The drag-performer won the contest in 2014 with the song 'Rise like a Phoenix'.
Austrian drag performer and Eurovision winner, Conchita Wurst has revealed that she is HIV-positive, and has been undergoing treatment for "several years."
The 29-year-old singer made the statement on her official Instagram page after an ex-boyfriend allegedly threatened to go public with the information.
Translated from German, Conchita wrote on Instagram: "I have been HIV-positive for several years."
"That is irrelevant to the public, but an ex-boyfriend has threatened to reveal this private information.
“I have been in treatment since my diagnosis, and under the threshold of detection for several years, preventing any spread of the virus," Wurst continued.
"Until now, I have not wanted to go public with this information for several reasons, two of which I will discuss: the most important was my family, who since day one have been discreet and unconditionally supportive. I would gladly have spared them the attention over their son, uncle and brother being HIV-positive.
"Likewise, my friends have been aware of this for quite some time, and behaved in an unbiased way that I would wish for anyone in this situation.
"Secondly, I believe that this information is primarily relevant to those with whom I have had sexual contact.
Concluding the post by saying that this news is not the "totality of my identity", she added that: "Coming out is better than being outed.
"I hope to show courage, and to take another step towards the de-stigmatisation of people infected with HIV due to their actions or through no fault of their own."
The stage-persona of Thomas Neuwirth, Conchita Wurst rose to fame for winning the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest with the song, 'Rise like a Phoenix'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToqNa0rqUtY
Clip via Eurovision Song Contest
