GLAAD’S STATE OF STIGMA STUDY

Today on World AIDS Day 2022, GLAAD is releasing the results of releasing its third annual State of HIV Stigma Study, a national survey among U.S. adults measuring knowledge and attitudes among Americans about HIV.

The study finds an increase in comfortability in interactions with people who have HIV, yet a persistent near-90% believe there is still stigma around HIV. Key findings include:

• 87% of adults agree there is still stigma around HIV
• 50% feel knowledgeable about HIV
• 67% agree that medications exist to protect someone from contracting HIV, up 3 points from 2021
• 46% agree that people living with HIV who are on proper medication cannot transmit the virus, up 4 points from 2021
• 43% are comfortable interacting with people living with HIV, compared to 36% in 2020
• Only 31% noted seeing a story about a person living with HIV in the last 12 months; 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV

GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis said, “GLAAD’s study notes where we have made progress and where we need to dramatically accelerate public health messaging about HIV and visibility about HIV in the media for it to be understood as the treatable, untransmittable and preventable condition it is. A majority of Americans believe stigma around HIV still exists, even as they report greater awareness about it and increased comfort around people living with HIV. Only a third of Americans saw a story about people living with HIV in the media in the previous year. Newly-released data show how stigma, inadequate resources and lack of comprehensive public health messaging set back the fight against HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic and delayed response to the monkeypox virus (Mpox) outbreak this year. There is no more time to waste. With accurate representation and visibility in the media, and by elevating accurate and inclusive information, we can end the HIV epidemic.”

Danny Harris, Executive Director of Engaging Arkansas Communities, a grantee of the Gilead COMPASS Initiative said, “In our rural state, access to quality information for HIV is limited. Those who would honestly seek to broaden their knowledge are hindered because the news does not reach them. People living with HIV constantly deal with negative words, thoughts, beliefs directed toward them and systems that label them as socially unacceptable. These negative attitudes hinder engagement in HIV care and prevention. Stigma in Arkansas is not only created by the uninformed, but too often by those providing services. HIV service providers, state-funded HIV programs, and mental health services must do more to encourage clients to get tested and treated, and avoid stigmatizing words and policies.”

GLAAD’s 2022 State of HIV Stigma Study was funded by the Gilead COMPASS Initiative®, with the sample of respondents supplied by research firm Cint.

GLAAD’s “Invisible People” report, released in October, was the first to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV epidemic, and included voices of people living with HIV and recommendations from Community-based HIV organizations. Data gathered during the pandemic shutdown showed up to a 97% drop in HIV testing in some parts of the country and a 72% drop in new PrEP initiations around Boston, MA. PrEP is 99% effective at preventing HIV. Additional research showed new HIV diagnoses in cities where rates had been falling—a fallout from what the CDC calls a “lost year” in testing during the pandemic.

THE LGBTQ+ GUIDEBOOK

The LGBTQ+ Guidebook is a joint venture between Getty Images, GLAAD, and Ceros, designed to inspire the media and advertising industries to be more inclusive in their visual choices by fueling the creation of imagery which is all at once powerful, reflective, and authentic in its depictions of the entire LGBTQ spectrum.

The unique interactive experience, featuring Getty Images’ creative image and video offerings, is a direct response to the latest Getty Images Visual GPS 2021 Study that found countries that have greater representation of the LGBTQ community in their media and advertising also exhibit less discrimination and less bias. However, when LGBTQ people are included in advertising, it’s often narrow and stereotypical. Getty Images Visual GPS Study found only 20% stated seeing LGBTQ people represented regularly in visuals.

Getty says, “World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to unite us all in the ongoing fight against HIV. Today, we commemorate those we’ve lost from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic, and recognize that the fight is far from over. We acknowledge the trailblazers that have fought for better education to help end the stigma experienced by those living with HIV as well as those that continue to fight for increased awareness, understanding, and offer support to the estimated 38 million people globally affected by this disease.”

The venture is produced and edited by Cassidy Arkin and Siraj Jhaveri for Getty. Getty’s collections also include the Best of the LGBTQ+ Collection, #StyleWithPride Collection, and others available here.

