“It is with great sadness that I must inform you all of the passing of our beloved friend, mentor, and daughter, Hydeia,” confirmed her father.
Hydeia Broadbent, a lifelong AIDS and HIV activist, has passed away, as announced by her family. She was 39.
“In a Facebook post, her father, Loren Broadbent, wrote, ‘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. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life, Hydeia remained determined to spread hope and positivity through education about HIV/AIDS.'”
Born with HIV in 1984, Broadbent embarked on her journey to raise awareness about the virus from a young age. She garnered national attention when she appeared as a guest on television programs such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show” at the age of 11 and “Good Morning America.” Additionally, she delivered a speech at the 1996 GOP convention in San Diego, California.
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 the age of three, doctors diagnosed her with HIV. Despite her young age, she became a prominent public advocate for the virus, later partnering with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation on various AIDS advocacy and awareness campaigns, including its “God Loves Me” billboard campaign.
Broadbent dedicated her time to “spreading the message of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention” by advocating for abstinence, promoting safe-sex practices for those who choose to engage in sexual activity, and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention.
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