I think we’ve gotten to a point where our science is so dope, our science is so good. We have medication, and the science is gonna keep getting better. But, I don’t think we’re gonna get anywhere if we still have that stigma attached.
So, someone who’s living with HIV starts to feel that they’re lesser than because of the messages they’re getting from society.
“You’re dirty, you’re not clean.” They don’t have to say that anymore. It’s become internalized in us here that we carry those messages with us. So, I think there’s a lot of work that we need to do. I speak to my medical colleagues and say, “Hey look, we need to make places open and safe spaces for the people that we’re serving.” And it’s important, at least from my perspective as a physician and a public health official, to encourage us to do that.
