World AIDS Day is on 1 December, and this year Simon Kirby MP is asking the people of Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven to join the fight against HIV stigma.

Although HIV treatment and prevention are so much better than they were 30 years ago, public attitudes have not progressed as far or as fast. Stigma remains an unacceptable blight on the lives of people living with HIV. It negatively affects their lives, and can prevent them from accessing treatment. And it can stop people at risk from getting an HIV test.

Unlike many of the products and styles we love to bring back from the 80s and 90s, stigma is something that should be left in the past. HIV stigma is not retro, it’s just wrong.

Simon commented,

“I am proud to wear a red ribbon to mark this year’s World AIDS Day. I want to send the message that there is no place for HIV stigma in Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven. I am joining forces with the National AIDS Trust to encourage people in Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven to visit www.worldaidsday.org and find out the facts about HIV. There are more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK. We must do more to prevent stigma from disrupting their lives. Together we can put an end to this senseless prejudice.”

Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust added:

"World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people everywhere to unite in the fight against HIV and to show their support for people living with HIV. I am pleased to see Simon recently took an HIV test at Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton to support National HIV testing week and Terrence Higgins Trust in their efforts to increase HIV testing in Brighton.”