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Rory O’Neill compares being HIV positive to having a tattoo: ‘I never think about it’

Rory O’Neill has compared being HIV positive to having a tattoo, and admitted that he rarely thinks about it.

The gay rights activist, best known as his drag alter ego Panti Bliss, was diagnosed at 27 years old.

“I never think about it,” he said about comparing the two.

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The Mayo native revealed that when he was younger he got a tattoo while he was drunk that he never thinks about – much like his illness.

“The daily reality of it is almost nothing. When I was 18 and drunk, I got a small tattoo on my back, and I always compare it to that,” he told Gay Star News.

“I never think about it until someone says, ‘I didn’t know you had a tattoo’ and I say, ‘Oh yeah.’

“Sometimes I think people don’t want me to say that because they think I’m minimising it. I’m not. It’s life-changing, but it’s not life-ending, you know?

“Like any change in your life, big or small, you adapt to it. It’s not something I’m thinking about all the time or something that impacts enormously on my day-to-day life.”

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Tattoo: Rory admitted that he doesn’t think about his illness, much like his tattoo | VIPIRELAND.COM

Rory is also starring is a video to promote the “My HIV, My Rules, My Journey” campaign.

“It encourages people living with HIV to plan for their future and take control.”

“I get emails, not just from HIV positive people, but also young gay people,” he added.

“It’s a responsibility to be aware of that.

“I’m an entertainer and I want people to have a good time at my shows, but I want them to take away something to think about.”

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