Gareth Thomas recounted experiences of being spat on and called names related to his HIV status. After revealing his diagnosis in 2019, he faced public abuse but responded by offering compassion instead of anger. This behavior aimed to disarm aggressors who sought a negative reaction. Thomas expressed the broader impact of HIV-related stigma, affecting not only him but also his husband and family. He acknowledged that many face discrimination and pointed out that societal attitudes about vulnerabilities can contribute to ongoing stigmatization.
I won't sit here and be the big guy and say it doesn't hurt. The two young lads who walked past spat [at] me and called me an AIDS spreader. I stopped and I opened up my arms.
I've been the better person in all of that because they wanted the reaction. They wanted me to say something. They wanted confirmation that I was a bad person and I refused to give [them] that.
Many people are discriminated against because of their association with him. He also mentioned his husband Stephen's fears related to stigma.
The decision to be open about having HIV was only used by a very loud part of society that will use that vulnerability to keep you down.
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