Rugby legend Gareth Thomas announces he is living with HIV.
THE former rugby captain of Wales revealed his HIV status in an emotional video posted on social media prior to his taking part in the Iron Man Wales event this weekend.
The 45 year old ex-British and Irish Lions rugby skipper speaks out about his “shame” and “fear” of keeping his status secret and reveals at his lowest point in 2018 he felt suicidal and wanted to die.
Gareth is due to talk about his diagnosis in a BBC Wales documentary on Wednesday, September 18.
In the documentary he says that by revealing his status he hopes to “educate and break the stigma for everybody.”
Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust the national HIV charity, said: “I’m very proud to call Gareth Thomas a friend. Gareth is proof that an HIV diagnosis shouldn’t stop you from doing anything you want to do – whatever that is. I hope that by speaking publicly about this Gareth will transform attitudes towards HIV that are all too often stuck in the 1980s.
“We’ve made huge medical advances in the fight against HIV that means that people living with HIV like Gareth now live long healthy lives. We can also say without doubt that those and on effective HIV treatment can’t pass on the virus. This is exactly the kind of information Gareth wants to get out there to challenge the stigma that still surrounds this virus.
“Gareth blazed a trail by being the first rugby player to come out as gay and has done so much to encourage inclusion and diversity within the sport. Now he is doing that once again with HIV and taking on the challenge of a lifetime in Ironman Wales to show that this virus doesn’t need to be a barrier when you’re diagnosed and accessing treatment.”
In a message on Twitter, Jeremy Corbyn MP, leader of the Labour Party, wrote: “Gareth Thomas has again shown enormous strength in declaring himself HIV positive. A role model challenging stigma and prejudice. His example offers hope and resolve to others. Solidarity.”
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