Voices Rising

Voices Rising Guidelines

Last reviewed: October 3, 2026

This is a public, moderated space built around care, dignity, and room for many kinds of family.

Who this space is for

Voices Rising is for anyone whose life is touched by HIV: people living with HIV, people at risk, mixed-status partners, biological and chosen family, caregivers, friends, allies, and providers. Family here means whoever showed up.

Community norms

Use person-first language. Say “person living with HIV,” not “HIV+”; prefer “PLHIV.”
No stigma language. Do not use terms such as “victim,” “infected person,” “clean,” “compliance,” or “suffering from HIV.”
No unsolicited medical advice. Share your experience, not what someone should do.
Keep this space noncommercial and nonpartisan. No sales pitches, product promotion, multilevel-marketing (MLM) recruitment, political candidate or party endorsements, campaign material, or partisan propaganda from any affiliation. Personal stories and respectful, good-faith discussion of how policies affect people are welcome; do not use this space to campaign or recruit.
Respect anonymity. Never out someone else’s status.
Help keep this a safe, welcoming space for everyone. Treat people across backgrounds with respect, including when you disagree. No slurs, hate speech, harassment, or targeting individuals.

A note on HIV disclosure

Approved posts are public and can be indexed by search engines. Use the display name you are comfortable sharing, and check your writing and photo for identifying details even if you choose Anonymous. Read community privacy and photo-storage details and the publication permissions before submitting.

A note on HIV and the law

HIV criminal laws vary by jurisdiction. Some laws have been repealed or narrowed; others still reach conduct with little or no transmission risk. U=U does not automatically remove legal obligations, and dignity and fair treatment must extend to people with detectable or unknown viral loads too.

Having HIV is not itself a crime. However, a public post can reveal sensitive information, and the legal consequences of conduct described in it depend on local law and the facts. Avoid identifying others without permission. For a personal legal concern, consult a qualified lawyer; these resources can help you understand the issues.

CHLP — Find the Laws in Your State: click any state for its HIV-specific statutes, penalty enhancements, and case law.
Sero Project — HIV Bill Tracker: explore the available state entries for bill details, sponsors, votes, and reform history. Sero also provides legal-support resources for people facing accusations.
Center for HIV Law and Policy — HIV criminal-law sourcebook: state-by-state legal reference; check each chapter’s update date and seek qualified local advice.

You can also read our own overviews: HIV criminalization in the US and, for Florida specifics, HIV criminalization in Florida.

Voices Rising contributions

You must be 18 or older to post a story, micro-blog, check-in, or memorial in Voices Rising.

Messages of support on the pledge page

The pledge page welcomes short messages of encouragement. These follow the community norms above and the Privacy Policy; the Voices Rising 18-and-older requirement does not apply. Public name and location are optional. Each message is reviewed before publication.

Your right to delete

To request removal of your post, email info@riseuptohiv.com with its link or enough detail to find it. We may need to confirm the request is yours and aim to remove the post within 48 hours after that confirmation. See removal details and the limits on copies held elsewhere.

Reporting

If you see something that violates these guidelines, email info@riseuptohiv.com with a link or screenshot. We review every report.

Moderation process

Every post is reviewed before it appears. It can take up to 72 hours to see your story on Voices Rising, though approval is usually much sooner. We may make minor edits for clarity while preserving your meaning, or decline posts that do not follow these guidelines. When possible, we’ll email you if a post is declined and explain why.