Anicia Dixon
Assistant Editor
“Only 37 percent of Genzers say they feel knowledgeable about HIV,” said guest speaker Darian Aaron, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Director of Local News
How can individuals best protect themselves from what they do not know? The best way is to educate themselves about HIV and how to protect themselves. GLAAD is currently touring HBCUs to help combat this lack of knowledge. Spectrum at JSU invited the guests to the university to speak with students directly about the impact of HIV.
Students packed the auditorium in the Dollye M.E. Robinson College of Liberal Arts building on Oct. 28 for the launching of GLAAD’s Generation Z & HIV: Human Issue, Southern Solution: An HBCU Tour, and to meet the rumored special guest that would be in attendance.
Information on HIV was shared from Fireside Chat, Gilead Sciences Community Liaison Christopher U. Lane, and Dr. David Malebranche of Mississippi HIV Advocates.
GLAAD is the world’s largest LGBT media advocacy organization and was founded in 1985 to correct misinformation at the height of the AIDS crisis, according to glaad.org. The organization continues decades of long work to educate communities of color about the threat of HIV, particularly in the South, where HIV remains an epidemic.
MADDRAMA kicked off the event with a performance of the “If I Should Die Before I Wake” scene from the award-winning show “A Different World”. Additionally, JSU alum Dr. Christopher U. Lane spoke on behalf of Gilead Sciences.
“The South makes up about 38 percent of the U.S. population, but nearly half of all the new diagnoses of HIV in 2022 happened here…At Gilead, we believe one of our responsibilities goes beyond creating medicines,” said Lane.
Following Lane’s informative performance and insights, the speakers were introduced and shared personal stories—whether from their own lives, those of someone they knew, or their work experiences.
Moderators for the discussion were Linda Dixon, the director of Health Justice at the Mississippi Center for Justice, and Alecia Reed Owens, a JSU alum and attorney in the health law and public benefits campaign.
Panel speakers for the storytelling exchange were Cedric Sturdevant, executive director of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Branch at Community Health-PIER, Valencia Robinson, CEO and Founder of Mississippi in Action, Dr. David Malebranche, a board-certified physician, author, and activist who currently serves as the Senior Director of Global HIV Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences, and Evonne Kaho, CEO of Love Me Unlimited 4 Life.
The panelists passionately shared their concerns for today’s youth and emphasized the importance of practicing safe sex. They made it their mission to promote awareness through tough love and advocated for black and LGBTQ+ communities. The panelists also emphasized the importance of speaking up for yourself and your health.
As public health professionals and community advocates who experienced the worst of the HIV epidemic, the panelists described how they raise awareness in their work without using fear tactics, particularly for young people who may believe they are less at risk for HIV than previous generations.
Robinson followed by saying, “When I first started doing work about HIV in 2002, it was about fear. We did try to instill fear. If you’re afraid, you won’t do it. But what I had to learn is that when talking about HIV, we also have to talk about sex, pleasure, and joy; it’s a natural thing, and a lot of adults act like it’s not happening. We have to be honest.”
Kaiah Warner, a junior majoring in business administration from Southaven, Miss., shared her thoughts on the panel discussion.
“I think the HBCU tour is a great way for incoming freshmen to really understand what the HBCU experience really is. It shows them a whole new environment that is ready to embrace their growing minds right after high school and give them the resources and experiences they need to survive in the real world,” said Warner.
The HBCU tour concluded with a special appearance by Snoop Dogg. The California-born rapper, who also has roots in Mississippi, shared his perspective on diversity. Aaron asked the award-winning artist what it means to have a diverse group of friends and colleagues.
“I have to credit my mother. She taught me to love people. When you love people, you love their spirit—you love what they’re about,” said Snoop.
The Generation Z & HIV: Human Issue, Southern Solution: An HBCU Tour launched at JSU was just the beginning and will continue at more HBCUs nationwide.
