9. She Didn’t Hesitate To Shake The Hands Of Someone With AIDS
For years, there was a false belief that people with AIDS were contagious simply by standing near them. This made people terrified of AIDS patients, and they didn’t want to go anywhere near them. Of course, the reality is that AIDS can only be spread through the exchange of bodily fluids. Princess Diana was the first member of the royal family to shake hands with AIDS patients without wearing gloves. There has never been a royal who went out of their way to help a community of sick people like this.
This act of kindness was considered to be a huge moment for people who had AIDS, and who had been falsely treated as social pariahs. Princess Diana was known for being friends with several gay men, namely Elton John and Gianni Versace. She knew first-hand how horrible the stigma was for the gay community. Because of her compassion, it quickly became public knowledge that AIDS doesn’t spread through touch alone. Today, this is taught in sex education classes in High School, and there are few people who believe the old misconception.
