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In recognition of Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Dázon Dixon Diallo joined Kandi Burrus of Real Housewives of Atlanta and musical group Xscape fame during Gilead Science's Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Community Conversation.
Dázon and Kandi broke barriers of stigma to have a frank discussion about the current state of the HIV epidemic in the South, where half of all deaths related to HIV take place.
They also spoke about the complicated intersections between HIV and race, gender, socioeconomic background, and culture. This is a complex reality we address during our Annual 20/20 Leading Women's Society Institute and Awards, a society of women community activists who have lived with HIV/AIDS for 20 years or more.
They also covered the reversals in progress in the fight against HIV brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and emerging threats such as the spread of Monkeypox in Georgia, where over 80% of new infections are in the black community.
These multilayered challenges can only be addressed by taking the communities that are most affected into account, a fact made clear during the audience question and answer portion. Leading Women's Society member Deirdre Speaks asked the panelists about how can an affirmative, sex-positive approach to healthy sex practices can be communicated to those living with HIV.
