An HIV-Positive Man Asked Strangers To Touch Him. What Happened Next Brought Him To Tears

This man, named Janne, is HIV-positive; and he recently stood in a public space with his eyes closed and his arms outstretched with a sign asking people to touch him.

The reactions he got were then caught on camera.

Some people read the sign and walked away, keeping their distance; but others came closer, holding his hand or patting him on the shoulder.

Then, one by one, the video shows women, men and children of all ages stepping forward to embrace him.

The experience brought Janne to tears.

According to the video description, Janne, who had collaborated with Finland’s national public broadcasting company Yle for the experiment, had wanted to “raise awareness of HIV” and to challenge the stigma that surrounds the condition.

As Buzzfeed notes, the video’s release coincides with Pride Week in Helsinki.

Watch the moving clip above.