Post A Selfie For This HIV Anti-Stigma Photo Campaign

Positively Aware‘s “A Day with HIV” anti-stigma photo campaign is taking place today.

The campaign captures 24 hours in the lives of people affected by HIV stigma, which impacts everyone regardless of age, race, or status. The social media-driven campaign, now in its tenth year, is an opportunity for people to share a moment of their day and tell their story, while breaking down the barriers that stigma creates and raising awareness about HIV, as stated in a press release.

“Stigma can isolate and scare people,” said Positively Aware art director Rick Guasco, who created the campaign. “It can also prevent people from accessing care and treatment. A Day with HIV brings people together; it shows that we’re all affected by stigma, and that people living with HIV are just like everyone else.”

We encourage you to take a picture and post it to your social media with the hashtag #ADayWithHIV and include a caption that gives the time, location, and what inspired you to take the photo.

Images can also be uploaded to ADayWithHIV.com, where they will be considered for publication in a special section of the November/December issue of Positively Aware.

Check out some of last year’s photos:

10:00 AM: Brooklyn, New York

Bruce Richman: Walking down the East River to the new U=U office, feeling fine and ready to fight HIV stigma by sharing the news that people living with HIV who are on treatment and have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV. Undetectable equals Untransmittable.

12:00 PM: Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Katie Willingham: Enjoying the end of summer sun before the fall winds blow, even in rural Alabama HIV is a reality, so get tested and KNOW YOUR STATUS!

1:55 PM: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cree Gordon: I have been HIV positive for 13 years. The last time I participated in A Day with HIV was in 2011. My “opposites attract” photo made such an impact on folks in my life and the people I came into contact through education opportunities and on social media, I did not think I could top it. Advancements in HIV have been made since then, so I thought I would update it. Treatment as Prevention works to reduce HIV transmission. PrEP works to reduce HIV transmission. We can end HIV with help of TasP and PrEP; we just have to address the barriers of access, especially for Black, Latino, rural, and low-/no-income folks. This can happen. We can get to zero. Join me in ending HIV and the stigma attached to it.

3:00 PM: Atlanta, Georgia

Shyronn Jones: Homework time for my kindergartener.

6:00 PM: Miami, Florida

Alessandro Pino, Andre Ampudia, Matthew Phelps, Andres Sosa, Yoel Moreno, Nicholas Ferrera, Alejandro Suarez of Latinos Salud: HIV doesn’t discriminate; good thing pizza doesn’t either!