Oprah Reveals Brother Died Of AIDS At 29 As She Celebrates Pride Month
Oprah Winfrey is remembering her late brother Jeffrey Lee 35 years after he died of AIDS.
In honor of Pride Month, Winfrey posted a video message Tuesday in which she revealed that her sibling was just 29 when he passed away during the height of the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
"It was 35 years ago that my younger brother Jeffrey Lee died from AIDS. He was 29 years old. The year was 1989 and the world was an extremely cruel place, not just for people suffering from AIDS, but also for LGBTQ people in general," the media mogul said in the video shared on Oprah Daily's Instagram page.
Winfrey went on to share that she often thinks about how "amazed" her brother would have been if he'd lived to witness positive changes such as the legalization of gay marriage and Pride Month.
"How different his life might have been had be lived in these times," the former talk show host added. "In a world that saw and appreciated him for who he was rather than attempting to shame him for his sexuality."
LGBTQ+ acceptance in the U.S. has steadily increased since gay marriage was made legal nationwide in 2015.
According to Gallup poll results, the number of Americans who believe marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized as valid has grown to 71% in 2023 from 55% in 2014.
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Winfrey concluded her video message by saying that she believes everyone has "the right to love who they want to love and be the person they most want to be."
In the caption of the video, Winfrey added: "'I wish for you the continued freedom to rise to your truest, highest expression of yourself as a human being.' - @oprah #PrideMonth."
Winfrey's followers expressed their appreciation for her message in the comments section of the video.
"Thank you for using your platform to share this. Everyone is here for a reason and no one should have HATE in their hearts," one fan commented.
"Thank you for your love and support Oprah. You mean the world to me and the entire LGBTQ+ community," another comment read.
Film director Nathan Hale Williams wrote, "Thank you Oprah for always being such a fervent and enthusiastic Ally to our community. Through your show, 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' many people were able to see the humanity of the LGBTQIA community for the first time. It opened eyes, minds and hearts forever changing our position in this world and changing the world at the same time. Eternally grateful."
Winfrey also honored her late brother Jeffrey earlier this year at the 35th GLAAD Media Awards, where she accepted the 2024 Vanguard Award.
During her speech, the TV personality got emotional as she spoke about how her brother "internalized the shame he felt about being gay" in the '80s.
"I wish he could have lived to witness these liberated times and be here with me tonight," Winfrey told the audience in March.
She also shared that Jeffrey inspired "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which she said aimed to share "stories that actually helped people be more of their authentic selves."
