The drag queen from Kansas City, Missouri has opened up about her battle with HIV-positive after she was diagnosed with the incurable disease two years ago.
- March 17, 2024
AceShowbiz - Q, a 26-year-old drag queen from Kansas City, Missouri, competing in "RuPaul's Drag Race", has announced her HIV-positive diagnosis two years ago. On Friday's show, she discussed her journey in an emotional runway segment inspired by the gay community lost to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.
Q's initial reaction to her diagnosis was marked by feelings of isolation and fear. "When I first got my diagnosis, I felt really lost and super alone," she recounted. Concerns about stigma and judgment from family and society weighed heavily on her.
However, Q's experiences have led her to advocate for increased representation of queer individuals in the healthcare field. "You know, people have said really awful and nasty things to me, almost dehumanizing me," she said. "It's crazy how much people with HIV have to deal with. I've been treated differently by healthcare providers."
Q believes that having queer providers can make a significant difference in the quality of care. "I think it's so important to have queer people in healthcare. You really feel that difference in care between those providers."
Q's journey mirrors that of previous "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestants Ongina and Trinity K. Bonet, who have also bravely shared their HIV-positive statuses on the show.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Q has emerged stronger. "I'm here, I'm on 'Drag Race,' I know I'm living my dreams," she affirmed. "I know I have a loving husband that really supports and loves me, no matter what."
