13 Moments in Black Celebrity HIV/AIDS Activism

Hydeia Broadbent Addresses Republican National Convention About AIDS (1996)

Hydeia Broadbent was abandoned and adopted as an infant in Las Vegas. She was born with HIV, and it progressed to AIDS by the time she was 3. Her prognosis was that she would not live past the age of 5. Hydeia says, "People think because I was born with HIV my story does not apply to them. Well, this same disease I am living with is the same disease you can get if you don't practice safe sex and know your HIV status and the HIV status of your sexual partner."

At 12 years old she spoke at the 1996 Republican National Convention, telling the audience, "I am the future and I have AIDS." Widely considered the most active youth to speak about HIV since Ryan White, she now tours worldwide to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. She has appeared on Oprah, 20/20, Good Morning America, and Nickelodeon. She has been featured in The New York Times, People, Essence, Ebony, POZ and more. She has also spoken at Duke University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, UCLA, USC and Howard University.