(THE WRAP) — Karl Schmid, an on-camera reporter for ABC’s Los Angeles affiliate, came out as HIV positive on Friday night in a powerful Facebook post about stigma and acceptance.
The 37-year-old Australian import covers human interest stories and Hollywood on ABC7, reporting from events like the Academy Awards and the annual Vanity Fair Oscar party. After a decade living with HIV, Schmid said he came forward despite numerous industry peers urging him to stay quiet.
“For 10 years I’ve struggled with ‘do I or don’t I?’ For ten years the stigma and industry professionals have said, ‘don’t! It’ll ruin you,”’ wrote Schmid.
