For the past decade, Jack Mackenroth has been an outspoken voice when it comes to talking about and ending the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
Mackenroth first opened up about his HIV-positive status in 2008 while a contestant on Project Runway. Since then, he has dedicated much of his time to activism, working with a range of HIV/AIDS non-profits.
“I don’t mind being a poster boy for HIV,” Mackenroth tells HIV Plus in a new interview. “I was very cognizant of what I was doing when I came out on national TV a decade ago, because the HIV conversation had virtually disappeared from mainstream television.”
In more recent years, he’s also developed a reputation for being a bit of an Instagram hunk, regularly sharing thirsty photos with his nearly 120K followers, including the HIV Equal’s HIV “Shower Selfie” Challenge.
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Now, he says he’s taking a break from the activism stuff.
“The issue with non-profit stuff is that you are overworked and underpaid,” Mackenroth explains. “Like teachers, people expect that we should basically volunteer our services because we are doing important work.”
He continues, “I’m getting really close to 50, and I can’t be hoofing it all the time. It’s [also] relatively thankless work. I’m not doing it for accolades, but everyone likes… to feel like something beneficial is coming from your job.”
Mackenroth, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1990 when he was just 19, says for many years he didn’t bother planning for his future.
“I thought I was going to die at 25,” he admits. “My boyfriend died at 27. Until my mid-30s, I was like: ‘Why should I have a 401k?’ I wasn’t planning ahead. It’s been over the past decade, where I’m like, ‘I’m going to live. I need to plan for the future.’”
He recently launched an OnlyFans.com account, where he shares more explicit content. He also went back to school and got a degree in nursing, though he says he’ll always be an HIV activist at heart.
He explains: “Even when I’m not working in a HIV-specific arena … I’m so public about my status, I get two to three Instagram messages a day from someone in a foreign country who just found out [they’re HIV-positive].”
“I still respond to nearly everyone who reaches out,” he says. “I’m always available to talk. I’m very accessible. [People can] message me on Twitter or Instagram.”
Chrisk
Good article but why does Queerty need to call him a “instagram Daddy”. Is this something that he refers to himself or is he known for trolling twinks.
Geeker
Someone on another site posted a still from one of his videos and apparently, he can add Human Handpuppet to his list of skills.
greenchemical
Yeah.. seems he went down the shady underground porn world… It’s sad because he could be doing actual mainstream healthy and safe porn.
Darson
Yeah, saw more than a few of his amateur vids on xvideos. Raw dogging with multiple guys. Life long dream or bucket list? Discuss amongst yourselves.
WindChime
That sounds awful. Are you sure it was he in the amateur videos? I have a real hard time believing it. He has a magnificent physique and surely he doesn’t have to do that kind of work to degrade himself.
GetOffMyInternets
@WindChime yes he’s doing porn, I don’t see how because he has a perfect physique that it makes any difference about “degrading” himself. He’s also advertising on an escort site where he’s not only lied about his age but also his education. I don’t care that he’s a sex worker, it’s his life. But I think it’s pathetic that when you’re almost 50 that you shave of 17 years for your age and lie that you’re Ivy League. I found out about his escorting on datalounge, and originally he didn’t show his face in the pictures but his rather bland tattoos were a dead giveaway as well is using circulate directly pictures of himself with the head cut off. Now he’s proudly showing his face and owning the whore bell he’s ringing and honestly, good for him, But, I don’t think (personally) that he’s as intellectual much less as smart as he believes he is. Pretty stupid to lie about your age in one place and then pronounce your true age I’m another. And as for his porn, he’s as much fun watching as paint dry.
At this point, seeing Jack Mackenroth dressed is more unique. Having met him, all he cares about is being a poster boy for HIV and the exposure. He doesn’t care about helping other people or the cause, but whatever gig he can be naked at. He’s his own number one fan.
WindChime
If he looks much younger than his physical age, I think it is perfectly OK (brilliant if I am being honest) to state his “spiritual” age on his various profiles. After all, he is not lying; he is stating a reality most people would believe to be true.
GetOffMyInternets
And also to add, the above picture of him says positive for 29 years, which would mean to his “clients” he’s had HIV since he was 6.
Chrisk
@GetOffMyInternets. I’d say the very fact that he’s a poster boy for the HIV campaign means he’s helping other people. Someone has to do it..
The rest of your rant is just petty bs.
geb1966
And how about we list YOUR contributions to AIDS Awareness and fighting the stigma attached to the virus, Negative Nancy? By simply being honest about his status and being an example of how one can live with HIV he is helping others, dear. You tearing him down because he doesn’t meet your own puritanical moral code does nothing to hurt him or his reputation. It simply makes you seem like a very nasty person yourself. He is doing what he does on his onlyfans site to fund his education in nursing, since as he stated, HIV activism is not exactly a lucrative career. He has done a lot over the last 10 years since coming out as poz. His recent activities do not diminish his impact. And the fact that he is attractive doesn’t hurt. That may be what gets people’s attention, but even if that’s the case, if they learn anything at all about HIV, then he IS helping. So how about you have several seats. In fact, the balcony has been reserved for bitter asshats.
jpcolter
Only a piece of crap would think they know everything about what someone cares about after meeting someone. You know nothing about him so your opinion is irrelevant.
GetOffMyInternets
@WindChime If you see him in person, as I have…trust me. He looks every minute the age he actually is. No amount of photoshop is going to make a difference when you see him as he looks age.
seaguy
He is making amateur porn videos of him and other porn stars having sex so he can sex them to fund his schooling. He is free to do that and does not owe anyone any apologies or explanations. Slut shaming him for doing it is wrong. If you don’t like it don’t watch.
Bromancer7
Really guys? It’s 2018. Are we still slut-shaming people for doing whatever makes them happy? Stop already.
ElPillo
My feeling is exactly. Pious bitches passing judgement. Everyone involved knows what they are doing. Stop with the judgmental attitude.