Duke supports ‘courageous’ Thomas
The Duke of Cambridge Prince William has paid tribute to Gareth Thomas after the former rugby player said he was blackmailed into revealing his HIV status.
Prince William offered his support to the former wing for Wales and the British and Irish Lions, describing him as ‘‘courageous’’ and a ‘‘legend’’ on and off the pitch. In a video released on Twitter, Thomas said he had been forced to reveal his status because others had been threatening to do so.
He said: ‘‘I want to share my secret with you. Why? Because it’s mine to tell you. Not the evils that make my life hell, threatening to tell you before I do, and because I believe in you and I trust you.’’
His voice almost breaking, Thomas added: ‘‘I’m living with HIV. Now you have that information that makes me extremely vulnerable, but it does not make me weak.’’
He said he had ‘‘chosen to fight to educate and break the stigma’’ around the disease.
‘‘I’m asking you to help me to show that everyone lives in fear of people’s reactions and opinions to something about them, but that doesn’t mean we should have to hide,’’ he added.
In response, the Duke wrote on Twitter: ‘‘Courageous as ever – legend on the pitch and legend off it. You have our support Gareth. W.’’
Thomas has been working with the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s biggest HIV and sexual health charity.
Ian Green, the chief executive of the trust, said Thomas had been relieved to be able to tell his story the way he wanted it to be told and said the reaction had been overwhelming.
‘‘Every response that I have seen has been very positive and affirming and I know he will be extraordinarily touched by that,’’ said Green, who was speaking to
The Daily Telegraph
five hours into a 12-hour Iron Man event in Tenby, South Wales, in which Thomas was a competitor.
‘‘When he came out of the sea there was a massive amount of goodwill,’’ he said. ‘‘Up until this event he couldn’t swim, so he’s extraordinarily tenacious.
‘‘He fitter now than he’s ever been. It’s about shifting the narrative.
‘‘If people think that somebody with HIV is going to get sick and be unwell, that’s not the case anymore. To do this mad thing the day after he talked about his HIV status is symbolic of his wish to challenge stereotypes.’’
Medical advances in the past decade have enabled people with HIV to expect a normal life expectancy, but a stigma around the condition still remained, Green said.
‘‘Within sport there are still challenges, as there are in wider society,’’ Green said. ‘‘Gareth’s willingness to tell his story is going to have a massive impact on de-stigmatising HIV.’’