Biktarvy HIV Ad Perpetrates Potentially Dangerous Stereotype

Let’s talk about what “Keep being you” really means

Rand Bishop
Prism & Pen
Published in
4 min readJul 3, 2022

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The ad’s image that sticks in a viewer’s head

“If you’re living with HIV, keep being you. And ask your doctor about Biktarvi.”

These friendly words of encouragement, read oh so condescendingly by a voice-over professional, have rubbed me the wrong way from the first time I heard them… and, not…

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Rand Bishop
Prism & Pen

Bishop's latest book, the semi-autobiographical novel, Long Way Out, is available in e- and print editions through most major online booksellers.