Reviving the Conversation: Still Here Magazine Centers Black Women in HIV/AIDS Dialogue
Public discourse surrounding HIV and AIDS has significantly diminished since the epidemic's peak during the 1980s and 1990s. However, