Religion, sexuality and family: the case in which one partner is HIV positive

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between religion, sexuality and family of HIV seropositive individuals. It aims to verify the repercussion of finding that one of ( or both ) spouses is HIV positive , within the representations and configuration of their families , based on a possible religious ideas underlying to gender identities male and female , as well as to the exercise of sexuality that such gender identity entails. For this purpose, a qualitative survey was conducted. Participants were men and women who live or have lived in a marital status, and this relationship has occurred or took place between members of the opposite sex or same sex, selected in an institution to support HIV positive and their families. All seropositive participants of the mentioned institution were asked to answer a questionnaire composed of nine open questions related to the subject in focus. Data analysis allowed the perception that although there is a strong   incidence of religious ideas about family and sexuality for that population, the main focus of this notion is not within the representations of family structures, but within the triggering element of prejudice towards HIV-positive both in the family space and beyond.