eltonfan.net  
Home  |  News  |  Tour  |  Charts  |  Board  |  Archive  |  Shop  |  Links  |  FAQ  |  Contact  
 


 Search Hercules News
 
 
 ELTON JOHN NEWS 

Elton sends message of support to HIV+ parliamentary candidate
Tuesday, March 31 2015

When Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett revealed to BuzzFeed News last night that he is HIV positive, he was, he said, braced for a hostile reaction. Instead, his bravery has been widely applauded – not least by Elton and David.

The searingly honest interview, in which the Liberal Democrat candidate for Vauxhall described how he sought out the virus amid a desperate period of self-destruction, suicidal tendencies, and drug abuse, was among the most frank from anyone seeking public office.

“I know the person who I’m 99% certain I became HIV positive from. It was my own fault, I was looking for it,” he told BuzzFeed News, before adding. “I didn’t really want HIV. I wanted annihilation of me.”

The candidate, who recently married his partner, explained that this self-harming came as a result of a childhood beset by horrific homophobic bullying, triggering suicide attempts as a teenager. “I tried to throw myself out the window a couple of times,” he said. “I was not happy with who I was. I thought, ‘What’s the point of living?’”

After hearing about the story, Elton and David contacted BuzzNews News with a heartfelt message of support for Hyyrylainen-Trett.

“Elton John and David Furnish applaud Adrian Trett for his courage and bravery in publicly acknowledging his HIV+ status,” the statement said. “He is a fine example that HIV+ people live robust, happy and productive lives. We wish him all the best.”

Echoing their words of encouragement, Anne Aslett, the executive director of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, told BuzzFeed News: “AIDS, perhaps more than any infectious disease, has been driven by fear, shame, and denial, so it’s always encouraging when anyone, in any walk of life, feels they can be open about living with HIV. The reality is we have the medicines and understanding to give people living with HIV a very good quality of life. It would be tragic if people in the UK who are infected don’t take advantage of that. The Foundation’s more important goal in the UK is to help make sure that they do.”

The messages profoundly moved Hyyrylainen-Trett. He told BuzzFeed News: “I’m completely overwhelmed to have the support of Elton John and David Furnish and particularly appreciate it coming as a result of disclosing my HIV status. Their kindness means a lot to me, not least because Elton and David, along with the Elton John AIDS Foundation, have worked tirelessly on combatting HIV/AIDS – and the stigma surrounding it – for years.”

Back to Headlines


© 1997-2017 by HERCULES International. Hercules is not affiliated with Elton John`s management or the Elton John Aids Foundation.  
Please note that this site has been discontinued on March 31, 2017 and will not be updated anymore.