The actor and director Eduardo Casanova, known for his bold and transgressive cinematographic vision, has taken a step of immense courage and social significance by sharing a very intimate part of his life.Through an emotional publication on his Instagram account, the 34-year-old artist from Madrid made public that he lives with HIV.
It is, in his own words, the breaking of such an “unpleasant and painful silence after MANY years.” A silence that, as Casanova points out, is a heavy burden shared by many HIV-positive people. By revealing his diagnosis, the director transforms a personal experience into a political statement and an act of activism.
“I do it for myself, but I wish this could help more people. I do it my way, through cinema, which is my way of communicating,”he confessed. But the key point of his message lies in one word: dignity. Casanova demands that this be the basis for anyone with HIV to “come out of the closet,” free from judgment.
The reality, however, is different. Casanova recalled a shocking figure: nearly 80% of people with the virus choose not to share their diagnosis, fearing the systematic and undeserved rejection that stigma condemns them to. Here, the reader, we have to reflect: Have we really advanced as a society if fear continues to be more powerful than the truth? What role does misinformation play in this rejection?
A Documentary and a Series to Combat Stigma
This important statement does not come alone, but is linked to his work. Casanova has confirmed that he is working on a documentary film on the subject, a production that has the support of renowned journalist Jordi Évole. This audiovisual project, scheduled to premiere in 2026, promises to offer a platform to address HIV with the depth and respect it deserves.
In addition, the actor has been in full promotion of his new series, Silencio, which he presented with actress María León. This fiction, faithful to the director’s provocative style, uses the figure of vampirism as a powerful metaphor to deconstruct the stigma associated with HIV.
In an exercise of narrative reinvention, Casanova has decided to modify the myth of the vampire, eliminating the transmission of vampirism by bite. The analogy is direct and devastating against ignorance:
- If a vampire bites you, you don’t become a vampire.
- If an HIV-positive person bites you, they cannot transmit HIV to you.
This fiction seeks to portray the reality of the 80s, but also the great lack of information that even today, in the 21st century, is still valid. Casanova invites us to be aware of this great social stigma.
A Cry for Information and Empathy
Eduardo Casanova’s brave decision to make his HIV positivity visible, linking it to his art, is a fundamental milestone in the fight against the discrimination suffered by the LGTBIQ+ community and, in particular, people with HIV.
Their testimony is a reminder that, beyond medical advances that have transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition (Undetectable = Untransmittable), the social virus of stigma remains the greatest barrier to the health and well-being of millions. Despite the fear, the uncertainty, and the years of silence, Casanova claims to feel “deeply happy” about this step.
For the Rainbow reader, this act reminds us of the importance of educating, of speaking without taboos and of demanding a world where dignity is not a privilege, but an inalienable right for everyone. Are we all ready to assume our responsibility in the definitive eradication of this stigma?
