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Gay health: Study reveals the isolation and lack of treatment black gay men face
HIV carries a stigma among black gay men
GMFA tackles HIV stigma faced by Africans
Gay men's health charity GMFA (Gay Men Fighting AIDS) has announced the launch of a campaign directed at London's African communities which aims to counter the stigma they face concerning HIV.
The campaign was developed by Big Up, the charity's project which receives lottery funding to promote sexual health among London's black gay men.
Posters bearing the headline 'HIV is a virus. It has no race, gender or sexuality' will appear in tube stations throughout central London.
The intention is to increase awareness of HIV-related stigma, which can lead to the isolation of HIV-positive people in their communities, as well as deter them from getting tested and block their access to the treatment they might need.
Matthew Hudson, GMFA's head of programmes, said: "HIV carries a high burden of stigma. Stigmatisation of HIV makes it more difficult for positive people to discuss HIV with their sexual partners and can discourage people from testing or seeking medical help.
"In these ways, HIV stigma perpetuates and exacerbates an environment that makes HIV transmission more likely."
GMFA cites a study focussing on African people living with HIV in the UK which revealed that over one-third had experienced problems with discrimination in the previous year.
It also revealed that just under half of them had not disclosed their diagnosis to anyone they lived with.
Two-thirds had not told their employers and a quarter had not told their GP.
