Namibian activist Bernhard Kamatoto says the Trump administration's decision to ditch World AIDS Day observance this year pushes harmful stereotypes and makes it harder to fight stigma around HIV. The White House told government workers and federally funded groups to skip marking the event, which Kamatoto called discriminatory since it reinforces outdated ideas that HIV only affects specific communities when the virus actually impacts people everywhere.
Kamatoto has been positive since 1999 and went public with his status two years later, after staying silent through what he described as the toughest stretch of his life. He pointed out that America only lifted its HIV travel ban during the Obama years, showing how policy decisions shape how society treats people living with the virus. The activist reminded everyone that being undetectable means being untransmittable, and he urged communities to keep supporting accessible healthcare while rejecting discrimination.
Kamatoto has been positive since 1999 and went public with his status two years later, after staying silent through what he described as the toughest stretch of his life. He pointed out that America only lifted its HIV travel ban during the Obama years, showing how policy decisions shape how society treats people living with the virus. The activist reminded everyone that being undetectable means being untransmittable, and he urged communities to keep supporting accessible healthcare while rejecting discrimination.
