The Truth About Dating For People With HIV

By D G Gordon

If there is one thing that all people diagnosed with HIV share in common, it’s a bleak outlook on their future chances of finding love. Times have changed, however, and what was extremely anxiety-inducing 20 years ago has improved by leaps and bounds in recent times. The truth nowadays is that there is no real reason to be alone.

Online Dating for People with HIV
While not everyone is into the online dating game, it is a very appealing option when diagnosed with HIV. The inevitable feelings of shame, an unwillingness to face humiliation, and the sense of being the only one in your situation are seriously alleviated.

How Is Online Dating for People with HIV Better?
The best thing about HIV-related dating sites is that the most terrifying dating prospect – that of having to disclose your HIV status – is over with when you have completed your profile. Since it’s out there for everyone, conversations that occur within these dating sites tend to center around the much more interesting and dynamic aspects of peoples’ personalities, rather than a condition.

Discretion and HIV Dating Sites
Now, just because you have willingly disclosed your HIV status does not mean that you are willing to post a photo; many aren’t and won’t. This is perfectly fine, as the more sophisticated sites have taken this into account and allow you to attach images in messages to specific members with whom you already have a level of comfort.

The Problem with HIV Dating Sites
There are a dozen or so dating sites online that cater to HIV singles, but most have not taken the time to promote themselves, so there is usually a small and inactive member base. This, of course, severely hampers your ability to find a mate, especially if you live in a small to medium-sized city.

One of the very few exceptions to the ‘ghost town’ standard of HIV dating sites online is called HIVPOZ.NET It has a very large database of active HIV singles, and has really gained in popularity in the last couple of years. It is free to sign up so that you can take a look around at potential matches in your city without having to pay for membership. I spend a good deal of time there, and highly recommend it.

Hope this has been helpful, and keep the faith.