Majority of Americans Report No Exposure to HIV Stories in Media, GLAAD Finds

GLAAD’s sixth annual State of HIV Stigma report indicates that 72% of Americans have not observed any media stories about individuals living with HIV in the past twelve months, a rise from 66% in the prior year. The lack of representation extends to television and movies, where 70% say they have not seen any HIV portrayals, and only one LGBTQ character with HIV appeared during the 2024-2025 television season, with no continuation planned.

In a review of 225 major studio films from top distributors, only the movie “Fairyland” included an HIV character, focusing on the epidemic’s early days rather than contemporary realities. Podcast analysis shows a mere 0.09% of episodes referenced HIV, and just 15% of Americans recall seeing HIV stories on social media. GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis emphasized the need for accurate, visible narratives to align public perception with modern medical advances. The report also notes that about 1.2 million people in the U.S. live with HIV, with 13% unaware of their status, underscoring ongoing testing and stigma-reduction needs.