In the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, former Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas and Brazilian activist Welton Gabriel are spearheading a campaign to challenge the deep-rooted stigma surrounding HIV. Their efforts come at a critical time, as Brazil grapples with the highest number of HIV cases in Latin America, with nearly 1.1 million people living with the virus.
This summer, during the International AIDS Conference in Rio, Thomas and Gabriel participated in the Tackle HIV campaign, aiming to educate the public about modern treatments and the realities of living with HIV. Their message is clear: with timely medication, people with HIV can lead normal, healthy lives.
Personal Journeys and the Power of Advocacy
Gareth Thomas, who announced his HIV-positive status in 2019, has become a global advocate for HIV awareness. His journey resonates with Welton Gabriel, a 36-year-old event organizer from São Paulo, who was diagnosed with a treatment-resistant strain of HIV 12 years ago. Gabriel’s experience highlights the harsh reality of HIV stigma in Brazil.
“I thought I was gonna die,” Gabriel recalls. His diagnosis was followed by a harrowing seven-month battle to control the infection, during which he faced severe health complications. Despite his condition stabilizing, many of his close friends cut contact after he disclosed his status. “They did not want to talk with me,” Gabriel shares, underscoring the discrimination that many HIV-positive individuals face.
The Impact of Stigma on Public Health
Brazil’s public healthcare system provides free access to medications that suppress HIV and prevent transmission. However, stigma remains a significant barrier to ending AIDS as a public health threat. Research from UNAIDS Brazil indicates that more than half of all HIV-positive individuals in the country have experienced some form of discrimination. This stigma often leads to late diagnoses and preventable deaths.
In 2024, more than 9,000 people in Brazil died from AIDS, with 27% of HIV-positive individuals only diagnosed at an advanced stage. This late diagnosis is partly due to the fear and misconceptions surrounding HIV. Many people avoid getting tested or taking medication because they believe HIV is a death sentence, a perception that has persisted since the 1990s.
Changing Perceptions Through Education
At the Tackle HIV event on Ipanema Beach, Thomas and Gabriel spoke to teenagers from disadvantaged communities, aiming to shift public attitudes through accurate information. Thomas emphasized that the stereotype of someone with HIV as weak, fragile, or frail is outdated. “You can live a normal, happy, healthy life if you start medication straight away,” he said, highlighting the importance of education in combating stigma.
Gabriel’s work with Barong, an organization supporting vulnerable communities, focuses on mobile testing and education about HIV protection. He believes that much of the discrimination stems from fear and a lack of understanding. “For a lot of Brazilians, the story of Cazuza, the iconic singer who died of AIDS in 1990, is still the symbol of HIV,” Gabriel explains. “People are unaware of the advancements in medical science that have changed the prognosis of HIV over the past three and a half decades.”
The Role of Medical Innovations
Despite the persistent stigma, Brazil has played a major role in innovations that could ultimately end the HIV epidemic. Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug that can block HIV with virtually 100% effectiveness, was recently approved by regulators. Brazil is now leading a large real-world study of lenacapavir across multiple cities to understand how the drug can be effectively implemented in public health settings.
However, activists like Fabiana de Oliveira, an advocate with the National Network of Women Living with HIV, stress that medical innovations alone are not enough. “People are more afraid of how society is going to perceive them than they are of the virus,” she says. De Oliveira’s own experience of being diagnosed at 26 and subsequently abandoned by her fiancé and his family highlights the gender-skewed discrimination that women with HIV face in Brazil.
“Women in Brazil are expected to take care of everything,” de Oliveira explains. “It’s hard to equate HIV as being part of your identity. You end up asking yourself, ‘Was this my responsibility?’ and it places a lot of burden on your mental and emotional health.”
The Path Forward
As Brazil continues to grapple with HIV stigma, the efforts of advocates like Thomas, Gabriel, and de Oliveira are crucial in reshaping public perceptions. Their work emphasizes the importance of education, open conversation, and support for those living with HIV. By challenging misconceptions and promoting modern treatment options, they aim to create a future where HIV is no longer a source of fear and discrimination.
