Stigma

Stigma is the process by which a trait, identity, or health condition gets marked as shameful or inferior, leading to prejudice, exclusion, and internalized shame. LGBTQ+ people experience stigma tied to sexual orientation and gender identity, and people living with HIV face additional HIV-related stigma rooted in fear and misinformation from the earliest days of the epidemic. Stigma can be social, structural, or internalized, and it shows up in everyday slights as well as in institutions. It is a major driver of mental health disparities and can keep people from testing, treatment, or care. Reducing stigma is a central goal of public health, advocacy, and community organizing.