On the most part, I don't really hide my HIV status from anyone. In fact, on my social media profiles, I am quite up front about it right off the top so that it's the first thing you see when you look at my profile. For me, it serves two purposes. The first is that it weeds out the ignorant people who don't know any better and run in fear so that I can get that part out of the way right off the top.

The second is that I have found being so open and out about it has resulted in many messages from random strangers over the years, usually asking for help. I've gotten everything from "Help me, I'm freaking out. I was just diagnosed and I don't know what to do" all the way to "I just got with someone and before we were going to have sex, they told me. I don't know enough about it, I don't know what to do or how to respond. What do I need to know?"

I have found that being so open and out there about it has gone a long way to help raise awareness and provide many people over the years with a safe place to ask questions to properly educate themselves, instead of running away out of fear and ignorance.

The only general exception to the rule is at work. While management is fully aware of my situation, I am not often very open with coworkers because I have run into problems where ignorant people have started freaking out needlessly, for which management has had to deal with and clean up after, so it's more out of respect for management and not wanting to open a can of worms on them if I don't have to.

The only real con to disclosure are once you disclose, you cannot un-disclose. For me though, this is not really much of an issue since as a general rule, I don't care who knows about my status. If all they know about me is that I'm HIV+, then they don't know the first thing about me.

My family found out because I was very suck almost near death, and the doctors had to tell my my close family members. However, overtime my entire family found out which I am not happy with that. I feel they don't look at me the same anymore, and looking back most of them were toxic in my life anyways. I just talk to my mother but I don't like to be around my family which I come from a big family with good deal narcissist characteristics in them & happy in my own space but am looking to attend some local HIV group activities I'm the future. I just don't like that feeling of being judged because my intuition is very good.

Outside of sexual partners, I don't really bring it up. The con of disclosure is you can't undisclose.

Me myself only to partners

I told my Father and StepMother back in 1995...My Father was a very kindly Man, and he was not angry, since I was very ill in Hospital at the time. StepMother also very supportive.
I really miss them a great deal since they passed away.
My last Partner did not have a problem with the HIV. Since we broke up, I have not dated anyone, so only told Dentists, and medical personel about my status .