Eurovision diva Conchita Wurst reveals she is HIV-positive
Conchita Wurst, who won Eurovision for Austria in 2014 (Photo by Nigel Treblin/Getty Images)
Austrian drag icon Conchita Wurst has opened up about living HIV – to thwart alleged attempts to expose her status publicly.
The former Eurovision winner, real name Tom Neuwirth, spoke for the first time on Monday about their HIV status in an emotional German-language Instagram post.
Wurst wrote: “I have been HIV-positive for many years. This is actually irrelevant to the public, but an ex-boyfriend has threatened to go public with this private information, and I will not give anyone the right to frighten me and influence my life in the future.”
Conchita Wurst (Thomas Lohnes/Getty)
Wurst added: “I have been in medical treatment since I was diagnosed, and for many years [my viral load] has been under the detection limit, so I am not able to pass on the virus.
“I did not want to go public with it for a couple of reasons, two of which I will mention here: the most important one was my family, who have known and supported me unconditionally since day one.
“I would have gladly spared you the attention of the HIV status of your son, grandson and brother.
“Likewise, my friends have been aware of this for quite some time and are dealing with it in the non-judgemental way that I would hope everyone else will.
“Secondly, it is information that I believe is mainly relevant to those people with whom I could have sexual contact.”
Conchita Wurst (Pierre Suu/Getty)
However, the singer added: “Coming out is better than being outed by third party.
“I hope to build up courage and take another step against the stigmatisation of people who have become infected by HIV, either through their own behaviour or through no fault of their own.
“To my fans: the information about my HIV status may be new to you – but my status is not! I’m happy and healthy, and I’m stronger, more motivated and liberated than ever. Thank you for your support!”
The drag performer won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Rise Like a Phoenix,” and later became a powerful ambassador for diversity around the world – performing at both the European Parliament and the United Nations.
Wurst has been supported by HIV groups, who hit out at the attempts to expose the star’s HIV status.
Ian Green, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “The decision to talk openly about your HIV status should be a personal one and not taken away or ever, ever used as a threat.
“Threatening to reveal someone’s HIV status, under any circumstances, is entirely wrong. What other health condition would be used as blackmail against someone? And we know this isn’t something which only happens to those in the public eye.
“Despite all the medical advances we’ve made in the fight against HIV, in treatment and in testing, Conchita’s Instagram post highlights how much more we have to do to tackle the abhorrent stigma which still surrounds the virus.
“We applaud Conchita for handling this with such dignity and including in her post that people living with HIV who are on effective treatment, like her, can’t pass the virus on. This is because HIV medication works by shrinking the amount of virus in the blood to undetectable levels, which both protects the immune system from damage and prevents HIV from being passed on to anyone else.
“Conchita has done so much good since winning Eurovision four years ago, and has shown her strength of character once again in her handling of this situation.”
