World Aids Day 2019: Prince Harry praises Gareth Thomas for opening up about HIV diagnosis

‘I believe in what you’re doing, it’s amazing’

Sarah Young
Sunday 01 December 2019 09:52 GMT
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Prince Harry praises Gareth Thomas for HIV stigma battle

Gareth Thomas has been praised by the Duke of Sussex for opening up about his HIV diagnosis.

The former Wales rugby captain spoke to Prince Harry about what it felt like to receive his diagnosis in a powerful new film released by Terrence Higgins Trust – the UK’s leading HIV charity – to mark World Aids Day.

Thomas, who came out as gay in 2009, is thought to be the first UK sportsman to go public about living with the virus.

In the video, which was filmed in the stands of Harlequins rugby club, Thomas explained that the moment he received his HIV diagnosis is what inspired him to educate others about the realities of the virus.

In their first-ever meeting, Thomas told Prince Harry that, like many others, his knowledge of HIV was “stuck in the 1980s” and he thought he had been given a death sentence.

The rugby star added that he hopes by sharing his story he can show that there is life after a HIV diagnosis and help others overcome their fear of getting tested.

“We do so much around our health – going to the dentist, going to the doctor. But when it comes to sexual health testing there’s the stigma and fear around it,” Thomas said

“We need to re-educate people to know that where we are now with HIV it is not a death sentence, it’s not and I am living proof.”

Prince Harry praised Thomas for the work he is doing to encourage people to know their status, adding that the goal is to “normalise testing and make it easier for those that are fearful, that are scared to come forward”.

“I believe in what you’re doing, it’s amazing,” Prince Harry said.

Ahead of Thomas’ meeting with the duke, charities Terrence Higgins Trust and the National Aids Trust (NAT) announced that he is now a commissioner on the first ever HIV Commission to end HIV transmissions by 2030.

Thomas said: “I have a new purpose now. I want to do whatever I can to remove the fear people have about testing for HIV and just do it.

“Because I wasn’t educated about HIV, I thought I had been given a death sentence when I was diagnosed and I don’t want anyone else to go through that.

“I take one pill a day which keeps me healthy, means I have absolutely no fear of passing on HIV to my husband and means I’m fit enough to do an Ironman.”

The Terrence Higgins Trust has paid tribute to the two men’s impact in ”challenging perceptions of HIV and tackling stigma“.

The charity said that following Thomas revealing his HIV status publicly in September it saw a surge in orders for its HIV testing kits, mirroring a five-fold increase when Prince Harry tested live on Facebook in 2016.

Ian Green, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We’re proud to bring together the Duke of Sussex and Gareth Thomas – two individuals who have done so much to challenge people’s perceptions of HIV and tackle stigma.

“That’s because when they speak out about the realities of HIV, people listen and act.

“I hope the Duke and Gareth’s work to normalise HIV testing has a big impact during National HIV Testing Week and anyone who has previously been too scared to test sees that it’s always better to know.”

New statistics from Public Health England estimate that around one in 14 people living with HIV in the UK remain undiagnosed, while 43 per cent of people diagnosed last year were diagnosed late, which is after damage to the immune system has already begun.

You can find more information about how to get tested for HIV here.

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