Fighting HIV Stigma and Proud: march, vigil and rally
Only 30% of the British public say they would feel comfortable going on a date with someone living with HIV. The vast majority say they would not have sex with someone living with HIV who is on effective treatment.
We can’t let these old prejudices go unchallenged.
We will not be shamed or ignored.
We will not let people living with HIV stand alone in the face of HIV stigma.
We are Fighting HIV Stigma and Proud.
This October, we’re joining over 25 HIV organisations, led by Terrence Higgins Trust, to fight HIV stigma. We’ll be marching in London from Belvedere Road (opposite St Thomas’ Hospital/ behind County Hall) to Trafalgar Square.
To stay up to date on the march and learn how to be involved, complete this form on the Terrence Higgins Trust website.
FAQs
What date and time is the march? Where do we meet?
The march, vigil and rally are all on Saturday 1 October 2022. We’ll be gathering at Belvedere Road (behind County Hall/opposite St Thomas’ Hospital) from 12pm.
The march will begin at 1pm and will go across Westminster Bridge, past Downing Street and finish at Trafalgar Square.
Which organisations are involved?
We are an ever-growing coalition committed to ending HIV stigma. Currently, we include the following organisations:
African Health Policy Network
BHA for Equality
Brigstowe
CliniQ
George House Trust
i-Base
LGBT Foundation
LGBT HERO
Love Tank
Medway Pride
Mesmac
Metro
NAM
NAT
NAZ Project
One Voice Network
Positive East
Positively UK
Spectra London
Sussex Beacon
Terrence Higgins Trust
UK-CAB
Wandsworth OASIS
Waverley Care.
Where are the nearest toilets?
For the start of the march, there are free to use public toilets in Waterloo Station (a seven-minute walk from the start of the march). The march will end in Trafalgar Square where the rally and vigil will take place. There are public toilets in Trafalgar Square. The accessible toilet is free to use but the other toilets charge a small fee.
You can find other toilets in the area here.
How can I travel to and from the march?
The nearest stations to the start of the march are Waterloo Station (seven-minute walk), Westminster Station (seven-minute walk) and Lambeth North Station (eight-minute walk). There are many nearby bus routes as well.
There are groups travelling from around the country to the march. Sign up using our form to hear more about where groups are travelling from.
Is this march for me?
Yes. Whether you’re living with HIV yourself or an ally of people who are and want to see an end to HIV-related stigma, this march is for you. This is an inclusive space. There'll be no tolerance for racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism or sexism.
To make sure everyone feels welcome, we’re hosting pre-meets at locations near the start of the march on the morning of Saturday 1 October. Sign up to hear more about them.
Is travel funding available?
Yes, there are small amounts to help fund travel to the event. Sign up using the form to hear more about how to apply.
Are you looking for stewards?
Yes! Being a steward is an essential job to make sure everyone can enjoy the event safely.
Sign up using our steward volunteer form [coming soon] to hear more about training and information on stewarding, and how to let us know if you’d like to be involved as a steward.
This is my first march. What should I bring?
Wear sturdy shoes that are comfortable to walk in. You should also bring water. You can make your own placard - we suggest keeping messages family-friendly. Placards will also be available on the day.
How will I know I'm in the right place?
We’ll have greeters on hand to welcome you to the march and we’ll be running a pre-meet on the morning of Saturday 1 October so you can meet others who will be marching with us.
Who is living with HIV in the UK?
The most recent estimate suggests there were 106,890 people living with HIV in the UK in 2019. Of these, around 5,150 are undiagnosed and don't know they are HIV positive.
Anyone can get HIV but people from some groups are more likely to be affected. In particular, men who have sex with men and Black African people are disproportionately affected.
Over half of women living with HIV in the UK have experienced violence because of their HIV status.
Can I bring candles to the vigil?
No. We aren’t allowed to light candles in Trafalgar Square so please don't bring candles with you.
Can my group join the march?
Yes. Fill in our group sign-up form [coming soon] to be given a place in the march and to stay updated about logistics.