Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : IA / Gay Globe

About two weeks ago, I received the testimony of a mature gay man, 61 years old, who wanted to share some astonishing information with me and the readers of Gay Globe, while also trying to eventually find a solution to his problem.

Marc lives in Montreal and is semi-retired. Obviously, at his age and having lived in a large city, he was confronted with HIV and AIDS, having lost many loved ones and acquaintances at a time when combination therapy did not exist. I know what he is talking about because I lived through it with loved ones and colleagues at Magazine RG at the time, three years before combination therapy was authorized. At RG, we had lost, as a result of complications related to this disease, the majority of contributors, proofreaders, friends of the publisher, far too many readers, etc.

These are very bad memories for both Marc and me, as he accompanied several of these people until their death.

Marc was so affected by the terror caused by this disease, which was then incurable, that he developed a kind of phobia, a panic fear at the thought of entering into a relationship with someone who could potentially be carrying HIV. Even at the thought of kissing someone or speaking to them at close range, he becomes completely overwhelmed.

This forces him, much to his dismay, to stop associating with gay men like himself, and he lives in a kind of seclusion, leaving only to buy groceries or for the strict necessities of daily life.

One would think that in 2026, this extreme fear would no longer exist given the great advances made by medicine and the pharmaceutical industry, but no. There are still very many people, especially among older individuals, who have lived through tragedies that have left lasting scars. We recently discussed this in Gay Globe, precisely in connection with this man who refused to get tested for HIV, fearing that he might be positive because of the images engraved in his memory.

What Is HIV Phobia?

HIV phobia is an expression used to describe an excessive, persistent, or disproportionate fear of HIV and the possibility of becoming infected. It is not, strictly speaking, an official medical diagnosis, but rather a way of describing significant anxiety specifically associated with HIV.

For some people, this fear can go far beyond simple caution regarding sexually transmitted infections. It can lead to systematic avoidance of sexual relationships, physical contact, romantic encounters, or even situations that present virtually no risk of HIV transmission.

HIV Today Is No Longer What It Was in the 1980s

It is important to distinguish historical memories from current medical reality. HIV treatments have profoundly changed the situation.

A person living with HIV who follows effective treatment can reach an undetectable viral load. According to the U=U, undetectable = untransmittable principle, a person with a consistently undetectable viral load does not transmit HIV through sex.

Prevention has also advanced, notably with PrEP, which allows HIV-negative people to considerably reduce their risk of acquiring HIV when it is used in accordance with medical recommendations. However, these advances do not automatically eliminate fears acquired during a period when HIV was much less understood and treated.

It is normal to want to protect oneself from HIV and to know about prevention methods. The difficulty arises when the fear becomes so significant that it prevents a person from living normally, forming relationships, or having an emotional life.

In such a situation, it may be useful to speak with a mental health professional. The objective is not to ridicule the fear or tell the person that they are simply wrong, but to understand its origin and help them distinguish memories, perceptions of danger, and current medical reality.

For some people who lived through the darkest years of the epidemic, fear of HIV can be much more than a simple fear of infection. It can be the still very vivid memory of an era marked by illness, stigma, and the loss of many loved ones.

HIV phobia can thus be understood as a contemporary fear whose roots, for some people, belong to a much older history.

Resources for People Dealing with HIV Phobia or Traumatic Memories Related to HIV/AIDS

• Clinical psychologist — to work on anxiety, traumatic memories, phobias, and avoidance behaviors.
• Psychotherapist — particularly using a CBT approach, which is widely used for phobias and anxiety.
• Trauma therapist — relevant when memories of deaths and illness associated with the early years of AIDS remain very present.
• EMDR therapist — EMDR can be used to treat reactions associated with traumatic experiences.
• Psychiatrist — when specialized medical assessment or pharmacological treatment is necessary.
• Social worker or psychosocial worker — for support, social isolation, and referral to appropriate services.
• Sexologist or sex therapist — when fear of HIV interferes with emotional or sexual relationships.
• Hypnotherapist — may constitute a complementary resource for some people, particularly when integrated into a supervised therapeutic process.
• Family doctor or general practitioner — a starting point for assessment and referral to appropriate resources.
• Community HIV/AIDS organization — many organizations provide information, psychosocial support, support groups, and referrals to professionals.
• LGBTQ+ organization — particularly useful when there is also social isolation, stigma, or difficulties related to emotional and community life.
• Peer support groups — being able to speak with other people who lived through the early years of the epidemic can be particularly relevant for someone like Marc.

International Resources

CATIE – Canada
The Where To? directory allows users to search across Canada for services related to HIV, sexual health, hepatitis C, and psychosocial support. CATIE – Where To?

EATG – Europe and Central Asia
The European AIDS Treatment Group has a platform specifically dedicated to the connection between HIV and mental health, with resources intended for people affected by HIV and professionals. HIV & Mental Health – EATG

UNAIDS / UN AIDS – International
UNAIDS and WHO recommend better integration of mental health and HIV care services, particularly for problems involving anxiety, stigma, and isolation. UNAIDS – Mental Health & HIV

Local HIV/AIDS organizations
In Canada, the United States, and European countries, local HIV organizations also constitute a good point of entry: they can often refer a person to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or support groups with specific knowledge of the history of HIV/AIDS.

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Read also

• HIV: The 5 Breakthroughs of 2026 Bringing Researchers Closer to a Cure
• The Last Witnesses: What Survivors of the AIDS Epidemic Want to Pass On to Young LGBTQ+ People Before They Are Gone
• HIV in Quebec: Why Gay Men Are Not Responsible for the Rise in Diagnoses
• Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccination in Gay Men: From the 1990s Public Health Campaigns to Bepirovirsen Innovation
• Genital Herpes: Why Isn’t This STI a Reportable Disease?
• PrEP Belly: How a False Claim Born on TikTok Is Spreading Panic