Zero Tolerance for Stigma.

Today - and not just today - we all need to come together and unite all our efforts to fight another stigma in the world. Today - and not just today - is an opportunity to remember all those people who died from an AIDS-related illness and to support people living with HIV. The stigma still nowadays is strong and mainly comes from lack of accurate knowledge and fear. People living with HIV and on meds perfectly know about their status, are healthy, live a normal life and CAN'T PASS IT ON. 

Public Health Minister Steve Brine MP, speaking at the charity’s World AIDS Day reception in Parliament, said:

'Over the past 30 years we have come a long way but it is completely unacceptable that in 2017 there is still a stigma associated with HIV. The red ribbon of World AIDS Day should be seen as a symbol of unity and the excellent progress we’re making towards eliminating HIV infections and HIV associated deaths.'.

Stigma of any sort kills people on a psychological and physical level. We should remember this every day and fight this in any ways we can. It's in our power. As a teenager I have personally gone through psychological abuse and bullying because I was gay and therefore different and sick for the environment around me. I know the pain I have been through, I know what it has taken to be on that journey and do something to create a new world. But the ghosts from the past occasionally still come back.

Let's all raise our awareness and let's come together to fight this. It's simply about human dignity. Without human dignity we can't achieve anything in this world. 

Today I'm wearing a red ribbon and I have supported one of my charities "Terrence Higgins Trust". Every day I keep my consciousness high to stand against any sort of stigma and remember in my actions that it's all about human dignity. #SeeRed #nostigma