Billy Porter Says He Feels Like A ‘Free Man’ After Revealing His HIV Status

 Billy Porter Says He Feels Like A ‘Free Man’ After Revealing His HIV Status

Pose star Billy Porter sat down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show yesterday [May 27th], and discussed how ‘free’ he feels after publicly revealing his 2007 HIV diagnosis in an article by the Hollywood Reporter. He said,

“I’ve been positive since 2007. And you know, having lived through the AIDS crisis, it was heavy for me.”

After going public with the news, Porter said,

“a huge burden has been lifted from his shoulders.”

Billy Porter opened up about overcoming the negative stigma associated with being HIV positive, and the shame he felt throughout the years about his status.

He explained,

“I lived with the shame of it for a really long time and last week, I released that shame. I released that trauma and I am a free man, honey. Free! I’ve never felt joy like this before.”

In the candid conversation, Billy Porter talked about the joy he now feels. He said,

“I’ve never felt joy like this before. And you know, we talk about it in the Black church you know, this joy that I have-the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away. I got it, I got some joy now.”

Check out a clip from the interview below.

Porter talked about the emotionally supportive responses he’s received since ‘coming out’, and how that overwhelming support  has helped him release past trauma, giving him a new lease on life.

What are your thoughts on Billy Porter feeling ‘free’ after publicly revealing his HIV diagnosis? Let us know in the comments!