Forty Years since THT Was Created

On 4th July, it was forty years to the day since the passing of Terry Higgins, a DJ at “Heaven” Nightclub in London, and a figure on the gay scene of the seventies in London.  Mr Higgins was, we now know, not the first Briton to die of an AIDS related condition, but he was the first named case.  His friends created the Terrence Higgins Trust to ensure that the then serious new condition was met with compassion and the appropriate resources.  They linked up with many other groups such as Gay Switchboard and the legendary Gay’s The Word Books, LGBTQ magazines and media, to fundraise, educate and show social solidarity.  On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of Mr Higgins’ passing, THT’s Chief Executive wrote “We have come such a long way since 1982. HIV is no longer a death sentence and can be managed through medication. Those of effective HIV treatment can't pass it on. However, stigma and discrimination persist. In exclusive polling for Terrence Higgins Trust released today, less than 2 in 5 (37%) people would be comfortable kissing someone living with HIV and just 30% of people say they are comfortable dating someone living with HIV. This ignorance can have devastating effects on people affected by HIV.   We’re still fighting, 40 years on, for the rights of people living with and affected by HIV.”