FUNCTION and Maggie’s Toronto have launched Destigmatize: Voices, the next chapter of their HIV awareness platform Destigmatize.ca. This year’s campaign—brought to life with the ongoing support of returning partner Yabu Pushelberg—aims to deepen public understanding of HIV stigma and the complexities of disclosure by using personal storytelling to show how empathy and informed action shape the experiences of people living with HIV. Grounded in interviews with community members living with HIV, the hero film uses spoken-word narration to explore resilience, community care, and the emotional weight of stigma. Produced by Toronto-based hybrid production company Plot and directed by Eric Richards, the work shifts from last year’s educational focus into deeper emotional territory.
