The National HIV Story Trust (NHST) has conducted over 150 hours of interviews with people who lived through the HIV/AIDS pandemic of the 1980s and 1990s.

For many of those, the idea that their experiences could be portrayed in a critically acclaimed and incredibly popular television show was absurd. But, It’s A Sin did just that and has fostered a new conversation about the pandemic.

We know that It’s A Sin would have been the first introduction to the HIV/AIDS pandemic for many viewers. And while the dramatic storylines may have seemed unbelievable at times, just how much of the real stories do people know about? And, importantly, what can we learn from this recent social history that has been slipping out of the social consciousness?

The NHST is dedicated to recording, preserving and retelling the many varied stories from the patients, the lovers, the families, the medical staff and the campaigners, even the politicians who all changed our world as they fought the stigma and fear that surrounded an illness that appeared to come from nowhere.

The impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic

We want to ensure that those stories - which are simultaneously tragic, heroic, distressing, inspirational, heart-breaking and heart-warming - are not only preserved but also serve to educate a new generation and tackle the stigma that still exists even today.

That is why we are marking the launch of our educational resource - The Hidden History of the AIDS Pandemic - with a live Zoom forum on Tuesday 27 April 2021. Although the event is aimed at teachers and students, it is open to all. We are immensely proud and truly humbled to have preserved such powerful stories and now we want to share them.

Fortunately for young people today, HIV is not the death sentence it once was. But a lot of myths and misunderstandings continue to abound. Despite being known as the “gay” disease, over 50 per cent of the people living with HIV globally are women, and in the UK rates of infection are increasing fastest among heterosexuals.

The impact of the pandemic meant huge changes in society, in medicine, in care and even in the fight for equal rights. Much of the positive change we have today was driven by HIV activists who were witness to a part of the world we hope never to see again, but which we are dedicated to ensuring is not forgotten.

Although we are an archive, we also look to the future. Huge strides have been made in the treatment and understanding of this virus, but HIV, AIDS and their stigma still remain. It is important that everyone has a better understanding of what it means to live as a HIV-positive person today and how we can continue to reduce rates of infection.

Our event with the leading authorities on HIV will cover all aspects of the virus, from its appearance in the 1980s to what it means to live with HIV today. We are honoured that so many people wanted to share their stories with us. Whether you are a tutor, student, researcher or physician, or purely interested in social history, these stories hold a power, truth and fascination that need to be heard.

To find out more about the agenda and speakers and to register, please visit the event page.

Find out more about the NHST here.

Paul Coleman is the founder of the National HIV Story Trust