Friday, July 21 is Zero HIV Stigma Day, a call-out for everyone to come along to the first ever Zero Stigma Rally at Jubilee Square, outside Brighton’s Jubilee Library.
HIV stigma still affects many people who are living with HIV, with almost 75% of people in the UK reporting experiences of discrimination. Surveys show that people living with HIV still experience negative perceptions and reactions because of their HIV status in social, healthcare, workplace, and community settings; and HIV stigma can prevent people coming forward for testing and starting treatment.
It needs to be a whole community response to combat this! Understanding HIV and stigma is everyone’s responsibility, and we want to reach & involve as many people as possible to help achieve the goals of zero HIV stigma, and no new cases of HIV.
The Zero Stigma rally starts at 5.15pm with diverse speakers sharing experiences of living with HIV, words from local MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle, poetry, music from Rainbow Chorus, and much more. The Martin Fisher Foundation HIV Awareness Bus will be on Jubilee Square all day, sharing information together with grassroots HIV charity Lunch Positive serving free refreshments throughout the day.
During the day, Terrence Higgins Trust will be providing HIV testing from the Rainbow Hub room at the Ledward Centre, where Lunch Positive will also be providing a free Queer Allies Lunch. The fantastic More to Me Than HIV exhibition will be at the main library. These are just some of the amazing things happening on the day.
Please come along on Friday, July 21 to join in solidarity with people living with HIV and to combat HIV stigma. The Rally is at Jubilee Square, outside the main library starting at 5.15pm.
More details are on the Martin Fisher Foundation website.