Photo © Nick Casberg - www.freerangestock.com

Once I came across a profile on an online dating site in which the member stated very openly that he was HIV positive and would only date someone else who was HIV positive, because he did not want to risk giving the disease to anyone else.

I mention this because lately I have been seeing multiple mentions of online dating sites for those with HIV. Straight or gay, I think being single and dating when you are HIV positive would present its own unique set of challenges. One of the biggest ones would be when to tell your dates about the HIV.

I had always thought it was incredibly brave and honest of that man to be so upfront about his HIV. Especially considering the site he was on. The site was geared towards heterosexual people of a particular religious faith.

Over the past week or so I have seen Google alerts about sites geared towards those who are HIV positive. On the one hand, I wonder if some people see the sites as some sort of virtual ‘leper colony’, and there could be negative connotations about them and their members. On the other hand, I am so glad that those with HIV have the opportunity to have a ‘safe’ and ‘accepting’ place for online dating. I imagine it could be terribly painful and draining emotionally to be on an online dating site with a membership that is ignorant about HIV, unaccepting of those with HIV, or is openly hostile to those who reveal their condition.

For more information:

HIV + Dating Sites Offer an Alternative by Ambrose Aban

Online Dating with HIV by Cherie Burbach

Today’s Question: What is YOUR take on HIV online dating websites?