March 2011: Disclosing Your Disclosure

HIV-positive people must repeatedly decide whether to disclose their HIV status. Whether it's to a friend (old or new), potential lover, health care provider, coworker or family member, revealing that you are positive can raise some questions-no matter who you are or to whom you're disclosing. POZ asks you-our HIV-positive reader-to dish to us about your disclosures and how they've affected your lives and the lives of those around you.
 
1. Are you HIV positive?
Yes
No
 
2. How long after your HIV diagnosis did you first disclose your status to someone?
I told someone immediately
Days
Weeks
Months
Years
I have yet to disclose my status to anyone (skip question 3)
 
3. To whom did you first disclose your status?
My HIV doctor
My general practitioner
Lover/partner
Past lover/partner
Mother
Father
Sibling
Other relative
Close friend
Other: 
 
4. What factors influence your decision to disclose? (Check all that apply.)
I believe the people around me deserve to know
Keeping my HIV status a secret negatively affects my health
Seeing people comfortable with my HIV status helps me feel more comfortable with it
It gives me a chance to educate others about HIV/AIDS
I'm afraid people might learn my status from someone else
I want to give people an opportunity to help me
I worry about breaking the law and ending up in jail or prison
I need emotional help/support
I need financial help/support
 
5. Do you feel obligated to reveal your status to a potential sexual partner?
Yes
No
 
6. Have you ever had sex with someone without disclosing?
Yes
No
 
7. If you have had unprotected sex without revealing your HIV status, why? (Check all that apply.)
We engaged in sexual activities that have a low risk of transmission
I was afraid the other person would reject me if he/she knew I was HIV positive
I didn't want to be sexually inhibited by my HIV status
 
8. Has disclosure gotten easier the more you've done it?
Yes
No
 
9. Do you believe the manner in which you disclose influences how someone reacts?
Yes
No
 
10. Do you believe there's a measurable link between disclosing your status and improving your overall health and well-being?
Yes
No
 
11. If someone negatively reacts at first to your disclosure, how often does that person eventually change his or her attitude?
Always
Sometimes
Never
 
12. What year were you born?
 
13. What is your gender?
Male
Female
Transgender
Other
 
14. What is your sexual orientation?
Straight
Gay/Lesbian
Bisexual
Other
 
15. What is your ethnicity (Check all that apply.)
American Indian or Alaska Native
Arab or Middle Eastern
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
White
Other: (please specify) 
 
16. Highest level of education attained?
Some high school
High school graduate
Some college or associate's degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
 
17. What is your zip code?