Current:Home > StocksHydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist who raised awareness on tv at young age, dies at 39 -Clarity Finance Guides
Hydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist who raised awareness on tv at young age, dies at 39
View
Date:2025-04-14 17:08:04
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 nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Secretly recorded videos are backbone of corruption trial for longest
- When does 'No Good Deed' come out? How to watch Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow's new dark comedy
- Michael Bublé Details Heartwarming Moment With Taylor Swift’s Parents at Eras Tour
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Secretly recorded videos are backbone of corruption trial for longest
- Drew Barrymore Addresses Criticism Over Her Touchiness With Talk Show Guests
- Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled to Eastern Europe is in custody, online records show
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Save 30% on the Perfect Spongelle Holiday Gifts That Make Every Day a Spa Day
Ranking
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Singaporean killed in Johor expressway crash had just paid mum a surprise visit in Genting
- See Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's Twins Monroe and Moroccan Gift Her Flowers Onstage
- Drew Barrymore Addresses Criticism Over Her Touchiness With Talk Show Guests
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- 'Maria' review: Angelina Jolie sings but Maria Callas biopic doesn't soar
- Most reports ordered by California’s Legislature this year are shown as missing
- Our 12 favorites moments of 2024
Recommendation
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Save 30% on the Perfect Spongelle Holiday Gifts That Make Every Day a Spa Day
Sabrina Carpenter Shares Her Self
Sabrina Carpenter reveals her own hits made it on her personal Spotify Wrapped list
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Dick Van Dyke credits neighbors with saving his life and home during Malibu fire
The burial site of the people Andrew Jackson enslaved was lost. The Hermitage says it is found
Stock market today: Asian shares advance, tracking rally on Wall Street