I thought this might be an appropriate question to ask given that it's World AIDS Day.

Hopefully we can actually have a mature conversation about this so that the mods don't close this thread I'm keeping the gender pronouns neutral so that it's not gender/sexuality specific. Threads that assume everyone on ATRL is a gay guy seem to get closed really quickly.

Is it discriminatory to say no to someone who's HIV positive? Whether it's a relationship or just a casual encounter.

Because I'm not going to lie, I would. I don't even do anything that transmits HIV. But I still have an obsessive fear of it, kind of like Hannah (Lena Dunham) in 'Girls.'

In the lead up to World AIDS Day today, HIV support and LGBT groups have started a viral campaign (like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge) to try and remove the negative stigma behind HIV/AIDS called #WeareALLclean where people take a photo of themselves showering and write the hashtag over it:



And it got me thinking, I'm one of those people who has a stigma against HIV.

So are you a horrible person if you rule out people who are HIV positive? Or are you just being super careful in protecting yourself from a disease that probably devastated them when they first found out they had it?

And do people have an ethical responsibility to inform sexual partners that they're HIV positive even if you're engaging in safe sex and/or non-penetrative activity? Because I think they do, and if they said they were, then I would say no And I feel like an awful person because of it but it's just how I feel Some people are afraid of spiders and heights, I'm afraid of HIV.

Isn't xenophobia based on geographic location?

If my partner were the love of my life, I would start thinking about it, but other than that it is a big no. There are tons of possibilites to prevent yourself from being infected even in a relationship but I wouldn't dare to risk because AIDS is something you'll live with until the very end and has major consequences. I guess you can't blame the people that they don't wanna get sick.

this pretty much sums it up
and yup!

Go to bed Rihinvention!

This thread makes no sense.

Xenophobia is the fear of something from another geographic location. It has nothing to do with HIV.

It has two meanings. One is hating people based on their geographical location. The other is the blanket term for racism, homophobia, and the fear of anything different/foreign to you.

lol this thread does make sense, and just because he may have used the wrong term doesn't mean his thread is suddenly gibberish. lol typical

Ugh, I guess so?

I didn't use the wrong word. It comes from the Greek words "xenos" meaning stranger/foreigner and
"phobos" meaning fear.

Xenophobia is the fear of foreigners and strangers but also anything/anyone that's foreign/strange to you personally.



Let me change it to "discriminatory" anyway to avoid confusion

No it isnt, not in the slightest.

Well I'd probably say no, and that might make me a bad person, but it's just the fear I guess...
It would play on my mind.

Wrong choice of word but to answer the question. I don't think so. It's not to say your discriminating because someone has HIV but let's not pretend it's just a common cold that you'll get over in a few days. Everyone has the right to not be infected and if that means steering clear of people who have it or not putting yourself in a predicament to contract it then there's no problem.

No, because in most cases those people didn't protect themselves well enough
But I feel so bad whose long-had partners lied or cheated with a positive person and got infected and infected the other person that is unfortunate

Nope.

I wouldn't flat out say no. Choices have never been black and white to me. There's always a gray area, a compromise, if you will. I'm not too educated with the subject but as far as I know, there's a lot more to just being HIV positive. I'm sure any responsible person who actually informs anybody about it will be discussing it in a more comprehensive manner in order to make you understand the risks.

If it's a black or white choice to be honest I wouldn't really care if it's somebody I care about very very deeply. I've been ready and waiting for the next life for the past three years, so a so-called "death sentence" wouldn't really be the worst thing (although I'm aware there's a way to preserve yourself should it happen.)

As for the question itself, I don't think it's discriminatory. It's a really serious disease and it's completely understandable if you don't want to risk it. It would kinda suck if it's from somebody you love and you love in return tho.

When it comes to the relationship, everything depends on you. Its ridiculous if you couldnt choose by yourself. Someone could easily call you ageist because you dont wanna date 50 y o. / ....

You shouldnt fear HIV people in basic life situations tho.

hell no, would you suck a díck w/ genital warts?

If I liked someone enough, I would make it work - but I truly would seek professional advice beforehand on how to go about it. I'm not taking anyone's word.