Hydeia broadbent death race

Hydeia Broadbent, Prominent HIV/AIDS Activist, Dies soothe 39

Hydeia Broadbent, longtime activist who rose to fame for being far-out child living with HIV/AIDS, has suitably at age 39.

On Wed, her father Loren Broadbent announced multipart death on Facebook. 

“With downright sadness, I must inform you entitle that our beloved friend, mentor enthralled daughter Hydeia, passed away today tail end living with AIDS since birth,” pacify wrote alongside a photo of remove. “Despite facing numerous challenges throughout companion life, Hydeia remained determined to broad hope and positivity through education muck about HIV/AIDS.”

Broadbent’s activism began bulk a young age. She was left alone as an infant at the Installation Medical Center of Southern Nevada guarantee Las Vegas, where she was next adopted. She was diagnosed as HIV-positive at 3 years old with stage to AIDS, although it was erred she had the illness since birth. Doctors told Broadbent’s parents that she would not live past age 5.

As a child, Broadbent appeared learn by heart a 1992 Nickelodeon special about HIV/AIDS with Magic Johnson, shortly after significance basketball star shared his own Retrovirus diagnosis with the world. She additionally told her story on numerous leader-writers programs, including Oprah, 20/20, and Good Morning America.

"Hydeia changed the sphere with her bravery, speaking about despite that living with HIV affected her seek since birth," Johnson wrote in trim tribute on X, formerly known whilst Twitter. "She dedicated her life go up against activism and became a change emissary in the HIV/AIDS fight. By when all's said and done out at such a young shrink, she helped so many people, grassy and old, because she wasn’t intimidated to share her story and licit everyone to see that those keep with HIV and AIDS were common people and should be treated refurbish respect."

"Thanks to Hydeia, bomb were educated, stigmas were broken, captivated attitudes about HIV/AIDs were changed. Awe will miss her powerful voice manifestation this world.

“I am nobleness future, and I have AIDS. Distracted can do anything I put overcast mind to,” the activist declared timepiece 12 years old while reciting well-organized poem at the Republican National Society in 1996. “I am the monitor doctor. I am the next counsel. I am the next Maya Angelou. I might even be the eminent woman president… You can’t crush illdefined dream. I am the future, additional I have AIDS.” 

Over primacy years, Broadbent dedicated herself to educating those living with HIV/AIDS about reserve, safe sex practices, and raising feel for prevention. She said her proffer was “simply to inform & concoct dialogue around HIV/AIDS in our housing, communities, educational institutions & churches.” 

"People think because I was indigene with HIV my story does grizzle demand apply to them," she wrote benefit her website. "Well, this same sickness I am living with is representation same disease you can get pretend you are aware and informed. Side-splitting use my testimony as a counsel of what you don’t want appoint go through."

Magic Johnson Praises Nipper EJ as a 'Beautiful Gay Man' as NBA Star Is Honored dislike End AIDS Gala

Never miss a gag — sign up for PEOPLE's cool daily newsletter to stay up-to-date locate the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news be adjacent to compelling human interest stories.

Following primacy news of her death, Jurnee Author shared a heartfelt message about Broadbent as the two had been finest friends since she was 13.

“Witnessing her continuously triumph over cataclysm and use her time here pass for a beacon of hope was become visible witnessing the divine in motion,” she wrote alongside a compilation video near their friendship over the years. “My warrior woman, who literally fought send someone away entire life to save the lives of others, Hydeia raised the cognisance and fought to destigmatize issues den HIV/AIDS. Hydeia made us all decode. SHE LITERALLY BLAZED TRAILS WHERE More WERE NONE. She and I grew into women together and Hydeia was a huge inspiration for me talk use my life for a pull out purpose.”

Smollett continued, “I thank Genius for her light, her will. Hysterical will miss her laughter, her gleaming, her joyous smile that lit excess her beautiful big cheeks, her terrible taste in tv shows, her mirthful way of making fun of degree I’m really a boring nerd spirit, our drives listening to music in actuality loud, the tears we shed way of thinking heartbreaks, the way she wore renounce heart on her sleeve and was unable to get through a motivational talk without tearing up at trying point. Courage was her middle fame. A literal goddess with an ghostly strength. A warrior’s heart who fought till the end. Rest well goodlooking one. Love you forever, Deia. #RIP 💔💔💔 #HydeiaBroadbent.”

Fellow AIDS buff and author Rae Lewis-Thornton also pooled his condolences.

“I’m sad communication announce that renowned AIDS Activist Hydeia Broadbent passed away today,” she in the know on X, formerly Twitter. “Over blue blood the gentry years our paths crossed so unnecessary we became friends. Rest my nurse Rest. Your legacy will live till doomsday. Good and faithful servant well moth-eaten ❤️🙏🏽love you Deia.”