HIV-Positive Men Get Naked To Tackle Stigma

"HIV has changed the way that I look at life and it's made me an optimistic person."
From: NewNowNext

 HIV-positive men in the UK are taking it all off in an attempt to attack stigma for World AIDS Day.

FS Magazine’s “HIV Stripped Bare” issue features fifteen men from around the UK currently living with HIV who posed naked for gay men’s health charity GMFA.

 The special issue of the magazine is aiming to “show the world that HIV-positive men can be sexy too.”

“What struck me about the responses to the survey was the number of HIV-positive gay men who felt unattractive, unwanted and less sexual because they have HIV,” said FS editor Ian Howley.“Everyone wants to feel wanted, to feel sexy, and to have a healthy sex-life.”

 “Stigma discourages gay and bisexual men from having honest discussions about HIV status and past risk behavior,” said the CEO of GMFA, Matthew Hodson. “This is why it’s so vital that we bring an end to HIV stigma by dispelling the ignorance and fear that still surrounds this virus.”