Billy Porter has “survivor’s guilt” for leading a full life with HIV.
The 53-year-old singer and actor was diagnosed with the disease in 2007 and he expresses gratitude for so many medical advances that have been made in treating the condition for his generation when so many before him lost their lives to AIDS.
“I’ve had survivor’s guilt. I’ve been HIV positive since 2007 and it f***** me up for a minute. It’s not lost on me that I am part of the generation that has kicked the door down, and I get to walk through that door – that doesn’t happen often,” Porter told Gay Times.
Initially, the “Pose” star believed he “should have known better” and felt shame in contracting the disease, but has since become more optimistic.
“Now I understand that I’m here to speak for that generation and remind the world of who we are and [who we have] always been. Our contributions will be honored and I get to be a part of making sure that happens and that is a gift to me,” he said.
Porter has also taken on the responsibility of educating the younger generations on acceptance, love and unity in all communities.
“We’ve been living in such a progressive space for so long, there is a full generation of young people that were born into rights that you didn’t know didn’t even exist 10 or 20 years ago,” he explained.
