#HIVPolicyNow: Ending stigma together

There’s a different kind of alter world on Twitter, and it’s made up of persons living with HIV This is their way to communicate with each other, to counsel and assist one another when one of them sinks into depression or runs out of anti-retroviral medicine. Many of us probably don’t know that this corner of Twitter in our country exists—which shows just how often PLHIVs are overlooked by society. They are rendered invisible, as they deliberately hide their true names and faces on their accounts out of fear of discrimination brought about by the stigma caused by their situation.

However, last Monday, they came out into the light. Many of them who used private accounts changed their settings to ‘public’ because they wanted to be heard on this special day—the day when the proposed Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act was approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives. As they called for the passage of this important piece of legislation, they asked the government to finally recognize them as citizens with rights and dignity, the same as any other Filipino. For far too long, the State has failed to provide the care that it is mandated to give to PLHIVs. This isn’t only seen in the rise of the number of HIV cases in our country—we can also see this in the archaic law, Republic Act No. 8504 (Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998), that is no longer responsive to the situation that we are facing now.

As PLHIVs spoke up, Twitter also erupted with messages of support for them from their allies. Since morning, #HIVPolicyNow was trending, beating the usual noontime show topics. It was more than your usual Twitter banter. It was a declaration of solidarity from citizens saying that PLHIVs may live with the virus, but they do not live with it alone. It was truly a heartwarming affair. And by the afternoon, all of us were rejoicing over the unanimous approval of the bill.

Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, principal author of the measure, summed it up for all of us when she delivered her speech explaining her affirmative vote: “In the end, any law that seeks to strengthen understanding and equality is a law that seeks to strengthen our love for our fellow human beings. To all the PLHIVs I met in committee hearings and forums; to those whom I see on social media, but can’t show their real faces and names because of the fear of stigma and discrimination, this is for you. I hope you feel that you have a voice inside Congress,” she said in Filipino.

After this victory in the House, we have proven that this bill has many advocates—PLHIVs and their allies—and that we are able to speak up together and muster a voice loud enough to be heard across social media. Now, the time has come for us to go beyond. The current battle is at the Senate, where the bill is still languishing in the legislative mill. In order to effectively push for its passage, we can undertake several actions. Here are some:

1.Continue making waves on social media. Many of our senators are on Twitter and Facebook. Let us engage them and show them that this piece of legislation is important to all of us.

2.Call and email the offices of senators. Their numbers and email addresses are posted at the Senate website. When their phones continuously ring and their inboxes are filled with our emails, they will see how many of us recognize the need for this measure, and hopefully, they will also take notice.

3.Organize and mobilize. Let us step away from our keyboards and go to the Senate to deliver letters to our legislators. PLHIVs can share their stories. Allies can send messages of solidarity. Our physical presence in their halls will further convince them to finally act.

We have proven that we can spontaneously participate in the legislative process through social media. Let us show our lawmakers that we can do more because we care for our brothers and sisters living with HIV. Because HIV is neither a death sentence nor a curse. Let’s treat it for what it is – a public health concern. Let’s end the stigma together.

Vince Liban is the current Punong Babaylan (President) of UP Babaylan, the premiere LGBTQ+ student organization in the University of the Philippines. He also served as Councilor in the UPD University Student Council under the student party UP ALYANSA.