Welsh rugby icon Gareth Thomas has posted a series of affectionate photographs with his husband, Stephen, while opening up about the ongoing discrimination he encounters because he is HIV positive.
A Groundbreaking Career and Personal Journey
The former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain, now 51, made history as rugby union's first openly gay professional player when he came out in 2009. A decade later, in 2019, he publicly disclosed his HIV-positive status, emphasising that his viral load is undetectable, meaning he cannot transmit the virus to others.
His recent social media posts featured tender moments with his spouse, including images of the couple sharing a kiss. This display of happiness follows a touching tribute Gareth shared in June to mark their eighth wedding anniversary. On Instagram, he wrote: 'Eight years ago today I married the most amazing human being I could ever wish to meet. Even on bad days he makes me smile. I love you so much Stephen.'
The Persistent Shadow of Stigma
Despite medical advances and his undetectable status, Thomas has revealed he still faces prejudice and ignorance in public. He gave a stark account last year of people leaving restaurants or refusing to share a drink or shake his hand due to unfounded fears.
'I know, and my husband and family know, through sharing the same knife and fork or sharing the same drink, or sitting on the same toilet seat, that it cannot be contracted,' he told The Telegraph. 'Yet... it has happened often enough for me to be aware.'
He described how these repeated experiences force him to mentally assess situations whenever he enters a public space, for his own and his family's wellbeing.
Advocacy and Legal Challenges
Since his diagnosis, Thomas has become a prominent campaigner for HIV awareness and acceptance. He has highlighted that modern treatments allow most people with HIV to live long, healthy lives and make transmission incredibly unlikely. The worst outcomes, he notes, often stem from late diagnosis, fuelled by a lack of knowledge or fear of discrimination.
His advocacy has unfolded against a backdrop of personal legal challenges. Former partner Ian Baum accused him of 'deceptively' transmitting HIV, referring to a period between 2013 and 2016 before Thomas knew his own status. Thomas chose to settle the resulting £150,000 damages claim in 2023, paying £75,000 plus costs. He stressed this was 'not an admission of liability or guilt' but a decision made 'for my own mental health and that of my family'. Police investigated but took no further action.
Gareth Thomas was previously married to Jemma Thomas from 2001 until 2009. Through his public journey, he continues to challenge misconceptions, stating that the social stigma surrounding HIV remains 'the one thing that frightens me'.
