HIVGAYM · Analysing the migration choices of HIV-positive gay men in England and France
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2018-03-01 → 2020-08-29
- EU contribution
- €183,455
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Analysing the migration choices of HIV-positive gay men in England and France
Despite new medical knowledge proving that people living with HIV who are on therapies and have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus, discrimination and stigma towards people living with HIV persist. Gay men continue to be over-represented among people living with HIV. For them, HIV-phobia intersects with homophobia, impacting on their well-being and their life choices. Previous research has shown there is a close correlation between migration and HIV; however, most existing studies rely on quantitative methodologies and/or focus on migration prior to HIV-infection. The living choices of gay men after contracting HIV continue to be understudied. This is a very relevant social issue, given the life expectancy of people with HIV now equals that of the general population, thus migration after testing positive to HIV does not mean anymore ‘move to die’. Against this lack in knowledge, especially in the European context, HIVGAYM investigates different migration trajectories (domestic; within the EU; from outside the EU) and life choices of different generations of gay men living with HIV in two European countries (England and Italy). By building a comparative analysis in time and space, the main aim of the project is to analyze the complexity of factors shaping the decision to migrate- and then remain in a specific place- for gay men living with HIV through the use of qualitative research methods. To best achieve its aim, the project focuses on three sets of factors: i. material (represented by the configuration of the welfare regime in both countries (departure and arrival); ii. cultural/lifestyle; iii. relational (e.g. friendships, love). Beyond the main aim, the project has two further objectives. The first one is to assess the role of welfare and social institutions in producing or challenging HIV-related stigmatization through specific interventions, campaigns or discourses. The second is to understand the role of stigma (both ‘enacted’ and ‘felt’) in leading the decision to relocate somewhere else for gay men living with HIV.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Despite improvements in available therapies and investments in prevention campaigns, HIV-rates continue to rise across European cities. Gay men are over-represented amongst people with HIV, thus experiencing the combined effects of homophobia and HIV-related stigma. Several studies have found a correlation between becoming HIV-positive and gay men’s decision to migrate, although most of them rely on quantitative methodologies and concern the US and Canada. In a European context we have very limited knowledge about the reasons why HIV-positive gay men choose to migrate to, and remain in, specific urban areas across the continent. This research project aims at addressing this gap in knowledge by investigating different migration patterns of HIV-positive gay men towards Birmingham and Brighton (England) and Marseille and Paris (France) at different historical times (the mid ‘80s/early ‘90s with the diffusion of the epidemic and a stigmatizing public discourse; the mid ‘90s/early 2000s with a new focus on prevention from health institutions and the introduction of effective therapies; the last decade with the introduction of a single drug-therapy and the recent introduction of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP). To better understand the complexity of factors pushing people to relocate and the perception of stigma in previous places of residence, data will be collected through questionnaires; in-depth interviews with both HIV-positive gay men of each generation and relevant stakeholders/policy-makers; and archival work to collect HIV-prevention campaigns, public health information and media news and reports among others. By shedding light on the dynamics of stigmatization still affecting HIV-positive gay men, the research project will provides an evidence base for policy makers and service providers in order to make their intervention for the well-being of HIV-positive gay men more effective.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER · LeicesterCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union