HIV in 2024: Combating stigma and continuing the fight

We’re in the third month of 2024, and it seems like time is flying by. So much — and so many people? — to do, so little time. 

As will likely come as no surprise to our readers, much of our work here at Sexual + Being revolves around sex-tinged commentary (and, yes, some puns) just like the above.

Put more simply: We’re here for you and to have candid conversations with you about things that directly impact our sexual health but that may be considered taboo to discuss openly. That topic list can vary but it typically circles sex, pleasure, and how we can safely navigate the two.

It’s a hard job but, hey, someone has to do it! Kidding, of course. These discussions are necessary and can be as fun as they are informative. But, from time to time, these conversations must take a turn for the more serious given a particular report or news moment. 

Our team has been seeing a recent influx of reporting related to HIV rates, misinformation, and lacking sex education on college campuses. From accusations of purposeful infection to stigma-driven testing decisions that leave many unaware of their status, it’s clear that the world, even in 2024, is still learning to grapple with its understanding of HIV. 

Given how timely this conversation is, we wanted to take a look at how we got here as a society … and what we can all continue to do to eradicate the virus and its painful stigma.

How we got here

HIV is nothing new to our communities. That much we all know very well.

In the 40+ years since the first recorded contraction in 1981, we have seen first-hand the human toll of untreated HIV and AIDS as well as the damage caused by our collective societal ignorance and stigmatization. Add in a general lack of medical knowledge (especially in those early days) and insufficient health resources and it becomes easier to see how our understanding (or lack thereof, for some) of HIV upended so much of our world.

HIV is not and has never been an equal opportunist in terms of the populations it impacts most. Members of the LGBTQ+ community, Brown and Black folks, lower socioeconomic groups, drug users, sex workers, and those living at the intersection of these identities have all felt HIV’s impact disproportionately. 

In total, our world lost millions to HIV and AIDS-related complications globally. Even as progress slowly crept forward into the 1990s and 2000s, the virus’ impact continued globally. HIV became the leading cause of death worldwide in 2002 among those aged 15 to 59, putting the virus on a global center stage. And, between 2003 and 2007 alone, the CDC reported that more than 562,000 people died of AIDS in the U.S. alone. 

Tides soon began to shift significantly in the 2010s. In July 2012 alone, the U.S. reached two milestones — the FDA approved the first at-home HIV test and a new drug, Truvada, that successfully prevents contraction if taken consistently. Truvada’s approval as PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, ushered in a new era for those communities at most risk.

that would transform our world’s experience with HIV. 

Where we stand today

The world we live in today, while more attuned to treating and preventing HIV, is still colored with the memories of the epidemic and lacks a proper comprehension of the virus itself. It’s clear there’s still much work to be done.

According to HIV.gov, there were approximately 39 million people across the globe with HIV in 2022. Of these, 37.5 million were adults, and 1.5 million were children. Additionally, an estimated 1.3 million individuals worldwide acquired HIV in 2022, marking a 38 percent decline in new HIV infections since 2010 and 59 percent since the peak in 1995. 

Similar data shows that about 84 percent of people with HIV worldwide have been tested and know their HIV status, while approximately 86 percent of people living with HIV globally knew their status in 2022. That remaining 14 percent (about 5.5 million people) did not know they had HIV and still needed access to HIV testing services.

Around the world, at least 9.2 million people are living with HIV today who do not have access to lifesaving treatment, according to a recent address from Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima. She goes on to add that we continue to lose a life to AIDS every minute.

As is plain to see based on the data, we must continue to put in the work.

Where we go from here 

So, you’re likely asking what we can do. What can *I* do to better educate myself and others on the realities of HIV in 2024 — on college campuses and off them? Where do we go next?

It’s easy to feel powerless about such things, as they often involve folks or communities outside our natural orbits. But there are several actions we can take in our own lives to do our part.

That work starts with what is in our control, namely our sexual health practices. Here are few ways to take more immediate action:

• Get tested regularly for HIV (and other STIs!)
• Explore prevention methods like PrEP and PeP 
• Practice safer sex as often as possible with your partners
• Maintain a non-judgmental yet positive mindset as it relates to sex 
• Find a medical professional you trust and have open dialogues about your health
• Review additional resources and support offered by DC Health.

After we look inwardly, we can look outward toward our community and take greater action:

• Attend HIV prevention and testing events near you 
• Advocate on the state, local, and federal levels for continued government action.
• Volunteer at local health or LGBTQ-focused non-profits in the DMV area.
• Calle out negative rhetoric about HIV and those living with it every time you encounter it.
• Share this article on social media to ensure everyone can take action.

Whether you’re a college student or not, we each hold tremendous power in our own lives to help break the long-held stigma against HIV. Wield power for the greater good and, together, we can eradicate HIV once and for all.

For more information related to HIV and more, visit sexualbeing.org. Happy humping!