Zachary Quinto defends controversial HIV comments
The Heroes actor has responded to the criticism he received for his comments regarding gay men, Prep and HIV prevention.
Quinto made the comments last year, when discussing the growing use preventative measures – such as PrEP and Truvada – that are increasingly used as safeguards against HIV among gay men.
The Star Trek actor stated: “I think there’s a tremendous sense of complacency in the LGBT community.
“AIDS has lost the edge of horror it possessed when it swept through the world in the ’80s.
“Today’s generation sees it more as something to live with and something to be much less fearful of,” he added.
“And that comes with a sense of – dare I say – laziness.”
His comments were met with an understandable backlash from the gay community and the actor later attempted to clarify his position, by denying accusations of “internalised homophobia”.
Quinto has now spoken further about his initial comments, and the harsh criticism he faced.
The actor – who came out in 2011 – said he knows “tons of people who are taking it and using [PrEP],” noting that it is “a thing to do now,” though it’s “not for me.”
He also reiterated his thoughts on HIV prevention: “Look, I just think we need to be vigilant as a community and a community of gay men.
“It was not my intention to judge anybody or to rankle anybody, or to put myself in some kind of superior position by any means,” he explained to The Huffington Post.
“I think if people use PrEP as part of a responsible regimen of taking care of themselves and preserving their bodies and their well-being and the well-being of the people they’re having sex with, then more power to them.”
“There was this thing that I was ‘slut-shaming.’ Anybody who knows me knows that that is the last thing I would ever do.
“I just think that we can’t let our guard down.”
