In a moving interview with the New York Times published over the weekend, Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness opens up about being HIV-positive.
“When Queer Eye came out, it was really difficult because I was like, ‘Do I want to talk about my status?’,” the 32-year-old non-binary reality TV star says.
But Trump rolling back LGBTQ rights and stripping away funding for HIV/AIDS research made him feel the need to speak out.
“I’ve had nightmares every night for the past three months because I’m scared to be this vulnerable with people,” he says. “There are issues that need to be talked about.”
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Throughout his 20s, Van Ness struggled with addiction to sex and drugs. He went to rehab twice and relapsed both times. Then, when he was 25, he fainted at work.
The next day, he went to Planned Parenthood to be examined for flu-like symptoms. And that’s when he tested positive for HIV.
“That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be,” Van Ness writes in his new memoir, which he hopes will help dispel some of the misconceptions people have about HIV.
Since “coming out” as poz, Van Ness has received an outpouring of love and support from people on Twitter, proving HIV stigma may (finally!) be on the outs…
I knew I loved @jvn but I didn’t realize I had even more of a reason to love him. It’s so important for EVERYONE (queer/str8) to recognize that being poz is chill AF. HIV stigma is trash. Throw your ideas and phobias away! HIV=
— andee eskobar (@theandyescobar) September 22, 2019
His story is my story.
His story may be your story.
Don't think you're alone in this, because you are not.@jvn #hiv #LGBTQunited— Cecil Baldwin (@CecilBaldwinIII) September 22, 2019
We should all commend Jonathan Van Ness for his bravery and honesty in revealing he is HIV positive. He’s helping to erase stigma and shows what beautiful and thriving lives people with HIV can lead. You are amazing @jvn. https://t.co/ZX8XZ0mtb8
— Ryan Schocket (@RyanSchocket) September 21, 2019
Dear @jvn – you make the world a braver, kinder, and more gorgeous place. ?? https://t.co/7bjoEEx0sN
— Brené Brown (@BreneBrown) September 21, 2019
A friend who is a HS counselor told me a heartbreaking story about a kid getting diagnosed with HIV last week. I can’t fucking imagine how that kid feels today upon learning that one of the thrivingest queers on the planet is positive too. @jvn, you just changed the universe.
— Amelia Bonow (@ameliabonow) September 21, 2019
Going public with this info is fucking exhausting and opens you up to so much toxicity in the world, but the work needs to be done so that the stigma ends. https://t.co/Er7FtcdY6Q
— 10X Impostor Syndrome (@furioursus) September 21, 2019
We ended up having a huge conversation with our boys last night about the AIDS crisis of the late 80s – mid 90s, how it devastated communities, where that left us, the state of play now. We talked for over an hour. That's because of @jvn – my kids love him. Brave and good man.
— Sali Hughes (@salihughes) September 23, 2019
Thank you @jvn. You are helping so many in the HIV+ community by being your beautiful self. https://t.co/nvmEEbr0nx
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) September 21, 2019
Big admiration to Jonathan Van Ness @jvn today for disclosing his HIV status and history with addiction. Every time someone opens these tough conversations, stigma is eroded, and people's lives are made safer and easier, and we all benefit.
— Nicole Stamp (@nicolestamp) September 23, 2019
When it comes to bigots (esp re the recent JVN HIV revelation) yes, they exist together as a group, but it’s a group that’s bonded by hatred.
Our community (the LGBTQ+ and it’s allies) and the community of people living with HIV are bonded by love.
That’s really unbeatable.
— John Whaite (@John_Whaite) September 22, 2019
Van Ness now describes himself as an “out and loud member of the beautiful HIV-positive community.”
“These are all difficult subjects to talk about,” Van Ness says, “but I want people to realize you’re never too broken to be fixed.”
Related: Real World’s Danny Roberts comes out as HIV-positive, says “I spent so long beating myself up”
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Catholicslutbox
Just wait until he gets on grindr or tries finding a date (w/o psuedo-celeb status.)
Taddpole
Even Catholic sluts should know about prep by now. You do understand that even the CDC has declared that undetectable equals untransmittable.
ShiningSex
grindr is full of HIV+ people duh!!! It’s a quick f*ck hook up.
VincentBrown1212
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evanxx
This person is supposed to be a celebrity? I didn’t know being HIV-poz makes a person famous. I never saw or heard of him/her until a week ago. My friend must be a ‘rock-star’ because he’s been HIV+ for decades.
Kangol2
Earth to @evanxx, Jonathan Van Ness is one of the stars of Queer Eye, the reboot of the famous series from a decade and a half ago. This site and numerous others have featured the Queer Eye stars repeatedly, so Van Ness is famous for a lot more than being poz.
evanxx
Kangol2 _ This new ‘Queer Eyes’ isn’t on TV _ Duh! It’s on one of those private subscriber streaming networks. Not everyone can afford more than basic cable. I never watched the trashy original version because I’m an adult male.
EmmanuelGarcia1207
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Cam
So he was already positive when he posed for a Publicity shot with rabid homophobe Candace Cameron Bure, who basically attacked Danny Pinturo on her show and shamed him for being HIV positive?
I’m glad he is feeling good and going public, but the Queery Eye publicists REALLY need to cut out the “Let’s get right wingers to watch the show by supporting the homophobes” B.S.
michaelf7466
I bet he’s had that experience many times since he tested positive. He wasn’t a celebrity 7 years ago when he found out. And fighting stigma is what is needed. So why have such a cynical, negative response? Clearly you’re part of the problem here not solution.
tjack47
He seems like such a sweet and funny person. I am ignorant of the extent of HIV stigma today. I can only imagine Grindr. I feel, as I have mental illness, I know there is stigma in the LGBT+ community regarding mental illness. I test annually for every STI. I was lucky, as I’ve been sexually assaulted too. I think my sexual behaviors are low risk for HIV, but it’s other STI’s I feel one may get even if safe sex is practiced. Herpes can be contracted with a condom. I’ve never forgotten that lesson from a young woman who did a presentation about it in speech. I think it’s great they are open and talking about it. Grindr be damned.
ShiningSex
Good for him
Brian
Something tells me that nobody bothering to tweet positive things about this had their opinion changed by his opening up about being positive. Show me some Yahoo or Breitbart comments supporting him and I’ll believe we’re making progress.
Vince
Well breitbart negativity is going to be expected. Yahoo, BuzzFeed,etc the overwhelming response is the F@g deserved it.
Itsonlythetruth
Not really sure how to refer to those who identify as non-binery, he, she, it? The HIV status not of any interest to me.
SiamSean
Sick to death of seeing this guy’s face in the news. NOW what will he come up with to stay in view?
boymikefl
Wear a rubber every time.
ElPillo
I don’t know him but I find his public persona unlikeable
Doug
Thank you. I admire the attention he’s giving to make a point about HIV, but I find this man incredibly annoying. He seems like he’s putting on an act most of the time… none of it seems authentic.
HangryStarfish
Not to diminish his experience or take away from the bravery it probably took him to risk some portion of his fan base to come out publicly with this news, but I would hardly call a bunch of supportive tweets to an already beloved (if somewhat stereotypical) gay celebrity from his fans a sign that the stigma faced by millions of non-celebrity men and women living with HIV is on the decline. It proves that being cute, funny, and famous still earns one the types of privilege in the gay community that most of us couldn’t get if we paid for it. The comments here that have pessimistically posited what things would be like for him on the hookup apps are valid, because there isn’t a day that goes by when I haven’t encountered bigotry and discrimination from gay men for being open and honest in disclosing my HIV+/u status. It’s so prevalent that I actually started capturing screenshots of the nasty things gay men think it’s okay to say to us instead of politely declining any advances made by a poz person. Stigma is very much still around, Queerty. It’s just harder to see from up there on that pedestal of fame.
evanxx
I agree with you about discrimination and stigma not changing when I disclose my status online. I get tons of hateful posts from gay men because I am AIDS/ undetectable. Most people who survived the AIDS crisis have some complex medical issues that are not clearly visible to friends & family involving stigma, depression, PTSD, & survivor’s guilt.
This is much less common with younger HIV+ people. AIDS is not the same as an HIV+diagnosis. I have the defining parameters of AIDS, defined by the CDC; and I won’t lie to get into someone’s pants. But I still am a ZERO HIV RISK/ U = U.
GymMan456
Does it really change the stigma? I would say to do so, you will have to do something more than show up as another positive. You must show its not so dangerous, or even debilitating. And over years. And right, he has got seven years. Its something.