The Black AIDS Institute (BAI) hosted its 20th Annual Heroes in the Struggle Gala on Saturday February 8th, 2020 at the California African American Museum. Actor and activist, Jay Ellis welcomed the audience along with Senator Holly Mitchell.
The black-tie affair honored African American, trailblazing men and women whose personal and professional accomplishments have positively impacted the perception and image of the Black LGBTQ+ community. The Truth Awards embodies the belief that members of the Black LGBTQ+ community and its allies who embrace and live their truth should be recognized and honored. In addition, BBLA awarded $13,000 in scholarships to college-bound students Julian Roberson, Algernon Jackson, and Moses Hinton.
I moved to Los Angeles in 1982 with my first partner, Chris Brownlie. In addition to being happy to get away from the Chicago winters, we were filled with hope and excitement. And like most people, we were completely unaware of the health tsunami we were about to encounter. 1982 was the year that the first cases of what we now know as AIDS were identified in Los Angeles. Over the next decade, I would watch too many of my friends, including the love of my life, Chris, die from AIDS related complications.
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Gina Brown was pregnant with her daughter when she received the news that she was HIV positive on April Fool’s Day in 1994.