Celebrating the Life of Hydeia Loren Broadbent, HIV/AIDS Activist
“AIDS is something that happened to me but does not define who I am as a person.”
To commemorate Women’s History Month and National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10th, we honor the life and legacy of activist Hydeia Loren Broadbent, who died on February 20, 2024. Diagnosed with HIV at the age of three, Broadbent spent much of her life in the public eye advocating for individuals with HIV and AIDS.
Born in the early days of the epidemic, when infection meant almost certain death, Broadbent helped raise awareness and shaped the global response by speaking about her experience and the realities of living with HIV and AIDS. She once remarked:
“We have to make sure that people are aware the medicines do cost money—that you do have to get help with insurance… We still need to let people know that there’s no cure. Some people don’t understand the medical regimen of someone living with HIV or AIDS. It is not just about popping one pill a day.”
Broadbent’s advocacy had an immeasurable impact on the estimated 1.2 million people in the United States (CDC) and roughly 40 million people in the world living with HIV or AIDS (KFF). Her bravery and passion remain an inspiration, and we are grateful for her dedication to educating the world about HIV and AIDS.
Over the years, Social Security has continued to update its programs and policies to better serve people living with HIV and AIDS. In 1983, we expanded our disability benefits program to help support people with AIDS, and in 1993, we developed medical criteria for evaluating HIV infection. We have also worked with the medical and advocacy communities to recognize advances in treatment, and in 2017, we updated our criteria to reflect these changes.
To learn about how to get help from us, visit our website. Most of our services are available to the public online and with a secure my Social Security account, or by telephone. Most services do not require the public to take time to visit an office. People may create their personal my Social Security account on our website.
To learn more, please visit our Online Services page. Many Social Security services are also conveniently available by dialing toll-free,