Australian trampoline gymnast Ji Wallace has not only come out as gay- but has also revealed that he is HIV-positive.
Wallace won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and told The Star Observer that he was inspired to disclose his HIV status after watching an interview with Greg Louganis, who came out as HIV-positive in 1995, and the recent coming out of Anderson Cooper.
“I have never publicly disclosed this before but felt inspired by [the] interview and by Anderson Cooper’s coming out letter last month describing ‘value in being seen and heard’ in the face of disturbing violence, bullying, persecution and condemnation by peers, colleagues, government officials and worst of all my family and friends.”
Wallace went on to say, “Being seen does have value. A voice does have value. I have the support of my boyfriend, my great friends and my loving parents. Many do not and this is, in part, for them.”
Wallace is currently in London to cheer on his Aussie teammates.
Interview on Gaydar radio
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