When Danny Roberts decided to return to reality TV after two decades to film "The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans," he made it clear to producers he wanted to share his experiences as a person living with HIV.
After all, Roberts understands the importance of visibility in the media. During the original run of "The Real World: New Orleans" in 2000, his relationship with Paul Dill, a man in the Army (who appeared with his face blurred), showed the personal cost of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and became a defining moment for LQBTQ representation in pop culture.
Nor was his diagnosis a secret: Roberts, who learned he was HIV-positive about a decade ago, went public in 2018 and has spoken about the importance of fighting the stigma the disease still carries. While filming "Homecoming" late last year, he shared lengthy conversations about his diagnosis and the effect it has had on his life.
