Before Xiao Jun's case came to light, a young HIV carrier in East China's Anhui province had become the first Chinese person to fight employment discrimination directed against an HIV carrier. The man sued the Anqing education bureau in Anhui province after the bureau refused to give him a teaching post.

The court in Anhui ruled against the man in December. He later appealed to a higher court, which has yet to rule on the case, according to Xu.

Xu said he knows Xiao Jun isn't the only HIV carrier who has suffered from prejudice.

"Many don't have the courage to speak out, because they're afraid their information will be leaked," he said. "That could subject them to more discrimination."