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Jonathan Van Nessis ready to open up about being HIV positive.
Ahead of the release of his memoirOver the Top, which hits shelves Sept. 24, theQueer Eyestar, 32, opened up toThe New York Timesabout his health and history of addiction.
“I’ve had nightmares every night for the past three months because I’m scared to be this vulnerable with people,” he said. “There are issues that need to be talked about.”
In his new memoir, one of the revelations Van Ness shares is that he tested positive for HIV when he was 25, after fainting while working on a client’s hair, theTimesreports.
“That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be,” he writes in the book, according to the newspaper.
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“For a lot of people who are survivors of sexual assault at a young age, we have a lot of compounded trauma,” he told the newspaper.
As a young teenager, Van Ness said he would meet up with older men and that after using up his money on drugs in college, he “advertised sex for money on Gay.com,” according to theTimes.
By the time he was in his early 20s, Van Ness was using methamphetamine and then went to rehab twice, the newspaper reports.
TheQueer Eyestar turned his life around and has not used hard drugs in years, theTimesreports.
Van Ness, who describes himself as a healthy and proud “member of the beautiful HIV-positive community,” went on to say why he chose to disclose his status.
“WhenQueer Eyecame out, it was really difficult because I was like, ‘Do I want to talk about my status?’ ” he told theTimes. “And then I was like, ‘The Trump administration has done everything they can do to have the stigmatization of the LGBT community thrive around me.’ ”
He paused before adding, “I do feel the need to talk about this.”
“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.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
