not concern myself because I assumed HIV would never be part of my life. What I have learned, and what I want others to learn, is that HIV can affect any one of us. You don’t know if one of your friends of family members may be positive right now, or may test positive in the future.

I see now that we need to embrace, not fear, people living with HIV because you never know when it may be someone you love. I see now just how much stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV face every day. I see now that one of the root causes of this discrimination is a lack of information. I see now that I can have a positive impact.

So what will I do? What can you do? Get involved, educate yourself, spread the word, volunteer at your local ASO. Follow some great advice and ‘be the change you want to see in the world.’ Help the world become a place where persons living with HIV are treated with the same respect, dignity and compassion as anyone else.

I can do that. Will you?

This was a guest post was submitted to The A Word. To submit a post for consideration, please contact us at newsletter@aidscalgary.org.