Queer Eye's Jonathan thanks fans after revealing HIV diagnosis – digitalspy.com, Digitalspy.com

Queer Eyestar Jonathan Van Ness has thanked his fans, friends and followers for all of their “love and support” after he revealed he’s living with HIV.

The reality star opens up about his HIV diagnosis in his new memoirOver The Top, withThe New York Timessharing extracts from the book in a recent feature.

Speaking to the publication, Van Ness explained that he hopes he will be able to help tackle the stigma around HIV by recounting his experiences, saying: “It’s hard for me to be as open as I want to be when there are certain things I haven’t shared publicly. These are issues that need to be talked about.

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“WhenQueer Eyecame out, it was really difficult because I was like, ‘Do I want to talk about my status? ‘”he continued.

” And then I was like,’ The Trump administration has done everything they can do to have the stigmatisation of the LGBT community thrive around me ‘ . I do feel the need to talk about this. “

After the article went live, the star soon shared an update on his Instagram Stories in which he thanked everyone who reached out to him, sharing that he was “feeling so much love and support”.

“Just want to say thank you all so much especially myQueer Eyefamily and countless other friends and family for reaching out today, “he added.

“Not only to the people who I have known but everyone else who has showered me with grace. It truly means the world.”

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Related:Gareth Thomas gets emotional onThis Morningwhile talking about HIV diagnosis

In his memoir, Jonathan describes being diagnosed with the condition at the age of 25, after he fainted while at work in a hair salon. The next day he visited Planned Parenthood and tested positive for HIV.

“That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be,” he wrote.

In a separate interview withThe Guardian‘sObserverMagazine, Jonathan added that it took him “some time to figure out how to put [his] life together”, but he also credits the diagnosis for encouraging him to “fight”.

“I absolutely do not think I’d have been as socially aware or conscious or want to make as much of a difference. It gave me a reason to really fight,” he

He continued: “It occurred to me: what if everything I’ve ever been through was preparing me for this moment – to be strong enough to share this, and to share it on my own terms.

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“Part of that for me is to process what’s happened, but the bigger part is that I wanted to do something to move the conversation forward in a meaningful way around HIV / Aids, and what it is to live with HIV, and to humanize and normalize a lot of the things I talk about. “

Jonathan also added that he wants to address false perceptions about living with HIV, acknowledging that the stigma is still hard to overcome.

“These are all difficult subjects to talk about on a makeover show about hair and makeup,” he added. “That doesn’t meanQueer Eyeis less valid, but I want people to realize you’re never too broken to be fixed. “

Modern medicine means that HIV people can live regular and healthy lives , and cannot pass it on to other people.You can find out more information here.

Queer Eyeairs on Netflix, whileOver The Top: My Storyby Jonathan Van Ness will be published on September 24, and is available to pre-order now.

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