December 1st is World AIDS Day
Even to this day, there is a lot of misinformation regarding HIV/AIDS. 1 in 5 people still think you can acquire HIV through kissing. Also, only 16% of people knew that if someone is on effective treatment, they can't pass on HIV.
HIV is spread through the exchange of bodily fluids like semen, breast milk, and blood.
Here are some common misconceptions about HIV/AIDS:
MYTH: “HIV is a ‘gay’ or ‘LGBT’ disease.”
REALITY: While rates of HIV are disproportionately higher among members of the LGBTQ community, HIV is by no means confined to LGBTQ people. Anyone—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or other factors—can acquire HIV. Calling HIV a “gay” or “LGBTQ” disease is medically untrue and only serves to perpetuate harmful stereotypes about people living with HIV and members of the LGBT community.
MYTH: “I am over 50! I don’t need to worry about HIV.”
REALITY: HIV transmission is about behavior, not how old you are. Moreover, according to the CDC, older Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV at a later stage of the disease.
Feel free to comment below your experiences regarding HIV/AIDS.
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