Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago

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#HIV #HIVPositive #pride

I have been living with HIV for over 7 years now.

Last year, Alex Belfield, who was convicted of stalking me, and is now serving a prison sentence, made remarks about my medical condition in videos that YouTube refused to take down.

Belfield made me feel ashamed, and humiliated and I did not want to be alive.

That’s when the Terrence Higgins Trust stepped in.

They supported me as I addressed Belfield’s comments by coming out fully that I am HIV+

I was then accepted on to the Terrence Higgins Trust’s Positive Voices programme, where I worked with others living with HIV and a mentor to work through my trauma and unlock my story.

I now take my story to schools, universities and companies as a public speaker. Sharing the message of HIV awareness and education to tackle stigma and help others.

I am very proud of the progress we have made in 40 years, but very aware that we have a lot more work to do to reach our aim of ending HIV transmissions by 2030.

This video is from the speech I made at the Royal Vauxhsll Tavern,

It was honestly the proudest moment of my life.

I was invited to represent Positive Voices, at Terrence Higgins Trust’s Big Shave Off event.

I was nervous, I knew I was going to share the most personal version of my story that I had ever dared to reveal to one of the most intimate audiences, I had ever experienced, in a venue that is pretty sacred to me.

The Royal Vauxhsll Tavern is iconic, I filmed Pride and Absolutely Fabulous there but never imagined that I would be telling my own story on that stage.

I can’t begin to explain the feeling of owning and expressing my own story, that I felt last night, thanks to the help of Positive Voices and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

I received so much love and support from people after I gave my talk and during it, that made me feel on top of the world.

This is a clip from my speech, I hope you enjoy it.

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This is my “coming out” story:
youtu.be/HnRA57hPc9I

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If you would like to ask me any questions, or need someone to talk to, please DM or email philip@iamthat.uk

Every message will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Visit my blog iamthat.uk or follow me on social media @philipdehany

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PLEASE GET TESTED if you do not know your HIV status, and are concerned.

Search for a test centre near you.
nhs.uk/Service-Search/other-services/HIV%20testing/LocationSearch/418

Or visit gov.uk/guidance/hiv-testing

#HIV #HIVPositive #HIVAwareness
#aids #hivaids #gay #hivprevention #prep #health #aidsawareness #lgbt #worldaidsday #lgbtq #hivtesting #uequalsu #sexualhealth #love #knowyourstatus #hivtest #pride

If you have any other concerns or questions about living with HIV, these are just some of the organisations that will help.

@THTorguk
tht.org.uk

@NationalAIDSTrust
nat.org.uk

@NAM_AidsMap
aidsmap.com

@TheWellProjecthiv
thewellproject.org

@one
one.org

@BASHH_UK
bashh.org

@56deanstreetofficial
https://www.dean.st

@britishhivassoc
bhiva.org/News

@startswith_me
startswithme.org.uk