Why Billy Porter Felt 'Free' After Revealing His HIV-Positive Diagnosis

May 2024 · 2 minute read

In the May 27 episode of "The Tonight Show," Billy Porter spoke at length about his feelings after publicly revealing that he is HIV positive.

"I've been positive since 2007," he told Jimmy Fallon, further revealing why he initially kept his HIV status a secret. " ... Having lived through the AIDS crisis, it was heavy for me. It was a heavy year, 2007." As he detailed in The Hollywood Reporter, Porter filed for bankruptcy and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes that same year.

"I lived with the shame of it for a really long time," Porter continued. "And last week I released that shame, I released that trauma, and I am a free man, honey! Free!" The studio audience applauded him, telling Fallon he felt good. "I've never felt joy like this before," he said. "And, you know, we talk about it in the Black church," he reflected. "You know, this joy that I have — the world didn't give and the world can't take it away ... I got some joy now ... it really feels great."

Porter also spoke about how he initially decided not to go public with the diagnosis until his mother died, so that she wouldn't have to go through any "persecution" through her church. Six years after entering a nursing home, however, his mother is still "full of life," which is when he broke the news to her — and she had that heartwarming reaction.

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