Current:Home > MyHydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist who raised awareness on tv at young age, dies at 39-LoTradeCoin
Hydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist who raised awareness on tv at young age, dies at 39
View Date:2024-12-24 00:51:00
Hydeia Broadbent, a life-long AIDS and HIV activist, has died, her family announced.
She was 39.
"With great sadness, I must inform you all that our beloved friend, mentor and daughter Hydeia, passed away today after living with Aids since birth," her father, Loren Broadbent wrote in a Facebook post. "Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life, Hydeia remained determined to spread hope and positivity through education around Hiv/AIDS."
Born with HIV in 1984, Broadbent began raising awareness about the virus during her early years.
She made national headlines when she appeared as a guest on television programs including "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at age 11 and "Good Morning America". Additionally, she spoke at the 1996 GOP convention in San Diego, California.
Wendy Williams diagnoses:Talk show host Wendy Williams diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia
Hydeia Broadbent was adopted after abandonment
According to her website, Broadbent was adopted at birth by her parents after being abandoned at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.
At age three, doctors diagnosed the young girl with HIV.
Before she became a teen she became a public voice for the virus and later partnered with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation on several AIDS advocacy and awareness campaign including its “God Loves Me” billboard campaign.
Broadbent spent her time "spreading the message of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, by: promoting abstinence, safe-sex practices (for people who choose to have sex), and HIV/AIDS Awareness and prevention," according her website.
COVID-19, polio, HIV caused by viruses that have been identified and studied | Fact check
What is HIV?
HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the body's immune system and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, if not treated can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
According to HIV.gov, nearly 1.2 million people in the Unites States have HIV. Of them, the agency reports, closed to13 percent of them don’t know they have virus.
"The world has seen me grow from a gifted little girl to a woman with a passion and mission to make sure each and everyone of us is aware of our HIV status as well as the status of our sexual partners," she posted on the site prior to her death. "For those living with HIV/AIDS, please know life is never over until you take your last breath! We are responsible for the choices we make and I challenge everyone to be accountable."
Funeral arrangements were not immediately known.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Amtrak service disrupted after fire near tracks in New York City
- Why The Traitors’ CT Tamburello and Trishelle Cannatella Aren't Apologizing For That Finale Moment
- The Most Shocking Moments in Oscars History, From Will Smith's Slap to La La Land's Fake Win
- Zendaya's Bold Fashion Moment Almost Distracted Us From Her New Bob Haircut
- Appeals Court Affirms Conviction of Everglades Scientist Accused of Stealing ‘Trade Secrets’
- Want to invest in Taylor Swift and Beyoncé? Now you can.
- The Excerpt podcast: Biden calls on Americans to move into the future in State of the Union
- How Barry Keoghan Paid Tribute to Sabrina Carpenter at Pre-Oscars 2024 Parties
- More than 150 pronghorns hit, killed on Colorado roads as animals sought shelter from snow
- Pierce Brosnan says 'Oppenheimer' star Cillian Murphy would be 'magnificent' James Bond
Ranking
- Ryan Reynolds Clarifies Taylor Swift’s Role as Godmother to His Kids With Blake Lively
- Missed the State of the Union 2024? Watch replay videos of Biden's address and the Republican response
- 'Queer Eye' star Tan France says he didn't get Bobby Berk 'fired' amid alleged show drama
- Man gets 142 years for 2017 stabbing deaths of Fort Wayne couple
- FanDuel Sports Network regional channels will be available as add-on subscription on Prime Video
- How to watch Caitlin Clark, No. 2 Iowa play Michigan in Big Ten Tournament semifinal
- Millie Bobby Brown Claps Back on Strange Commentary About Her Accent
- Duchess Meghan talks inaccurate portrayals of women on screen, praises 'incredible' Harry
Recommendation
-
Noem’s Cabinet appointment will make a plain-spoken rancher South Dakota’s new governor
-
How Black women coined the ‘say her name’ rallying cry before Biden’s State of the Union address
-
Pierce Brosnan says 'Oppenheimer' star Cillian Murphy would be 'magnificent' James Bond
-
Former president of Honduras convicted in US of aiding drug traffickers
-
Steelers shoot for the moon ball, but will offense hold up or wilt in brutal final stretch?
-
Ireland’s Constitution says a woman’s place is in the home. Voters are being asked to change that
-
Why The Traitors’ CT Tamburello and Trishelle Cannatella Aren't Apologizing For That Finale Moment
-
A West Virginia bill to remove marital exemption for sexual abuse wins final passage