The more society knows about HIV, the more the stigma of being HIV positive is broken down. That’s good for people who want and need support from their communities if they are living with HIV. It’s also good because the increased knowledge is making it easier for people to disclose their HIV statuses to others, including people they are in a relationship with. For many people, it’s important to find a partner who is also HIV positive. Many HIV positive men looking for women want them to also be HIV positive. But because most information online focuses on disclosure and living with HIV, it can be hard to know where you can safely meet HIV positive men. This article tells you how to meet people with HIV and offers tips for dating after you meet.

6 Methods to meet HIV positive men

If you’re looking to meet an HIV positive man for a relationship, looking in the right places is the first step. Meeting men in everyday life, like at bars or the grocery store, doesn’t necessarily mean your partner will be HIV positive. Concentrating in specific places will help you find the kind of man you’re looking for. This section outlines some ways you can meet HIV positive men for a relationship.

1. Dating sites

The internet transformed dating, especially for people who are very busy or who live in remote areas. Dating sites are a good way to meet people you wouldn’t ordinarily meet. You can find people who have similar interests as you and who would meet your needs for a healthy, successful relationship. Fortunately, there are specific dating sites, like HIVMingle.com and PositiveSingles.com, that can help you find an HIV positive man. HIV dating sites are designed to help people meet others who are HIV positive. Since the sites have this focus, it creates a safe space for you to meet an HIV positive man without facing stigma or uncomfortable questions that you might encounter on other dating sites.

2. Dating apps

With the growth of mobile technology in society, more and more people want to be able to do everything on their mobile devices instead of a laptop or desktop computer. To meet this need, developers have created dating apps that serve the same purpose as dating sites, but they can be managed on the go. Since there are people with a wide variety of interests and needs for a relationship, there are lots of dating apps available, including apps for people who are HIV positive. These apps can help you find someone who shares your interests, values, and goals for a relationship and is HIV positive, too. These apps can be a good resource for meeting HIV positive men.

3. HIV meeting groups

When people are diagnosed with HIV, they may want to reach out and meet other HIV positive people. Meeting and support groups for HIV positive men and women provide a support system and safe place to talk about what they’re experiencing. Since these groups are focused on providing support for people who are HIV positive, they can be a good place to meet HIV positive men. Whether the groups are meeting groups for people who want to meet others who are HIV positive or support groups for people who need emotional support after being diagnosed, they create a safe place for people to meet and talk about their HIV status as well as get to know each other.

4. HIV education programs

After being diagnosed with HIV, it’s important for people to learn about it so they can take care of themselves. Many healthcare facilities offer HIV education programs for people who are newly diagnosed and their families and caretakers. These programs help people learn about HIV and what they need to do to stay healthy. Though the focus of these programs is learning about HIV after diagnosis, the programs can also be a good place to meet HIV positive men. The people who attend the programs are HIV positive or people who want to know about HIV. So the secondary purpose of these programs is to connect with other HIV positive people. It can be a good environment to get to know HIV positive men.

5. Community events

As more research is done on HIV, communities are working to raise awareness and break down the stigma of being HIV positive. Community events that have been planned to raise awareness of HIV status are used to break down stigma and get people together in the community. Attending community events that focus on HIV status can be another place to meet HIV positive men. Not only are these events positive for people who are living with HIV, but they are a way for members of a community to get to know each other. Not only will you be able to meet HIV positive men but you’ll be able to meet men who live in and around your community.

6. Community programs

Along with events, many communities provide programs for people who are living with HIV. These programs combine education and support for people in the local community. Attending these programs supports your community as well as gives you the chance to meet HIV men in your community. Often, the people who attend these types of programs attend regularly, so you would have the chance to meet HIV positive men and talk to them in a safe, controlled environment.

5 Tips for dating a man with HIV

Dating an HIV positive man is a lot like dating any man, but there are differences that come up because of his HIV status. If you want to start your relationship off on a positive foot, there are things you can do. This section provides tips for dating an HIV positive man.

1. Ask questions (tactfully)

The only way for you to know about your HIV-positive partner is to ask questions about him. The more you know about him, including his health, the better you’ll be able to decide the best way for your relationship to progress together.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you can ask any and all questions that pop into your head. Even if your partner is open about being HIV positive, there may be some parts of his status that he’s not comfortable talking about. Be sure to use tact when asking questions and focus on getting to know him better for your relationship instead of just being nosy about his HIV status.

2. Talk about your relationship

Along with asking questions, talking about your relationship (openly and honestly) is an important part of dating an HIV positive man. You need to know what you both think about the relationship and where it’s headed so you can be sure to be on the same page. If you don’t talk about it together, you won’t know what he thinks.

Talking about your relationship can also help you both understand your expectations of each other and for the relationship. If you don’t talk about your relationship, unfulfilled expectations can lead to frustrations and problems later on. Don’t assume you’re on the same page about your relationship. Talk it out.

3. Don’t make assumptions

Making assumptions can be a serious problem in any relationship, but they can be especially harmful when dating an HIV positive man if your assumptions deal with his HIV status. When you make assumptions about your partner, what he wants, and what’s okay in your relationship, you aren’t giving him the chance to express how he feels about the situation. You may be comfortable with some part of the relationship, but that doesn’t mean he is. Instead of making assumptions, be sure to ask questions and talk about your relationship with your partner.

4. Be supportive

Unless you’re HIV positive yourself, you don’t know what your partner is going through. Even if you are HIV positive, your partner’s experience is different from yours. And even if your partner has been in good health, he is going to need support from you in a relationship. Providing support for whatever your partner goes through will show your commitment to the relationship and how much you care about your partner.

5. Respect his privacy

No matter what you and your partner talk about between each other, don’t assume that it’s okay to share that information elsewhere. Your partner may have disclosed his HIV status to you, but he may not have shared it with everyone in his life. It’s important to respect his privacy by not telling others about his HIV status or assuming everyone in his life knows that he’s HIV positive.

Whether you’ve tried looking for an HIV positive man and haven’t been successful or this is a new area for you, there are ways for you to find men who are HIV positive. Once you know where to look, you can find an HIV positive man who meets your relationship needs so you can be happy.