Actor Billy Porter has revealed that he has been HIV positive for 14 years and is opening up now as it¡¯s time for him to move on because shame is destructive.
In a tell allinterview with Hollywood Reporter, Billy said, ¡°The truth is the healing. And Ihope this frees me. I hope this frees me so that I can experience real, unadulteratedjoy, so that I can experience peace, so that I can experience intimacy, so thatI can have sex without shame. This is for me¡±.
He further addedthat he cannot destroy himself by keeping the truth to himself, ¡°This is whatHIV-positive looks like now. I survived so that I could tell the story. That'swhat I'm here for. I'm the vessel, and emotionally that was sufficient -- untilit wasn't. It's time to grow up and move on because shame is destructive -- andif not dealt with, it can destroy everything in its path¡±.
The 51-year-oldspoke about how he lived in shame for 14 years, ¡°The shame of that timecompounded with the shame that had already (accumulated) in my life silencedme, and I have lived with that shame in silence for 14 years.
Porter even revealedthat he has been the healthiest right now and wants to break the stigma aroundHIV, ¡°I'm the healthiest I've been in my entire life... So it's time to let allthat go and tell a different story. There's no more stigma -- let's be donewith that. It's time¡±.
The actor iscurrently featured in the third and final season of Pose and will be seen playinggenderless Fairy Godmother in Cinderella starring Camila Cabello in the title role.
It¡¯s also reportedthat Billy is writing his memoir and is in talks for his documentary withNetflix.