Zachary Quinto denies ‘slut-shaming’ over PrEP comments: ‘That’s absurd. I love sluts!’
By Will Stroude
In Attitude’s special edition Red Issue to mark World AIDS Day, Hollywood superstar Zachary Quinto speaks frankly about life, love and sexual health, and denies that comments he made last year about pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs (PrEP) were an attempt to ‘slut-shame’ those who take them as a preventative measure against HIV.
Back in August Quinto told OUT Magazine he thought that “Today’s generation sees [HIV] more as something to live with and something to be much less fearful of. And that comes with a sense of, dare I say, laziness.”
“We need to be really vigilant and open about the fact that these drugs are not to be taken to increase our ability to have recreational sex,” he said, adding they indicated an “incredible underlying irresponsibility.”
The Star Trek actor – who was accused by some of exhibiting ‘internalised homophobia’ with his remarks – tells Attitude he meant that individuals had “matter of responsibility to oneself and to one’s community”.
“If people are talking about it and having conversations, that’s awesome”, he says.
“Performing in [Tony Kushner’s AIDS-themed play] Angels in America made me realise had I been born a few years earlier I would have been in the sweep of that epidemic, there’s no question about it.
“So maybe there’s a proximity alert that goes off for me. I’m not trying to say people shouldn’t take PrEP, or that people shouldn’t have sex, or that sex isn’t amazing. It is. I’m just saying we should support each other and be responsible, whatever that means to you.”
The 38-year-old goes on to say that gay men have a responsibility to take care of their sexual health “in honour of an entire generation of men who were lost”.
“Have as much sex as you want, and any way you want to have it, as long as you’re accountable to the person you’re engaging with.
“I don’t think, frankly, that’s a controversial thing to say.”
He adds: “People said something about ‘slut-shaming’. I’m like, ‘Come on please, that’s absurd. I love sluts.'”
You can read our exclusive interview with Mr Quinto in our new ‘Red Issue’ for World AIDS Day, which is available to download to your mobile, iPad or tablet device now from pocketmags.com/attitude.
The new issue will be in shops next Wednesday (November 11), and print copies for global delivery can be ordered at newsstand.co.uk/attitude.
Also in this issue, alongside all your usual news, reviews, fashion and real life stories:
- US YouTube superstar Tyler Oakley talks about why sex and relationship education for young people is so important.
- Attitude explores the reality of ‘chemsex’ and the rising use of party drugs like crystal meth, mephedrone and GHB across an in-depth, 18-page feature. We hear from 18 gay/bisexual men, who talk frankly about their own personal experience of using drugs and the effect it has had on both themselves and those around them.
- We catch up with The X Factor’s Fleur East as she prepares to launch her assault on the charts with stomping debut single ‘Sax’.
- Paul Gambaccini talks exclusively to Attitude about his year being falsely accused under Operation Yewtree; an ordeal which threatened his livelihood, his sanity, and his faith in the British justice system.
- Mya Taylor, the breakout star of trans comedy-drama Tangerine, talks transgender representation in the year that gender issues finally went mainstream.
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