Honoring the Legacy of Hydeia Broadbent
February 21, 2024
By Tatyana Moaton, PhD, Director of Strategic Innovation & Partnerships
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today to commemorate the life and enduring legacy of an extraordinary individual, Hydeia Broadbent, who passed away yesterday. Hydeia was a beacon of hope and resilience for many across the globe and a personal inspiration to me and countless others whose lives she touched.
Hydeia was thrust onto the world stage at a tender age, bravely sharing her journey and experiences with HIV from a very young age. Her strength and courage in the face of unimaginable challenges reshaped the discourse around HIV/AIDS, bringing to light the pressing need for compassion, understanding, and action in our ongoing battle against stigma and discrimination. Hydeia's unwavering dedication to advocacy and ability to use her voice to effect change was remarkable.
I had the profound honor of training Hydeia during my tenure with the Black AIDS Institute for the Gilead Black Women and PrEP Advisory Committee in 2019. Those moments spent with her were not only enlightening but profoundly transformative. Hydeia's insights, her unwavering commitment to advocacy, and her relentless pursuit of equality and justice for all individuals, regardless of their status, were both humbling and inspiring.
Photo credit to BAI (Black AIDS Institute)
Hydeia's legacy is a poignant reminder of the work that still lies ahead of us in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the broader struggle against stigma and discrimination in all its forms. It reinforces the importance of our commitment, as a healthcare organization, to championing the rights and dignity of every individual we serve. It is a call to action for each of us to continue advocating for inclusive healthcare policies, to support communities disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, and to foster environments where every person can live authentically and free from prejudice.
As we reflect on Hydeia's life and her indelible mark on the world, let us also recommit ourselves to the cause she held dear. Let her courage inspire us to face challenges with grace, to speak out against injustice, and to work tirelessly towards a world where no one is left behind because of their health status, identity, or beliefs. This is why I continue to stand firm in the fight against stigma and discrimination against all people.
In honor of Hydeia, let us carry forward her legacy with the same passion and determination she exhibited every day of her life. Let us remember her not only for the battles she fought but for the countless hearts she touched and the minds she changed.
In solidarity and with the deepest respect,Hydeia’s legacy is a poignant reminder of the work that still lies ahead of us in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the broader struggle against stigma and discrimination in all its forms. It reinforces the importance of our commitment, as a healthcare organization, to championing the rights and dignity of every individual we serve. It is a call to action for each of us to continue advocating for inclusive healthcare policies, to support communities disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, and to foster environments where every person can live authentically and free from prejudice.
As we reflect on Hydeia's life and the indelible mark she left on the world, let us also recommit ourselves to the cause she held dear. Let her courage inspire us to face challenges with grace, to speak out against injustice, and to work tirelessly towards a world where no one is left behind because of their health status, identity, or beliefs. This is why I continue to stand firm in the fight against stigma and discrimination against all people.
In honor of Hydeia, let us carry forward her legacy with the same passion and determination she exhibited every day of her life. Let us remember her not only for the battles she fought but for the countless hearts she touched and the minds she changed.
“We believe that Black women are inherently valuable” – Combahee River Collective