The latest headlines in your inbox
The latest headlines in your inbox
Jeremy Corbyn has led a flood of tributes to former Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas after he revealed he is HIV positive.
Thomas, 45, who came out as gay in 2009, is thought to be the first UK sportsman to go public about living with the virus, admitting he was driven to suicidal thoughts as a result of his diagnosis.
Labour leader Mr Corbyn is among the high-profile supporters to praise the “role model” for his courage, calling the revelation an offer of “hope and resolve” to others.
“Gareth Thomas has again shown enormous strength in declaring himself HIV positive,” Mr Corbyn tweeted on Sunday morning.
“A role model challenging stigma and prejudice.”
Wales coach Warren Gatland told a press conference in Japan today that the team’s thoughts are with the former captain ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Thomas, who is set to discuss his diagnosis in a BBC Wales documentary on Wednesday, posted an emotional video on Saturday night in which he publicly “shared his secret”.
Fighting back tears, he said that while revealing his diagnosis made him “extremely vulnerable”, it “does not make me weak”.
“I’m asking you to help me to show that everyone lives in fear of people’s reactions and opinions to something about them, but that doesn’t mean we should have to hide.”
Gary Lineker was among more than 4,600 people to comment on the poignant clip, writing : “Good luck to you”. Fellow sports presenter Gabby Logan added: “Love you GT as always xxx.”
Dame Kelly Holmes tweeted her own response to the rugby “legend”.
She wrote: “Gareth you are a legend through and through. I am sending so much love, hugs and strength to you.”
Ryan Atkin, the first openly gay referee in professional English football, posted: “Just awesome GT! You are an amazing individual bud. Xx.”
Ian Green, chief executive of HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, said he hoped Thomas’s diagnosis would help change public attitudes.
He said: “I’m very proud to call Gareth Thomas a friend. Gareth is proof that an HIV diagnosis shouldn’t stop you from doing anything you want to do – whatever that is.
“I hope that by speaking publicly about this Gareth will transform attitudes towards HIV that are all too often stuck in the 1980s.”
Mr Green said improving treatment “means that people living with HIV like Gareth now live long healthy lives”.
“This is exactly the kind of information Gareth wants to get out there to challenge the stigma that still surrounds this virus.”
The former Cardiff Blues player won 103 caps and scored 41 tries for Wales between 1995 and 2007, and he is 13th on the all-time international test try-scoring list.
Last November, he was attacked in Cardiff city centre in a homophobic hate crime, but asked South Wales Police to deal with the 16-year-old assailant by way of restorative justice.
The sportsman now takes one tablet containing four medications each day, and doctors have said his condition is under control to the point that it is considered “undetectable” and cannot be passed on.
He said that his husband Stephen, who he met after his diagnosis and married three years ago, does not have HIV.
The former full-back added that telling his parents, Yvonne, 70, and Barry, 69, “empowered” him and that his parents and loved ones are supportive.
Thomas said he hopes that his openness will help end the stigma around condition.
