Lance Bass Confirms a 'Finding Prince Charming' Contestant Is HIV-Positive

Bass told PEOPLE Now a "brotherhood really formed in the house with these guys because of this situation"

A contestant on the upcoming reality dating series Finding Prince Charming is HIV-positive, PEOPLE confirms.

Lance Bass and Robert Sepélveda Jr., the show’s respective host and leading man, stopped by PEOPLE Now Monday and exclusively addressed the news after it was first reported by TMZ Sunday.

“It is true,” said Bass, 37, who is set to host the new, first-of-its-kind, all-gay dating competition series coming to Logo. “This is one of the things I love about the show – it’s a fun reality show, it’s dramatic, but there’s a lot of heart in it and amazing story lines that you’re going to shed a tear over. And one of those is finding about this guy’s HIV.”

Sepélveda Jr., a former fashion model and interior designer, told PEOPLE Now the news didn’t change the way he approached his relationship with that contestant at all.

“For me, it’s like: Is someone HIV-positive not worthy of love?” said Sepélveda Jr., 33. “That’s really the question, and it doesn’t matter to me. ‘Prince Charming’ would be accepting of anyone, and that’s how I am.”

Sepélveda Jr. also said the news didn’t change the dynamic among the contestants, either.

“In the gay community, in just any community, if you have a disease, it’s not going to be anything that someone’s going to push you away from,” he said. “Again, me being ‘Prince Charming’ – the guy that everyone’s vying for their attention – I’m not going to not date someone because they’re HIV-positive. That’s ridiculous. It’s really a stigma that we have to resolve now.”

“And that’s what’s so great, it’s fighting these stigmas,” added Bass. “What’s so great about this moment is the brotherhood that really formed in the house with these guys because of this situation. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.”

Bass thinks it will resonate with viewers – and educate them, too.

“All of us know someone that is living with HIV, and I think the stigma is still really bad out there – people are just so uneducated about it,” he said. “To us, obviously it doesn’t matter at all, we’ve been around it so much, but I think this is really going to educate a lot of people. I’m excited for people to watch it, especially this episode.”

And they’re prepared for whatever backlash the show may face.

“You’re going to have your critics, you’re going to have your haters, but you just keep moving forward,” said Sepélveda Jr. “This is a real show that’s going to help the LGBTQ community. It’s another step forward in LGBT entertainment.”

Sepélveda Jr. also addressed the possibility of contestants hooking up with each other.

“It was a thought, but if the guys fell in love with each other, then more power to them!” he said. “But I appreciate the guys staying true to the fact that they were here for me and they were here finding love, and I think they did a really good job.”

As for Bass, the former ‘NSYNC member said he was thrilled at the opportunity to host.

“I always was hoping there’d be a show like this because I watch everything reality … I’m obsessed with it,” he said. “I love being able to be a part of this because yes, I found my ‘Prince Charming’ and I am happily married, so to be able to watch him try to find his love was really fun. I got to be his wingman for a whole season!”

Finding Prince Charming premieres Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on Logo.