World AIDS Day 2024: 9 Celebrities Who Spoke About Being HIV Positive, Shared Their Stories For Awareness
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Several stars have shared their HIV-positive status
- Celebrities like Jonathan Van Ness, Magic Johnson, and Charlie Sheen continue to live with HIV
- Billy Porter revealed in 2021 that he has been living with HIV since 2007
World AIDS Day, observed every December 1 for the past 33 years, focuses on raising awareness about HIV prevention. Organised by World Health Organisation (WHO), the day features global events led by governments and NGOs to educate about HIV, its treatment, and related challenges. It’s also a time to honour lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses. While advancements in treatment have been made, a complete cure for HIV remains elusive. A cure for HIV remains undiscovered, making prevention the only effective way to combat the virus. Several Hollywood stars have stepped forward and opened up about their stories of being HIV positive.
Here’s taking a look at 9 celebs who have opened up about being HIV positive:
1. Billy Porter: Diagnosed in 2007, the Pose star shared his status in 2021, inspired by his character. He emphasised breaking the stigma around the disease and living a healthy life.
2. Magic Johnson: The basketball legend announced his HIV status in 1991, becoming a key figure in raising awareness. He continues to advocate for education and prevention.
3. Charlie Sheen: Revealed his diagnosis in 2015 after years of secrecy and blackmail, aiming to inspire others with similar struggles.
4. Jonathan Van Ness: The Queer Eye star went public in 2019, advocating that HIV is manageable with proper treatment.
5. Javier Muñoz: The Hamilton lead has lived openly with HIV since 2002, focusing on breaking the stigma.
6. Ongina (RuPaul’s Drag Race): First sharing his status in 2009, the reality star and activist uses his platform to promote awareness and testing.
7. Danny Pintauro: The Who’s the Boss? actor disclosed his diagnosis in 2015, calling for openness within the LGBTQ+ community.
8. Eazy-E: The rapper announced his diagnosis in 1995, highlighting AIDS’ indiscriminate nature before passing days later.
9 . Rock Hudson: The first celebrity to reveal an AIDS diagnosis in 1985, bringing the crisis to national attention and spurring funding for research.
World AIDS Day 2024 Theme
This year, the WHO has unveiled a special theme for World AIDS Day 2024, focusing on the role of human rights in reaching the “Sustainable Development Goals” target of ending AIDS by 2030. The theme is: Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!
WHO shared on its official site, “A rights-based approach is not just a strategy; it is a commitment to uphold the dignity, health, and autonomy of every individual, especially those with vulnerabilities and are most at-risk. We must boldly tackle the stigma and discrimination that stand as formidable barriers to accessing prevention, treatment, and care.”
