Stephen grew up as a gay kid in the early 80's and believed he was educated about what HIV was. However, after testing positive for HIV in 2006 due to having his drink spiked in a club, he realized that he had much more to learn. As an actor in the West End and Off-Broadway, he was warned that he would never play a lead role while being open about his HIV status. This led to two years of shame, stigma, and dishonesty with those closest to him. Eventually, Stephen decided to take control of his life and began writing his story, "Shadowed Dreamer", which he turned into a one-man show that he performed in New York for nine months in 2009/2010. Telling his story through Shadowed Dreamer made Stephen realize how important everyone's stories are, leading him to start his own YouTube channel, Hart Talks. He continues to tell his story and provide a platform for others to share theirs as well. A year ago, he became a presenter on The HIV Hour radio show and became a positive voices speaker with THT, determined to give back by using his story to help others. Stephen's experience of feeling lonely and scared after his diagnosis has fueled his drive to use his voice to help others feel less alone. He is available to speak on topics such as HIV/AIDS awareness, stigma reduction, and mental health in the LGBTQ+ community.