Hydeia Broadbent: 26, Living with AIDS
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death and disease in women ages 15 to 44 worldwide, according to the The American Foundation for AIDS Research. Today more women ages 15 and up are living with HIV/AIDS than ever before.
One of those women is Hydeia Broadbent, who was diagnosed with AIDS at age 3 and given three years to live. You might remember seeing her on Oprah back in the day — since childhood, she’s become a well-known AIDS activist.
Hydeia has dedicated her life to dispelling misconceptions about AIDS and HIV and today she’s a thriving 26-year-old motivational speaker. She has a passion for life and doesn’t see AIDS as a death sentence. And yes, she got a man with that (though she tells us she’s newly single).
Today, in honor of World AIDS Day, Hydeia sounds off on sexuality, her plans for the future and how we (yes, we!) can help fight AIDS.
AIDS (in 140 characters or less)
… something that affects everyone one way or another!
On growing up with AIDS
I just thought it was a disease that me and my friends had. No one treated me any different from other kids my age. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized I was a little different from everyone else. As an activist, it became my mission to make sure people living with AIDS weren’t discriminated against.
On dating with an STD
Having an STD doesn’t mean that your male or female parts stop working. It just means that you have to be safer about the choices you make.
On talking about safe sex
People don’t get to know each other anymore. They feel like sex is a way to get to know someone. We have to be responsible for our own bodies and our own health. It might not be a question you ask on the first date, but maybe a date two topic is, have you ever been tested for AIDS? Sex should be the last thing you do with someone.
On HIV/AIDS prevention
The number one way to put yourself at risk for HIV/AIDS is having unprotected sex without knowing your partner’s status.
Go with your partner to get tested for STDs and AIDS. If you can’t, then maybe you shouldn’t be having sex. You need to be responsible for your own sexual health. That’s nobody else’s job.
On her plans for the future
I see marriage and children in my future. I also want to open a community center in my neighborhood to teach young women how to be responsible in their relationships.
On AIDS in 2010
It’s not like it was in the 90s. When I was growing up there was stuff on TV, in magazines, in schools to teach you about AIDS. Now there’s nothing. You can’t blame the younger generation for not being informed. It’s the older generation’s fault for not educating the next generation.
On our responsibility
We need to step up and educate our people in our communities about our health issues. Don’t wait for anyone else to do it. Don’t wait for anyone to talk to your brother or your sister, we have to educate ourselves.
Special thanks to Hydeia Broadbent for participating in this interview. Follow @hydeiabroadbent on twitter or visit HydeiaBroadbent.com.
