AIDS stigma is expressed around the world in a variety of ways, including: ostracism, rejection, and avoidance of PLWHA, discrimination and violence against PLWHA, compulsory HIV testing without prior consent or protection of confidentiality, and quarantine of persons with HIV. AIDS stigma inflicts suffering on people and interferes with attempts to fight the epidemic. (Herek, 2004)

Us Helping Us

  UHU logo

Us Helping Us (UHU), incorporated in 1988 as a self-help group for HIV positive Black gay and bisexual men, provides a safe space for Black PLWHA who are marginalized and stigmatized by their race, sexuality, and disease. UHU is the largest gay-identified Black AIDS organization serving the African American community in metropolitan Washington, D.C. UHU uses a variety of community-, group- and individual-level techniques to address and reduce HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination.

With funding from AED, UHU challenged stigma related to HIV/AIDS, sexual orientation, mode of transmission, and race within the Black community through the development of a media campaign and community-level education forums. One primary message of the campaign was: it is the responsibility of the infected or affected by HIV/AIDS as well as the entire community to eliminate discriminatory practices and behaviors directed towards individuals because of their HIV status, sexual orientation, and/or race.

More details on the outcomes of this project, under the first phase of the National HIV/AIDS Anti-stigma Initiative, will be posted shortly.

Posted 27/06/08:
AED's new fact sheet is now available on the home page!

Posted 21/05/08:
New HIV/AIDS-related stigma Literature Review available. Please visit the Resource section to download the document.