Positive Singles, one of the leading services connecting daters living with venerial disease, has launched a new area of its site specifically catering to HIV-positive gay individuals.
Members of the POZ gay community often find it difficult to connect with others online due to stigma associated with the disease. Further, many may lack a support network where they can talk about their health and wellbeing.
The new online space looks to help on both fronts, offering an inclusive environment for dating and active forums where users can discuss their experiences.
New website copy reads: “Getting diagnosed with HIV can be a harrowing experience. Not only must you deal with the health consequences of your diagnosis, but having HIV can make it difficult to date. Positive gay dating isn’t the easiest thing in the world — especially if your potential partner isn’t yet aware of your diagnosis.”
CEO Suny Zhang said in a statement: “We have successfully launched POZ gay dating service for men with HIV and AIDS, a new addition to our online dating community.
“It exclusively focuses on gays with HIV and AIDS helping them stay positive, find love, support, and hope. We have been dedicatedly working to successfully bring together POZ gay couples.”
Positive Singles claims over 1,700,000 registered members. It lists the US, UK, Canada and Australia as its top countries.
This week, Harvard biologist George Church made headlines by suggesting that his new dating app could help eradicate 7,000 hereditary diseases.
He was criticised in The Daily Beast and Gizmodo, but 60 Minutes called him a “role model” for young people.
Read more here.