Kalam is a 32-year-old HIV+ Jogappa (identifies as ‘they’). They have been living with HIV for the past four to five years but their family does not know. They started pressurising and emotionally blackmailing them to get married soon. Kalam approached the CBO regarding this and CBO members visited their house, but the family members did not hear them out. They did not accept the CBO members and hence refused to listen to them. The members realised that this issue would not be solved this way. One day, Kalam’s brother found Kalam in the government hospital and this brought Kalam’s health issue out in the open.
The family started abusing him physically and mentally and Kalam was thrown out of the house. The CBO intervened with a counsellor and spoke to the family. The counsellor explained how HIV spreads, what will not cause the spreading of HIV and why stigma and discrimination against an HIV+ individual is wrong and against the law. After a few sessions of counselling, the family understood and started accepting Kalam. They allowed them back in the house and took care of Kalam. Their brothers do not talk to Kalam like they used to but they do not cause problems for Kalam either. Kalam also works with the CBO and they have grown into a confident and cheerful person.