Canada’s first HIV-positive restaurant opens in Toronto to counter stigmas
TORONTO — While working as a sexual health educator in Calgary several years ago, artist and activist Mikiki would often gently correct clients who said they had never met a gay person. Actually, you probably have but just didn’t know it, Mikiki would explain.
Today, living and working in Toronto, Mikiki says similar conversations happen frequently about HIV.
“When people say, ‘I don’t know anybody who’s HIV-positive,’ I’m like, ‘If you live in Toronto, you actually do,’” says Mikiki.
“You’ve totally met people who are living with HIV. Do they feel comfortable to come out to you about their HIV status? Probably not.”