LetsStopAIDS

A major AIDS conference in Montreal highlighted the enormous progress that has been made in HIV research and also succeeded in bringing scientists and activists together despite visa issues, organizers say.

When Pedro was diagnosed with HIV, it spurred him to leave a job he’d grown to hate and come to Canada. But he couldn’t tell his mother, and so he can’t use his real name now as he speaks out against the stigma of a diagnosis ahead of a Toronto youth-led HIV conference.

Young people from around Toronto and elsewhere are using the downtime of the pandemic to work on projects to fight the stigma around HIV and AIDS and to support those living with the conditions.

The NoTimeToWait conference aims to get young people talking about HIV and AIDS to raise awareness of the risks today, fight stigma and advocate for equity.