Advertisement
Opinion

Don’t let the ‘AIDS’ of It’s A Sin be your view of HIV today

We’ve come a long way in the fight against HIV seen in It’s A Sin, writes Fraser Wilson from the Terrence Higgins Trust. And worked too hard, with too much still to do, to be taking even one step backwards now. 

I’m not a TV reviewer but, if I was, I’d give It’s A Sin five purple aubergines out of five. Because Russell T Davies is telling a story that’s long overdue being told – the emergence and devastation of the AIDS crisis in 1980s London – and doing so with all the power and sensitivity the topic demands. 

But, among my glowing praise, I also have these words of caution: don’t let the ‘AIDS’ you see every Friday night at 9pm – getting worse and worse with each episode – be your view of HIV in the UK today. Because we’ve come a long way in the fight against HIV since then and worked too hard, with too much still to do, to be taking even one step backwards now. 

Lockdowns have taken income away from hundreds of Big Issue sellers. Support The Big Issue and our vendors by signing up for a subscription.

That’s why, ahead of the broadcast, we decided at Terrence Higgins Trust to do a whistle stop tour of just some of the medical progress in preventing, testing for and treating HIV.

There’s PrEP, the game-changing pill which stops you contracting HIV and is now available via sexual health clinics. It often feels like the world’s best kept secret. 

And there’s the  biggie – the one that always leads to a “no! Really? Is that actually true?”.  Someone living with HIV and on effective treatment can’t pass on the virus to their sexual partners, with or without a condom. Yes, really.

Advertisement
Advertisement

And, to their absolute credit, Russell T Davies and the ensemble cast have all been incredibly proactive in flagging this progress in numerous interviews to promote the series. 

That’s the good news. The bad news is that public perceptions continue to lag way behind all of this amazing medical progress – despite the changing shape of the epidemic, with near parity in diagnoses between gay and bisexual men and heterosexuals in the latest figures. 

For context of where we are, in our recent poll of public attitudes, we found that over half of UK adults would feel uncomfortable kissing someone living with HIV, despite the virus never being passed on in that way. 

The reason this matters so much – and why it’s crucial It’s A Sin isn’t taken as a lesson in HIV – is that out-dated views still held by so many have a negative impact on the lives of those living with HIV. Whether it’s rejections on dating apps, discrimination in the workplace or being denied treatment at the dentist. It also stops people coming forward to get tested – despite an early diagnosis and access to treatment meaning a normal lifespan. 

Which ultimately all means, to put it plainly, updating the knowledge of as many people as possible about the realities of HIV is absolutely fundamental to achieve our goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030. 

It’s also why It’s A Sin cannot be allowed to further entrench out-dated and inaccurate views of HIV in the public consciousness. Instead, let’s use the many, many conversations it’s starting to talk about all the progress that’s been made. And, although I’m biased, the Terrence Higgins Trust website is a great place to learn.

National HIV Testing Week starts on 1 February and you can order a free HIV test kit to do at home via startswithme.org.uk

Advertisement

Sign our petition to keep people in their homes

Urgent action is needed to prevent even more people being pushed into homelessness.  A secure home is the first step in addressing the cruel cycle of poverty to ensure people can fulfil their potential. Join us to keep people in their homes.

Recommended for you

Read All
Rishi Sunak says he’s thinking long term. But he’s clearly eyeing an early election
Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak says he’s thinking long term. But he’s clearly eyeing an early election

I never used to believe in ghosts. Until I visited a haunted house
Sam Delaney

I never used to believe in ghosts. Until I visited a haunted house

Mick Jagger might give away his fortune. Imagine what a windfall tax on oil states could do instead
Paul McNamee

Mick Jagger might give away his fortune. Imagine what a windfall tax on oil states could do instead

Councils wasting millions in taxpayer cash fighting families of disabled kids – and losing
Education

Councils wasting millions in taxpayer cash fighting families of disabled kids – and losing

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when people will get the second cost of living payment in 2023
3.

Here's when people will get the second cost of living payment in 2023

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue