Pose star Billy Porter kept HIV-positive diagnosis a secret for 14 years

evoke.ie:

Star of the hit show Pose Billy Porter has spoken out for the first time about testing positive for HIV, and the reasons behind why he kept it a secret for 14 years.

The American actor admitted that during 2007, which he says was the ‘worst year of my life’, he went to the doctor with a pimple, got his six-month HIV check, and his worst fears were met when the results came back stating that he was HIV-positive.

Billy Porter revealed that his diagnosis was met with years of shame after growing up in a religious family, and not wanting to tell his mother about it.

But 14 years on, the Broadway star has chosen to let go of this shame and speak about his illness, after the pandemic has made him reevaluate his life.