Demanding Action: Breaking the Stigma of Herpes and STIs
For years, clinicians have told folks who are newly diagnosed with herpes that “the stigma is the worst part.” I think what, partially, made this unbelievable was they handed them a pamphlet and left it at that.
There was no sense of action, advocacy, or care to alleviate the stigma. There was no visibility. Now, with social media and increasing amounts of patient advocates, people living with herpes have taken matters into their own hands.
It is no longer an option for clinicians to remain silent or passive when it comes to herpes and STI stigma. People are demanding advocacy. People are demanding updates. People are demanding what they’ve always deserved.
Shoutout to all of the patient advocates and educators dedicating space, online and IRL, to breaking the stigma around STIs!