Dating as HIV+
For many people living with HIV, online dating has become an important arena for meeting people and potential partners. Online dating gives you the opportunity to be open about your status in your profile, or to sense whether the person you are talking to would consider dating a person living with HIV, and you can choose to date other HIV-positive people. Many people also find that it is easier to be open when they can talk about it in writing in their own way, while others prefer to say it face to face. It is up to you to decide what you are most comfortable with.
Tyvärr finns det fortfarande en del som har fördomar om hiv, det kan vi inte bortse från. För en del som lever med hiv kan fördomarna bli en svårighet när de dejtar. Ofta beror dessa på okunskap. Särskilt när man nyligen fått sin diagnos kan man känna sig uppgiven. Som om det är lika bra att kasta in handduken och lägga framtida relationer med partners, dejter och sin sexualitet på hyllan. Så är det givetvis inte! Med dagens effektiva mediciner som gör det omöjligt att överföra hiv till någon annan, håller situationen för hivpositiva på att förändras och förbättras på flera olika plan.
People who are LGBTI and HIV-positive may often have to deal with what can be called a double coming out process. You need to come out both as an LGBTI person in a heteronormative society and as HIV-positive in an HIV-negative norm. At the same time, research shows that men who have sex with men and are HIV-positive feel a little better and are stronger in resources than other groups living with HIV.
Open or not?
Because of the prejudices surrounding HIV, many people with HIV do not feel able to be open about their HIV status. Many people have a strong fear of being rejected in dating situations because of being HIV-positive. This fear can sometimes lead to withdrawal from sex with partners and close relationships. This in turn can lead to a sense of isolation, which can be detrimental to your health. Many people avoid being open about their HIV status because they are aware of the stigma associated with living with HIV. It is also important to remember that everyone has the right to privacy.
At the same time, many people find it easiest to have it in their profile from the start. Then it is already stated. If you are comfortable being open about your HIV status, the advantage is that you won't have to bring it up at a later date.
If you choose not to mention it in your profile, it is important to be honest at a later stage. Therefore, bring it up at a time you consider appropriate or if the person asks. Remember that you want a relationship based on trust.
