In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, award-winning actor/singer Billy Porter (TV's Pose) revealed he's been living with HIV for almost 15 years, NBC News noted.
"This is what HIV-positive looks like now. I'm going to die from something else before I die from that," Porter said. "I'm the healthiest I've been in my entire life."
He added, "HIV-positive, where I come from, growing up in the Pentecostal church with a very religious family, is God's punishment."
Quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic—which Porter said finally gave him the luxury to think—"created a safe space for me to stop and reflect and deal with the trauma in my life." His self-reflection led him to decide that it was "time to put my big boy pants on and talk."
According to the CDC, Black gay and bisexual men face more barriers to HIV prevention and care than others, such as the combined effects of racism, HIV stigma and homophobia, which can prevent them from getting tested and seeking treatment.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first cases of AIDS being reported.
The Hollywood Reporter article is at www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/billy-porter-hiv-positive-diagnosis-1234954742/ .
