Bruce Richman - The Power of U = U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable)

The greatest enemies to HIV campaigns are the communities. Folks like to keep people with HIV stigmatized and at risk because they think it’s the safest thing to do. They think it’s safer to put the separation between HIV positive and HIV negative people because then you won’t have any transmissions.

 We know that the sense of community and the sense of connectedness is essential to address mental health issues, to help people get engaged in care, to find the services that they need, because so many people at a local level, don't have that kind of support.

And that’s what Bruce is trying to change through Undetectable is Untransmittable (U=U) campaign - he is trying to help people living with HIV and people at risk of contracting HIV understand that there is zero risk of contracting HIV when someone has an undetectable viral load.

On today’s episode, I have an amazing interaction with the person who has been the driving force behind getting the message of probably one of the most significant medical breakthroughs in recent history known to as many people as possible, around the world.

Bruce Richman is the Founding Executive Director of PAC and the "Undetectable = Untransmittable  (U=U)" campaign (#UequalsU). He has worked in global philanthropy for over two decades developing foundations, cause-marketing and grantmaking programs, social marketing campaigns, and interventions on a range of issues including HIV stigma and prevention, sustainable development, childhood obesity, violence prevention, and gang intervention.

Diagnosed with HIV in 2003, Bruce learned in 2012 that his undetectable viral load meant he could not transmit HIV. He committed to sharing this life-changing information in the hope that people with HIV and their partners will live healthy sexual and reproductive lives free of fear and stigma.  He received his Ed.M. in Administration, Planning & Social Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

So, listen to Episode 4 of Positively Alive to learn how the U=U campaign started, how it can help people and what are the next steps in eliminating stigma.

Questions I ask:

• Could you walk us a little bit through the beginning days, when you got infected and how you eventually became the activist you are today? (03:54)
• Where do you think that reluctance of adopting the U=U message comes from, especially in the US? (10:15)
• You have high hopes for the US but U=U also means a turning point for countries for HIV prevalence is very high. What challenges do you see in this regard? (21:41)
• Considering the profound advances in the HIV treatment and medicine, many of us are wondering why so many members of our community still struggle with viral suppression. What is your take on this? (22:51)
• Do you think that is a looming danger, in the U=U message that is going to stigmatize the people that have not yet reached the viral suppression? (29:30)

In this episode, you will learn:

• About the Swiss study. (06:18)
• Why the community is the biggest enemy of HIV positive people. (13:53)
• Examples of leaders that had the courage to step up. (20:45)
• The reasons why AIDS Incorporated has to be dismantled in the US. (28:17)
• How Bruce describes stigma in the US. (34:28)

Connect with Bruce:

• LinkedIn
• Prevention Access Campaign (PAC)
• Instagram
• Twitter
• .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}