Rugby legend Gareth Thomas has revealed he still faces stigma in public places despite his HIV status being undetectable and non-contagious.
Thomas captained both Wales and the British and Irish Lions during his illustrious career.
He became the first Welsh man to be capped 100 times by the national team and ranks third on Wales' all-time test try scorers list.
In 2009, two years after his final test for the union side, Thomas came out as gay.
Gareth Thomas has revealed that people leave restaurants when he enters due to his HIV status
He announced in 2019 that he was HIV positive with undetectable status, which means he is not infectious.
Since then, he has been a respected spokesman for the LGBT community and champion for equality.
Despite his undetectable status, Thomas has shared that he still experiences discrimination in public settings.
"When you walk into a restaurant and people leave... or people don't want to share a drink or shake your hand. It has happened often enough for me to be aware," Thomas revealed.
The former Wales captain explained that these incidents have occurred frequently enough to affect his behaviour.
"Every time I walk into a restaurant now I feel like I have to assess, for my own happiness, or my husband's, or the family that I am with," he said.
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Thomas noted that this stigma is "the one thing that frightens me" in public.
Thomas has been clear about the scientific facts regarding his condition.
"I know, and my husband and family know, through sharing the same knife and fork or sharing the same drink, or sitting on the same toilet seat, that it cannot be contracted," he explained.
Having an undetectable HIV status means Thomas cannot transmit the virus to others.
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Gareth Thomas has long been an advocate for tackling stigma around HIV
PA
Despite this medical reality, he continues to face social rejection in everyday situations.
Thomas has suggested that society's stigma against the virus is more damaging than any symptom of the condition itself.
Thomas has campaigned for many years to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV.
His advocacy work has focused on education and raising awareness about the condition.
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Gareth Thomas played 100 times for Wales across an esteemed career
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In 2019, he shared his diagnosis through an interview and BBC documentary.
Thomas was previously involved in a legal case with former partner Ian Baum, who accused him of "deceptively" transmitting HIV.
The allegations referred to a period between 2013 and 2018.
Thomas settled the case for £75,000 plus costs, stating the decision was "for my own mental health and that of my family".
He insisted the settlement was "not an admission of liability or guilt".
