Pursuing a job in the sex industry requires certain levels of creativity, ingenuity, and openness. This is particularly important if you are a person living with HIV, as stigma and discrimination around the disease persist and ones status can have a very real impact on income. This is the case even on sites like OnlyFans and JustForFans, which helped redefine porn and sex work and changed the entire adult industry by putting control in the hands of creators.But these platforms can also be a place where community can form and where HIV can be addressed more thoughtfully. That is particularly true if a site is run by members of the queer community, such as with JustForFans, which is "proud to support the destigmatization of HIV," according to creator Dominic Ford.I wanted to explore this dynamic and to better understand how adult content creators can be open about their HIV status and still find professional success and fulfillment. So I spoke to international porn phenomenon Markin Wolf, who recently came out about his status on his YouTube channel and across social media. One of the first things I asked Markin, a Brazilian adult content creator, was why he chose to be open about living with HIV.When I was aware of the vast reach and impact of my work within the community I wanted to share information and contribute, so that my audience has adequate knowledge that helps them have a better quality of life while enjoying their sexual freedom," Markin tells Out, adding that his goal is to help people "be free of prejudice and take care of their health." "Adequate information is the way to combat the stigma connected to our community and HIV-positive status," he added.Almost all of the content creators living with HIV I've spoken with in the past have opted not to discuss their status openly out of fear that it would impact their livelihood and that producers would not hire them to make films. This is an understandable response in an environment where there are still very few protections for sex workers in general, not to mention those who living with HIV, migrants, or both. Markin has created a name for himself as an adult content creator but also in traditional porn. Hes handsome, of course, but he is also smart, creative, and a professional pianist. And his confidence and bravery in being out about his status demonstrate that it is possible to still find success in the adult industry while being out about one's status.In the rest of our conversation, I had the opportunity to ask Markin about this coming-out experience and how being it impacted his work. Markin WolfBody Project 3.0How has being open about HIV impacted your work with clients or collaborators? Ive had few confrontations on the subject. I am very reserved, and although I work a lot, I have contact with specific people so I never maintain myself in professional relationships that disrespect me or that have some prejudiced attitudes.Do you feel there is any sense of community among adult content creators living with HIV? I believe our sense of community is improving, but we still have a long way to go. Although we know that many content creators live with HIV, I see in practice that most still feel uncomfortable with the subject, probably because of the high level of prejudice and antigay and anti-sex information preached during the last decades. Despite all the efforts in campaigns and access to information, the effects of prejudice still reverberate among many of the content creators I know.What advice would you share with other adult content creators who are considering coming out about their status?We are all worthy of respect, love, and happiness. Every time we share something for the collective good, we also heal ourselves of our own mental barriers, our own monsters, and our own prejudices. You are worthy, and being alive today shows that our struggle has not been in vain that all the lives lost in the past have not been in vain and our existence is a political act. Remember, everything is political. Together, and with courage, we are building a world with a new perspective. You are not alone.Follow Markin Wolf @markinwolf, writer Alex Garner @alexgarnerla, and photographer Body Project 3.0 @bodyproject3.0. Markin WolfBody Project 3.0