Hydeia Broadbent, A Groundbreaking AIDS Activist, Has Passed Away At 39
BROADBENT SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HER LIFE ADVOCATING FOR HIV/AIDS AWARENESS AND DEFIED THE ODDS HERSELF, AS SHE WAS BORN HIV-POSITIVE.
Today, we remember HIV/AIDS activist, educator, and survivor Hydeia Broadbent, who died of natural causes in her sleep on February 20th. Her passing was confirmed by her father, Loren Broadbent, in a post on Facebook, as well as countless friends and fellow activists like Rae-Lewis Thorton.

Broadbent began her HIV/AIDS activism at a young age, at 12 years old, when she first became one of the Black poster children for AIDS on national television, as she appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Maury Povich Show,” “Good Morning America” and numerous other programs. At the 1996 Republican Convention, Hydeia, then 12, told the crowd, “I am the future, and I have AIDS.” Her fearlessness, representation, and bravery when it came to being visible with the disease inspired others with the illness, including Magic Johnson, who is HIV-positive as well. On the Nickelodeon AIDS special about 20-plus years ago, she allowed herself to be vulnerable with the basketball legend, “I want people to know,” Hydeia said, sniffling, “that we’re just normal people.” “Aww, you don’t have to cry,” Johnson replied, “because we are normal people. OK? We are.” That moment proved to America’s youth that the disease could affect anyone.