{"id":66335,"date":"2018-03-25T12:25:26","date_gmt":"2018-03-25T16:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/abc-reporter-karl-schmid-comes-out-as-hiv-positive\/"},"modified":"2018-03-25T12:25:26","modified_gmt":"2018-03-25T16:25:26","slug":"abc-reporter-karl-schmid-comes-out-as-hiv-positive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/abc-reporter-karl-schmid-comes-out-as-hiv-positive\/","title":{"rendered":"ABC Reporter Karl Schmid Comes Out as HIV-Positive"},"content":{"rendered":"

ABC Reporter Karl Schmid Comes Out as HIV-Positive<\/b>
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Karl Schmid \/ Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Karl Schmid, an entertainment reporter for ABC\u2019s affiliate station in Los Angeles, came out as HIV-positive on Friday night in a heartfelt Facebook post<\/a> that has gone viral.<\/p>\n

Schmid said he has struggled about whether to be open about his status or not and has received advice that it would \u201cruin\u201d him in the news and entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

Said Schmid: \u201cHi. I\u2019m a 37 year old HIV+ man<\/a> who has been poz for almost ten years. I work in television. And on the side of the camera<\/a> where, for better or worse it\u2019s considered \u201ctaboo\u201d for people \u2018like me\u2019 to be \u2018like me\u2019. For 10 years I\u2019ve struggled with \u2018do I or don\u2019t I\u2019? For ten years the stigma and industry professionals have said, \u2018don\u2019t! It\u2019ll ruin you\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he\u2019s ignoring that advice because he feels no reason not to feel proud about who he is:<\/p>\n

\u201cBut here\u2019s the thing. I\u2019m me. I\u2019m just like you.\u00a0I have a big heart and I want to be loved and accepted. I may be on TV from time to time, but at the end of the day I\u2019m just an average guy<\/a> who wants want we all want. To be accepted and loved by our friends and family and to be encouraged by our peers.\u00a0<\/span>So here\u2019s what I say, stand tall, and stand proud. You can\u2019t make everybody happy but you can make you happy. And so long as you tell the truth, you will never have to remember anything. Labels are things that come and go but your dignity and who you are is what defines you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Schmid offered encouragement to others in similar situations: \u201cI know who I am, I know what I stand for and while in the past I may not have always had clarity, I do now. Love me or hate me, that\u2019s up to you. But, for anyone who has ever doubted themselves because of those scary three letters and one symbol, let me tell you this, you are somebody who matters. Your feelings, your thoughts, your emotions count. And don\u2019t let anybody tell you otherwise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, he concluded: \u201cI\u2019m Karl Schmid, and I\u2019m an HIV-positive man<\/a>!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Schmid followed his post up on Saturday night by expressing thanks for the outpouring of support he has received, tweeting: \u201cToday has been insanely overwhelming. I had NO idea that me sharing something would have such an impact. For those of you who dm\u2019d with your stories THANK YOU.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Today has been insanely overwhelming. I had NO idea that me sharing something would have such an impact. For those of you who dm\u2019d with your stories THANK YOU. Tonight, I\u2019m hanging out with my best friend and enjoying the talent that is @taylormacnyc in DTLA pic.twitter.com\/6X07KVsOaN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Karl Schmid (@KarlJSchmid) March 25, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Here\u2019s Schmid\u2019s 2017 host reel:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The post ABC Reporter Karl Schmid Comes Out as HIV-Positive<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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ABC Reporter Karl Schmid Comes Out as HIV-Positive<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n