When I performed at National AIDS Trust’s Drag Raise, it honestly felt like the best gig I’ve ever done. It had all the good bits of a big show – great atmosphere, amazing people, I felt really looked after – but also this deeper sense of meaning. I wasn’t just doing a set. I was part of something that aligned with who I am and what I care about. That’s rare, and special.
Living with HIV: my diagnosis journey
I was diagnosed with HIV in 2017, at 20. I wasn’t uneducated beforehand, in fact I was always telling my friends they had to be careful. I understood that HIV is now a manageable condition, so I didn’t think I was going to die or anything. But it still floored me. I felt like it destroyed my self-worth. I was angry, confused, and I kept my diagnosis to myself for a long time, only telling people in messy, emotional ways, often when I was drunk. I carried that weight for years before I started to find support, and find my voice.
What really helped me was starting training as a peer mentor in 2021 through Skyline, a charity in Leeds. It was the first time I’d ever spoken to other people living with HIV. Being heard and seen by other people and sharing our common experiences, was healing.
How drag became my advocacy tool
That same year, I started drag. At first, it was just a new creative outlet – Sue Pertrouper was born out of joy and chaos – but soon I began using drag to speak out about HIV, too. The first time I really combined the two was Pride 2022, when I did a Keith Haring-inspired look, and shared my HIV story on stage. It was powerful. And I realised then that this is what I’m meant to do.
Drag, visibility, and fighting HIV stigma
Drag and HIV advocacy are now completely entwined for me. Whether I’m on stage talking about stigma, or online sharing the facts, it’s about being visible and creating change – with a dose of glamour and humour thrown in. National AIDS Trust’s work matters deeply to me because it’s about challenging the system, fighting stigma, and pushing for real change, not just for now, but for the future.
A future without HIV transmissions
Achieving the goal of ending transmissions in the UK 2030 might not change my diagnosis, but it could mean someone else never has to receive one. And even if we don’t hit the target, we keep pushing. That’s why Drag Raise felt so right: it was activism, but it was joyful, loud and defiant. Very much like Kyle – and Sue!
