 In recent years, he has played HIV-positive characters in several of his film appearances and has spoken out publicly on HIV-related issues.In 2000, Lekakis appeared on the cover of the February issue of POZ magazine, where he also gave an interview, relating, among other reminiscences, his time as a male prostitute in West Hollywood between 1994 and 1997, and in the interview admitted to intentionally exposing his escort johns to HIV.Lekakis says in the article "he had unprotected sex with clients (as a male escort) whom he did not inform of his HIV status.