NPR
'People are still afraid of those three letters': Fighting the stigma of HIV
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Former rugby player Gareth Thomas, who is HIV positive, spoke at the International AIDS Conference in Rio in 2026 about isolation and discrimination experienced by people with the virus. Thomas stated, "People are still afraid of those three letters," referring to HIV. The conference brought together researchers, health officials, and advocates to discuss AIDS treatment and prevention.
Original reporting: https://www.npr.org/2026/09/12/g-s1-142404/hiv-aids-brazil-stigma
