HIV Positive Celebrities Who Brought Attention to the AIDS Disease

HIV/AIDS has been around since the 80s. At the beginning of the AIDS crisis, there was a lot of myths concerning the disease and its modes of transmission.

Today things have changed. While people still can be stigmatized regarding the disease, it has become more acceptable as people have gained knowledge about through the experience of others.

Today, people are more comfortable discussing their health status in public.  Many celebrities have come out to discuss their own contraction of HIV which has helped it become more socially acceptable.

Thanks to medical treatment, they are living productive lives.  Due to education, they are being more accepted despite their HIV/AIDS status.

Below is a list of some of the most recognized Celebrities that have contracted AIDS.

Magic Johnson

Johnson was one of the first celebrities to announce his HIV status. He came out in 1991. At that time, the HIV Stigma was quite high. Johnson announced it at a press conference while simultaneously announcing that he would be retiring from the Lakers. During his press conference, Johnson stated that he was going to live for a long time. Since retiring, Johnson continued working as a sports commentator. He also founded the Magic Johnson Foundation which teaches people how not to spread the HIV virus.

Danny Pintauro

Pintauro was best known for his character as Jonathan on the smash TV series, ‘Who’s The Boss.’ Pintauro was diagnosed in 2001 and kept his HIV status hidden for 12 years. In 2015, he gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey and came out about his status. Pintauro stated he was scared to come out because it wasn’t something people were discussing. He also stated that he was taking Crystal Meth at the time and was sorry he didn’t know the man he contracted the virus from. Today Pintauro works as an AIDS activist.

Greg Louganis

In the 80s Louganis was one of the greatest Olympic divers. Six months prior to the Olympics, in 1988, he was diagnosed HIV positive. In 1995, Louganis announced that he was HIV positive upon  the released of his memoir. In 1995, the gold medallist did an interview with Barbara Walter where he spoke about his HIV status for the first time in public. Today he campaigns for HIV awareness.

Charlie Sheen

Sheen comes from a show business family. His father is Martin Sheen and his brother Emilio Estevez. Sheen announced the fact that he is HIV positive in 2015 after he was being blackmailed for $10 million to keep his secret quiet. This was four years after he was diagnosed. Sheen admitted that he continued to have sexual relations with women even after he learned his HIV status. Today Sheen continues to act and is now one year sober.

Monda Guerra

Armando Thomas Guerra is better known as Mondo, a Mexican-American fashion designer from Denver, Colorado. Mondo was the winner of the first Project Runway All-Stars Season. In Season 8, he came in second. He was diagnosed with HIV in 2000 when he was 22-years-old. In 2017, Mondo had his first show at New York’s Fashion Week.

Sources:

USA Today: ‘Who’s the Boss’ star Danny Pintauro: I’m HIV-Positive
Washington Post: Charlie Sheen says he’s HIV-positive, has been extorted for $10 million over diagnosis
The Body: Walking the Walk: Mondo Guerra’s First Show at New York Fashion Week
Everyday Health: ‘Project Runway’ Alum Mondo Guerra: With HIV, Comes Great Responsibility
Very Well Health: Olympic Champion and HIV Advocate Greg Louganis
Poz: How Magic Johnson Told His Wife—and Ex-Lovers—He Had HIV

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