Hydeia Broadbent, a prominent activist known for her advocacy as a child living with HIV/AIDS, passed away at the age of 39.
On Wednesday, Loren Broadbent announced his daughter Hydeia Broadbent’s passing on Facebook. He 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 around HIV/AIDS.”
Broadbent’s activism commenced in her youth. Abandoned as an infant at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, she was later adopted. Diagnosed with HIV at the age of 3, which had progressed to AIDS, it was believed she had been infected since birth. Doctors initially predicted she would not survive past the age of 5.
During her childhood, Broadbent was featured in a 1992 Nickelodeon special addressing HIV/AIDS alongside Magic Johnson, who had recently disclosed his own HIV diagnosis. She also shared her journey on various television platforms, including Oprah, 20/20, and Good Morning America.
“Hydeia changed the world with her bravery, speaking about how living with HIV affected her life since birth,” Johnson wrote in a tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter. “She dedicated her life to activism and became a change agent in the HIV/AIDS fight. By speaking out at such a young age, she helped so many people, young and old, because she wasn’t afraid to share her story and allowed everyone to see that those living with HIV and AIDS were everyday people and should be treated with respect.”
“Thanks to Hydeia, millions were educated, stigmas were broken, and attitudes about HIV/AIDs were changed. We will miss her powerful voice in this world. Cookie and I are praying for the Broadbent family and everyone who knew and loved Hydeia,” Johnson added.
“I am the future, and I have AIDS. I can do anything I put my mind to,” the activist declared at 12 years old while reciting a poem at the Republican National Convention in 1996. “I am the next doctor. I am the next lawyer. I am the next Maya Angelou. I might even be the first woman president… You can’t crush my dream. I am the future, and I have AIDS.”
Throughout the years, Broadbent committed herself to educating individuals living with HIV/AIDS on abstinence, safe sex practices, and promoting awareness for prevention. She articulated her mission as
“simply to inform & create dialogue around HIV/AIDS in our homes, communities, educational institutions & churches.”
“People think because I was born with HIV my story does not apply to them,” she wrote on her website. “Well, this same disease I am living with is the same disease you can get if you are aware and informed. I use my testimony as a warning of what you don’t want to go through.”
“Witnessing her continuously triumph over tragedy and use her time here as a beacon of hope was like witnessing the divine in motion,” she wrote alongside a compilation video of their friendship over the years.
“My warrior woman, who literally fought her entire life to save the lives of others, Hydeia raised the consciousness and fought to destigmatize issues around HIV/AIDS. Hydeia made us all better. SHE LITERALLY BLAZED TRAILS WHERE THERE WERE NONE. She and I grew into women together and Hydeia was a huge inspiration for me to use my life for a bigger purpose.”
Fellow AIDS activist and author Rae Lewis-Thornton also expressed her condolences.
“I’m sad to announce that renowned AIDS Activist Hydeia Broadbent passed away today,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“Over the years our paths crossed so much we became friends. Rest my sister. Your legacy will live forever. Good and faithful servant well done. Love you Deia.”
