Status update:
Toronto AIDS activists break down the dos and the don’ts from polarizing star’s story
The dos and don’ts of reacting to Charlie Sheen’s HIV status disclosure,
With Charlie Sheen’s disclosure of his HIV-positive status, AIDS advocates have suddenly inherited a charismatic, divisive celebrity spokesman. Three Toronto social workers talked about what they hope people will take away from the actor’s Tuesday-morning reveal. DO . . . . . .
Practice what you tweet
Yes, the trolls were out, but much of social media was flooded with compassion and support following Sheen’s appearance. “People are much more willing to talk about HIV and show compassion and that’s incredible,” says Murray Jose-Boerbridge, executive director of the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation. “The next hurdle there is to actually take that to action. It’s easy to say that online when you are behind a computer screen and nobody knows who you are and you don’t have to do anything about it but when it’s a loved one who is HIV-positive or you have an HIV diagnosis, that is when there is still some of the stigma around it.” . . . Start treatment right away Sheen’s physician, Dr. Robert Huizenga, said on Today that the actor immediately began taking antiviral drugs following his diagnosis.
“What we’re hearing in the research is it’s really important to start your treatment right away when you find out,” says Jocelyn Watchorn, the AIDS Committee of Toronto’s director of support services.
Disclose to your children at your own pace
Sheen spoke on Today about coming clean to his 31-year-old daughter, Cassandra.
“It’s helpful when the parents themselves have done a lot of work in terms of their own acceptance of HIV,” says Nicci Stein, executive director of the Teresa Group, which advocates for children and families affected by HIV and AIDS. “They’re in a better and stronger place to support the child.” DON’T . . . . . . Talk about HIV like it’s a karmic punishment
Some Twitter reactions, including one that Today host Matt Lauer read on air, linked Sheen’s well-documented love for porn stars, hookers and drugs to his diagnosis. “People always think, ‘I’m not that kind of person, therefore I’m fine,’ ” Stein says. “There’s such a wide variety of people who are living with HIV through all sorts of circumstances.” “People are using that to dismiss more meaningful conversation about the stigma that is there regardless of what he may have done in his own life,” Jose-Boerbridge says.
. . . Assume Charlie Sheen represents all HIV-positive people
Though Jose-Boerbridge applauds the discussion that Sheen has sparked, he agrees with Sheen that he shouldn’t be “the poster man” for HIV.
“Straight men, there aren’t high numbers of HIV within that group,” Jose-Boerbridge says. “I’d hate to see discussion or resources move to follow the trend of a star. The vast majority of people living with HIV continue to be gay men or other individuals who are experiencing societal gaps.” He cites low income, low education and racialized communities as especially vulnerable.
. . . Underestimate the value of a celebrity ally
“He has the capacity and he certain- ly has the following to actually raise provocative conversation,” JoseBoerbridge says.
“To actually challenge people to really think about some of what they might be assuming or judging both about his own scenario and everyone’s risk. He has a platform and he can be well-spoken and he’s provocative. He could absolutely use that.”