Gay London Life | Oct '24 Edition - Magazine - Page 28
The
Fight
Goes On
Ahead of World AIDS Day on Sunday 1st
December, writer and actor Nathaniel J Hall
celebrates the scientific progress being made
with HIV — and the work that remains
An email with ‘I’ve just screamed with joy’ in the
U=U has not only revolutionised the sex lives
continue to do to improve the lives of people living
subject line has just landed in my inbox. It’s from
of people living with the virus, but it has been an
the National AIDS Trust (NAT), one of the UK’s
important tool in tackling the stigma associated with
leading campaigners on rights and equity for
the disease. Personally, U=U helped me unpick the
Dec), I’m reminded how far we’ve come in the fight
people living with HIV.
years of self-stigma and shame that had plagued my
against the virus here in the UK. But it’s important
life since my diagnosis at age sixteen.
not to forget that until the final diagnosis is given,
They’re emailing with the news that
‘discriminatory legislation which barred many
And now that same science is allowing people
with HIV.
As we approach World AIDS Day 2024 (1st
until the last person living with HIV dies of old age,
LGBT+ people living with HIV from donating sperm
living with HIV, particularly LGBTQ+ couples, to
until the day an effective vaccine or cure is found, the
or eggs has finally been scrapped!’ Along with the
donate eggs and sperm and receive the same
fight is not over.
British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the British
fertility treatment rights as those without the virus.
Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH),
I’m not planning to have kids myself but reading that
access to the life-saving medication people in the
they’ve been campaigning for years to make a
email I couldn’t help feeling lighter knowing another
UK have, and many still live in the grip of fear and the
change to outdated and discriminatory laws.
piece of discriminatory policy, a hang-up from the
shadow of stigma. In 2023 an estimated 630,000
horrors of the earlier part of the Aids epidemic, is
people died from Aids-related illnesses worldwide,
now consigned to history.
a remarkable drop from the 2.1 million who died in
It’s just another remarkable way that scientific
advances in HIV healthcare are revolutionising the
lives of people living with or affected by HIV.
Changes like this don’t just happen overnight.
Across the world millions of people don’t have
2004, but still far too high.
In 2017, the global scientific consensus on
They take years of multi-agency advocacy and
the effectiveness of HIV drugs in stopping onward
lobbying, delivered through the quiet activism of
medication and education around HIV prevention
transmission was clear. Across the world, scientists,
gathering evidence, writing thousands of emails,
varies so much across the globe and that those who
health agencies and HIV charities all agreed that
and sitting in hundreds of meetings. This landmark
continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV
‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’, meaning people
victory should remind us all: activism doesn’t just
are the most vulnerable and marginalised.
living with HIV on effective medication with an
happen at big rallies with megaphones. And many
There is still so much more to do.
undetectable viral load (for more than 6 months)
people responsible for making our lives better don’t
could not pass on the virus.
get much public recognition or thanks for their hard
at my local vigil, invigorated by recent wins and
work that will impact so many lives.
reminded of the fight still to come, I’ll reaffirm my
This was the biggest revolution in the fight
against HIV since the advent of combination therapy
So, for the record, thank you Alan O’Neil,
in 1996 – a moment dubbed ‘the Lazarus effect’ after
Dr Tristan Barber, Nickie Mackie, Robbie Currie,
the remarkable recovery people with Aids-related
Deborah Gold, Yvonne Gilleece, and the teams at
illnesses often made.
NAT, BHIVA and BASHH for all you’ve done and
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It is unconscionable that access to life-saving
So, this World AIDS Day, as I light my candle
mantra: remember the dead…and fight like hell for
the living.
nathanieljhall.co.uk / @nathanieljhall
