Black and Brown Workers Cooperative loudly targets Blackwell, City Council members in election year

I’m an HIV+ person myself and while I understand where they’re coming from it’s slightly misguided. This person is intentionally infecting people- that’s weaponizing a virus. Even though HIV is NOT A DEATH SENTENCE, it would add to whatever the victims have to go through post-rape. It’s bad enough dealing with the trauma- to attach having HIV to it. Although HIV isn’t as life altering as you may think, the act of being violated in such a way with that addition really adds to it. You are adding a lifetime (tbd) of healthcare costs. HIV drugs are wildly expsensive and until you’re steadily undetectable it also requires regular doctor visits and blood work.

The stigma out there absolutely does exist. There is a shaming, there is a level of disgust thrown towards people and victim blaming, there is a level of misunderstanding that makes people think you are not worthy of being considered a partner despite that those who are undetectable cannot pass the virus. There is also a level of fear. It all stems from paranoia, ignorance, lack of education, 40 years of HIV/AIDS in the media and because it’s passed primarily through unprotected sex.

However I don’t think this perpetrator deserves the right to not have that disclosed publicly. After all- they decided to go out and rape people and they are subjected to being plastered on the news as a dangerous individual.

Perhaps the middle ground approach would be the media outlets preface the current state of HIV- a manageable condition that isn’t to be feared like 20-30 years ago. Maybe not make it seem like the majority of people living with HIV are monsters ready to infect people.

Like I said, I understand where they’re coming from but I think it’s beneficial for people know that information when a person is out there violating other people.

/r/philadelphia Thread Link - phillytrib.com