Big Ideas + Actions

This new Telus original film dives deep into what's blocking the U=U message from being heard far and wide

This new Telus original film dives deep into what's blocking the U=U message from being heard far and wide

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November 24, 2021
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If Canadians have the solutions to end new HIV infections—and stop the world-wide HIV/AIDS epidemic—why are people still dying of AIDS?

The new TELUS Original documentary, Undetectable dives deep for the answers. The film looks at the early history of HIV/AIDS in North America, the roadblocks along the way, and critiques the gatekeepers that have stopped the world from becoming HIV/AIDS free. It also includes a sharp analysis of the hysteria, misinformation and stigma that has surrounded HIV since it was identified—and initially associated with gay men—in the early 80s.

Undetectable is a good news story. Thanks to the work of countless scientists and frontline workers, we now have the tools to end HIV/AIDS in our lifetime.
—Laura O’Grady

Directed by Laura O’Grady, Undetectable is a Snapshot Studios/Calgary’s Gay History Project film, produced with the support of TELUS, the Government of Alberta, Alberta Media Fund and Calgary Arts Development.

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Watch the full film here.

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Early screening on November 30th

You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, November 30th from 2-3:30pm EST for an online early screening of the Undetectable film, followed by what will no doubt be a lively discussion moderated by Mike Morrison who is joined by panelists:

  • Laura O’Grady, Undetectable’s Director, Producer and Writer. She has received many Canadian Screen Award nominations, provincial awards, and has had 2 films debut at the Hot Docs Film Festival
  • Tiko Kerr, a Vancouver artist and activist living with HIV with an artistic practice exploring painting, collage, murals, performance and set design
  • Mark Randall, the HEAT Program Coordinator for the HIV Community Link’s Prevention and Engagement team
  • John Maxwell, the Executive Director of ACT, a community-based non-profit organization in Toronto
  • Dr. Daniel Grace, an Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and the Canada research chair in sexual and gender minority health
  • Arthur ‘Dave’ Miller, a Mi’kmaq HIV activist and community health educator working in Atlantic First Nation Communities with Healing Our Nations
  • Dr. Apondi Odhiambo, Ph.D., Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Osgoode Hall Law School. SeniorEpidemiologist, Public Health of Canada

REGISTER AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW!

The screening is brought to you by REACH Nexus and supported by ACT.

Officially launching on World AIDS Day 2021, Undetectable will be available for free on-demand on TELUS’s YouTube channel.

What exactly are U=U’s impacts?

According to outcomes from the People Living with HIV Stigma Index, surprisingly only 48% of people who participated in the study in Alberta claimed that they were aware of the evidence behind U=U. Even more troubling, only half of participants believed it!

In Ontario, only 35%of participants had discussed U=U with their healthcare provider and over one quarter of participants had never heard of U=U at all.

Fortunately, over half of people living with HIV in Quebec that participated in the Indice de stigmatisation des personnes vivant avec le VIH au Québec indicated that U=U has positively impacted their life, with almost all agreeing that its powerful, science-grounded message had the power to reduce stigma.

What impact has U=U—the evidence and its message—had on your life? Share a story or an experience on The Positive Effect.

For further reading on U=U and TasP…

Check out these pages on The Positive Effect:

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