diff --git a/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-template.hbs b/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-template.hbs
index cdf39cfa..2ed94ca1 100644
--- a/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-template.hbs
+++ b/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-template.hbs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
     {{#if variableMetadata.columnmeta_var_report_comment}}
         <div>Variable Report Comment: {{variableMetadata.columnmeta_var_report_comment}}</div>
     {{/if}}
-    {{#if variableMetadata.columnmeta_is_stigmatized}}
+    {{#if isStigmatized}}
         <div>This variable is stigmatizing.</div>
     {{/if}}
 </div>
diff --git a/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-view.js b/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-view.js
index f0297ef2..884bcb36 100644
--- a/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-view.js
+++ b/biodatacatalyst-ui/src/main/webapp/picsureui/search-interface/variable-info-modal-view.js
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ define(["jquery", "backbone", "handlebars", "underscore", "text!search-interface
                 this.modalTemplate = HBS.compile(modalTemplate);
                 this.varId = opts.varId;
                 const variableInfo = variableInfoCache[opts.varId];
-                const filterTitleText = this.isOpenAccess && variableInfo?.variableMetadata.columnmeta_is_stigmatized ? 'This variable is stigmatizing.' : "Click to configure a filter using this variable.";
-                const disabledClass =  (this.isOpenAccess && variableInfo.variableMetadata.columnmeta_is_stigmatized) ? 'disabled-icon' : '';
+                const filterTitleText = this.isOpenAccess && variableInfo?.variableMetadata.columnmeta_is_stigmatized === "true" ? 'This variable is stigmatizing.' : "Click to configure a filter using this variable.";
+                const disabledClass =  (this.isOpenAccess && variableInfo.variableMetadata.columnmeta_is_stigmatized === "true") ? 'disabled-icon' : '';
                 const exportTitleText = "Click to add this variable to your data retrieval.";
                 const dataTreeTitleText = "Click to view the data tree for this variable.";
                 variableInfo.isAuthorized = !JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem('isOpenAccess'));
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ define(["jquery", "backbone", "handlebars", "underscore", "text!search-interface
                                               && variableInfo?.variableMetadata?.data_hierarchy !== "{}";
                 variableInfo.dataTreeTitleText = dataTreeTitleText;
                 variableInfo.disabledClass = disabledClass;
+                variableInfo.isStigmatized = variableInfo?.variableMetadata.columnmeta_is_stigmatized === "true";
                 this.dataTableData = opts.dataTableData;
                 tagFilterModel.get('requiredTags').bind('add', this.tagRequired.bind(this));
                 tagFilterModel.get('excludedTags').bind('add', this.tagExcluded.bind(this));