PLAYBILL: REMEMBER THE RIBBON: A TRIBUTE TO WORLD AIDS DAY

To commemorate World AIDS Day and to honor those affected by HIV and AIDS, Playbill presents Remember the Ribbon: A Tribute to World AIDS Day, sponsored by Gilead. For the first time, GLAAD has been chosen as Playbill’s charitable partner for the event and all donations raised will support our mission to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance. The event was filmed in front of a live audience on November 7, 2022 at Sony Hall in NYC.

ABC7 entertainment correspondent and Plus Life Media co-founder Karl Schmid hosted the evening with appearances by (pictured at right from L to R) Carolee Carmello (1776), Anthony Wayne (Tina), Darius Anthony Harper (Kinky Boots), André Jordan (Diana The Musical), and Colin Cunliffe (Paradise Square), along with the Broadway Sings Band and Tonewall. The evening also featured virtual appearances from Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose and Judith Light.

The event, which celebrates, pays tribute to, and remembers those affected by HIV and AIDS along with sharing the latest from the work around HIV awareness, education, and care, included remarks from guest speakers Maria Di Dia, Alex Birsh, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, and GLAAD Senior Director of Communications Tony Morrison, along with special guests and HIV advocates and grantees of the Gilead COMPASS Initiative Jasmine Davis (New Orleans), Tatiana Williams (South Florida), and Quentin Bell (Selma, Ala.) (pictured below from L to R with Morrison).

Bell, Co-founder and Executive Director of The Knights and Orchids Society said, “The gap we had from the civil rights movement up to now is that there wasn’t a good transition of power, so what we have been focused on at TKO was not only being the first trans-led wellness center in the state of Alabama providing care for trans folks, but we also have created a leadership pipeline that puts those youth on the front lines so that they are being trained now. We learn to follow the youth as much as we know how to lead them.”

Tatiana Williams, Co-founder and Executive Director of  Transinclusive Group said, “A lot of organizations and a lot of our community members don’t know how to meet Black trans women with their needs. When I stand here and say to you that I’m a 50 year old trans woman that has been a part of our community for 30 [years]… that’s important to help me to be able to serve my community [to make sure] that they’re educated, that they have their healthcare needs met, and make sure they we’re helping them improve their quality of life.”

Jasmine Davis who has multiple roles at CrescentCare and the Transgender Law Center’s Positively Trans program says, “I want to shed light on the arts and how it got me through a lot of my struggles—incorporating the arts and then taking a holistic approach with servicing.… I educate my communities through theater and also through song, poetry, and I also educate the youth as well… It’s very important for us to educate our youth on sexual health, politics, justice, and being your whole self.”

“Playbill is proud to host Remember the Ribbon for our third year, as we continue to honor our beloved friends, members of our community and beyond who have been affected by HIV and AIDS,” said Alex Birsh, Playbill’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We so look forward to spending the evening with GLAAD and our sponsors, Gilead Sciences and the Edison Hotel, without whom the night would not be possible.”

“Playbill and the Broadway community have a long and impactful legacy of raising awareness for HIV prevention and treatment,” said GLAAD President & CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis (pictured right with guests Frankie Grande and Chita Rivera). “This year’s “Remember the Ribbon” event is not only a time to pay tribute to all of those who have been affected by HIV, but it also is a moment to remind the world that people living with HIV, who are on proper treatment, are living healthy and long lives and cannot transmit HIV because undetectable = untransmittable.”

Remember the Ribbon: A Tribute to World AIDS Day, streams on YouTube and on Playbill.com/Ribbon now through December 3, 2022

Additional facts about HIV:

People living with HIV today, when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives and cannot transmit HIV. Treating HIV can suppress the virus to the point it is no longer detected. When it is undetected, it is untransmittable, the key message of the U=U campaign.

• Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV. 13% of them don’t know it, reinforcing the need for HIV testing and to end stigma around HIV testing. 
• People most vulnerable to HIV have limited access to transportation, housing, healthcare, and social support. 
• Black Americans account for more HIV diagnoses (43%), people living with HIV (42%), and the most deaths among people with HIV (44%) than any other racial and ethnic group in the U.S.
• The CDC reports that the U.S. South experiences the greatest rates of HIV and lags behind in providing quality HIV prevention services and care. 
• Medications like PrEP protect people who do not have HIV from contracting HIV. The CDC states that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.

About GLAAD:

Advocating for people living with HIV and fighting to end HIV stigma has remained at the core of GLAAD’s mission since our founding in 1985. GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.