Last year, I met a man I really liked. But he stopped talking to me after we hooked up and discovered I was living with HIV. The chemistry was killer; we clearly hit it off that fiery evening. He texted me shortly after I left, looking forward to seeing me again. My heart fluttered; I felt the same. I sympathized and validated his feelings, and went on to share that, in fact, I was undetectable, and had been for 8 years.
People living with HIV, who maintain an undetectable viral load, do not transmit HIV to others through sexual contact. I am, in general and, frankly, to a fault, always game for open and honest conversations. I know my HIV undetectable status like the back of my hand; my guess is I am more familiar with and attuned to all my STI statuses than most people, based on over a decade of these conversations with people.
It may seem silly for me to write about someone I had a one night stand with. Yes, HIV is a virus that should be taken very seriously. Undetectable equals untransmittable. I am not a biohazard. I am more than the remnants of the virus clinging to my person. Act up, fight back, fight HIV discrimination.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone. Our goal is to inform, empower, and inspire conversation. Skip to content. In the age of undetectable, do I need to disclose? By Christopher Storm. May 31, 3 Minute Read. Photo: Getty Images. About the author. Christopher Storm Christopher Storm is a pen name.
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