Hydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist who bonded with Magic Johnson, dies

Hydeia Broadbent began talking publicly about her experiences as somebody with HIV/AIDS when she was a younger youngster.

“I need individuals to know that we’re simply regular individuals,” a 7-year-old Broadbent told Magic Johnson throughout a Nickelodeon information particular that aired in March 1992, 4 months after the Lakers superstar announced he was retiring from basketball as a result of he was HIV-positive.

Broadbent by no means stopped talking out concerning the virus and illness — and Johnson thanked her for her braveness.

A number one activist in HIV/AIDS consciousness, Broadbent, who was born with HIV, died Wednesday at age 39, her father said in a Facebook post. The reason for loss of life was not specified.

“With nice disappointment, I need to inform you all that our beloved good friend, mentor and daughter Hydeia, handed away right now after residing with AIDS since delivery,” Loren Broadbent wrote. “Regardless of going through quite a few challenges all through her life, Hydeia remained decided to unfold hope and positivity by training round HIV/AIDS.”

Johnson took to X (previously Twitter) on Wednesday to pay tribute to his longtime good friend. His submit included a video clip of their interplay on “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” in addition to images of the 2 of them collectively within the years since then.

“I’m devastated to listen to concerning the passing of an unbelievable younger girl, activist and hero Hydeia Broadbent,” Johnson wrote. “In 1992, I did a Nickelodeon particular referred to as ‘A Conversation with Magic’, and 7-year-old Hydeia and I made an unbelievable impression. Hydeia modified the world along with her bravery, talking about how residing with HIV affected her life since delivery. She devoted her life to activism and have become a change agent within the HIV/AIDS struggle.

“By talking out at such a younger age, she helped so many individuals, younger and previous, as a result of she wasn’t afraid to share her story and allowed everybody to see that these residing with HIV and AIDS had been on a regular basis individuals and needs to be handled with respect. Because of Hydeia, tens of millions had been educated, stigmas had been damaged, and attitudes about HIV/AIDs had been modified. We are going to miss her highly effective voice on this world. Cookie and I are praying for the Broadbent household and everybody that knew and beloved Hydeia.”

Broadbent was deserted as a new child at a Las Vegas hospital and adopted by her mother and father, Loren and Patricia, as an toddler. They didn’t know that Broadbent was born with HIV till she bought critically unwell at 3. At that age, she was recognized as HIV-positive, and two years later, the virus developed into AIDS. Her biological mother was an intravenous drug addict.

Broadbent’s public talking profession started when she was 6. Quickly after, in March 1992, Broadbent was considered one of 13 youngsters who appeared with Johnson and Ellerbee on Nickelodeon after Johnson shocked the world with his HIV announcement in November 1991.

Broadbent was considered one of two youngsters who raised their fingers when Ellerbe requested if any of them had been HIV-positive. Her “regular individuals” remark was the one sentence she uttered throughout this system.

Instantly after talking, Broadbent began wiping away tears, then broke down sobbing. Johnson rubbed her again and spoke to her in a soothing tone.

“You don’t must cry,” he stated. “‘Trigger we’re regular individuals. OK? We’re. You simply wanna be handled like that, proper? You simply need your folks to play with you? And name you up and are available by and nonetheless have sleepovers and issues like that? Proper? Yeah. And it’s OK to cry, it’s OK to cry. , I feel that you just — with this program I really feel that we’ll have the ability to educate all your folks and everyone else.”

Broadbent would find yourself having loads extra to say over the following 32 years.

At age 11, she told Oprah Winfrey the worst a part of having HIV/AIDS was “when your folks die.” Talking on the 1996 Republican Nationwide Conference, a 12-year-old Broadbent stated, “I’m the longer term, and I’ve AIDS.”

AIDS activist Mary Fisher kisses 12-year-old Hydeia Broadbent as they deal with the night session of the 1996 Republican Nationwide Conference in San Diego.

(Ron Edmonds / Related Press)

Broadbent continued her advocacy as an grownup — making appearances, doing interviews and giving lectures. She additionally labored with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation on a number of AIDS advocacy and consciousness campaigns, using on the inspiration’s float within the 2013 Rose Parade and showing in AHF’s “God Loves Me” billboard campaign.

“I attempt to inform it as actual as I can, that this isn’t a illness they need,” Broadbent told CNN in 2012. “The present era, they don’t know the truth of HIV/AIDS. They have a look at me and Magic Johnson and suppose you may pop a tablet and be OK. They don’t know the seriousness of the illness. They don’t know the unwanted side effects of the medication. They don’t know the monetary realities of the state of affairs.

“They actually don’t know you could die.”