Stigma
The Internet Rushes to Blame the Horror in Orlando on People With HIV
As many reeled from the mass killing at a Florida LGBT nightclub, ignorance on Twitter bubbled up again.
June 13 2016 10:34 AM EST
June 13 2016 10:34 AM EST
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As many reeled from the mass killing at a Florida LGBT nightclub, ignorance on Twitter bubbled up again.
With 49 dead and more than 100 injured from a brutal rampage through a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, some have taken to Twitter to voice their opinions on the violence. Sadly, not every tweet is polite, peaceful, or well informed, especially when it comes to people living with HIV.
The tone of these messages suggest that many in America are poorly education about HIV, and the widespread belief that HIV is a "gay disease" is still very, very real. As media tried to clarify the ban on blood for donations from gay and bi men, it only seemed to rekindle old stereotypes and fear about HIV on social networks.
Just some of the tweets:
\u201cThis just in, 50 cases of HIV AIDS have been cured. #Orlando #OrlandoNightclubShooting @Nudah https://t.co/yFid7VbYWz\u201d— soar nudah (@soar nudah) 1465749309
\u201cPeople are so stupid. The fact that they're not letting gays donate for Orlando isn't because they're gay. It's to prevent spreading HIV. \ud83d\ude44\u201d— CK\ud83e\udd96 (@CK\ud83e\udd96) 1465758144
\u201cGay men most commonly spread HIV which is why the #FDA doesn't recommend them to donate blood! #CommonSense #ItsAboutHealthNOTHate #Orlando\u201d— KickAssKP (@KickAssKP) 1465785291
The ignorance and homophobia social media is a reminder of the mperative that men and women living with and working in the HIV field, and even those of us with a basic knowledge of the virus, continue to raise awareness of the reality of the virus. HIV is not a "gay" disease. It is not a death sentence, and people living with HIV can still live productive, healthy lives. Clearly many still don't see people living with HIV as human beings worthy of basic dignity and respect.
Perhaps the most important thing to take away from this is that these kind of vulgar and ignorant comments have no place in public discussion, and certainly not while the parents, friends, and family members of dozens of men and women prepare to bury their loved ones.