At the end of Manchester, England’s annual Pride celebrations, councilor Paul Fairweather—an openly gay LGBT advocate—revealed he was HIV positive to the thousands in attendance, BBC News reports. He disclosed during a vigil honoring those who have died from AIDS-related illness.

Fairweather reminded LGBT festivalgoers to take steps to end HIV stigma within their own community. “Many of us have this love and support, but many of us don’t,” he said. “I and many other HIV-positive gay men have experienced rejection and even hostility from within the gay community, as well as support.”