Gareth Thomas shares a kiss with his husband Stephen in loved-up snaps after revealing people ‘still walk out of a restaurant when he enters’ because of his HIV positive status
Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas has shared a string of loved-up snaps with his husband Stephen, after revealing the stigma he still faces from others because of his HIV positive status
Rugby legend Gareth Thomas has melted hearts after posting a series of loved-up photos with his husband Stephen — including two tender snaps of the couple sharing a kiss — while bravely opening up about the prejudice he still encounters in everyday life.
The former Wales and British & Irish Lions captain, 51, revealed that despite modern medicine proving he is undetectable and therefore not infectious, he continues to feel judged in public spaces.
After coming out as gay in 2009, the sportsman revealed in 2019 that he was HIV positive with undetectable status, which means that he is not infectious
Gareth, who famously became rugby union’s first openly gay professional player when he came out in 2009, disclosed in 2019 that he was HIV positive.
“It’s Happened Enough Times That I Now Expect It”
Gareth shared the sweet images with his spouse including two of them sharing a kiss
Since going public with his diagnosis, Gareth has become a tireless campaigner for
In June, the rugby legend celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary with his husband with a touching Instagram tribute
Yet last year he admitted that stigma still shadows him.
“I know, and my husband and family know, that through sharing the same knife and fork, sharing a drink or sitting on the same toilet seat, it cannot be contracted.
“Yet when you walk into a restaurant and people leave… or don’t want to share a drink or shake your hand — it’s happened often enough that I’m aware of it. Now, every time I walk into a restaurant, I feel like I have to assess what’s happening, for my own happiness and for my husband and family.”
Eight Years of Love
Last year, Gareth shared how despite his undetectable status, he is still treated differently by people in public
In June, Gareth marked his eighth wedding anniversary with an emotional Instagram tribute to Stephen.
“Eight years ago today I married the most amazing human being I could ever wish to meet,” he wrote.
“Even on bad days he makes me smile. I love you so much, Stephen.”
From Trailblazer to Campaigner
Thomas has long spoken out about the damage stigma causes, once admitting it is “the one thing that frightens me” when out in public.
The sports star was previously married to Jemma Thomas from 2001 to 2009. More recently, he was embroiled in a legal dispute with ex-partner Ian Baum, who accused him of deceptively transmitting HIV during a relationship between 2013 and 2018.
Gareth strongly denied the claims but chose to settle the case for £75,000 plus costs, explaining that the decision was made “for my own mental health and that of my family” and was not an admission of guilt or liability.
Despite everything, the images of Gareth and Stephen sharing a kiss stand as a powerful reminder that love — even in the face of ignorance — endures.