Out actor Daniel Franzese has endorsed
use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, to reduce the risk of
contracting HIV.
Franzese, who is
best known for playing Damian in the film Mean Girls, joined
the cast of HBO's Looking in season 2 as Eddie, the
HIV-positive love interest of Agustin (played by Frankie J. Alvarez).
In an interview
with the Advocate, Franzese said that his character is not
defined by his status.
“Eddie's not
sick,” he
said. “There's no sad things that have to do with Eddie.
There are problematic things that he has to deal with in his life,
but most of them are social. It's not not going to be a 'very
special episode' about Eddie. I found that to be so progressive.”
PrEP, commonly
known as Truvada, has its critics who claim it's too early to embrace
as a prevention drug. Some point to its high price tag (up to $1,000
a month for the uninsured), while others worry that the once-a-day
pill will encourage risky sexual behavior.
Franzese, who
recently joined the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation as an
ambassador, said that if he were single, PrEP is something “that I
would immediately be on.”
“I think it's an
important thing that misconceptions about PrEP be clarified, not only
for our community but for everybody, to learn all of the different
measures that we can do to prevent and stop new infections,” he
said of how the issue is being handled on Looking.