As someone who has worked in the field of HIV for quite some time, I can absolutely confirm that stigma and fear surrounding the diagnosis and disclosure are very much alive and well. Even if someone gets past those, they’ve still got to worry about discrimination by healthcare providers, local officials and the general public, AND criminalization by our own government. You can see why so many who are at risk choose not to test and those who know they are positive choose not to seek treatment. Of those who are in care, there is a constant struggle to keep one’s diagnosis confidential, lest one be found out and punished for it.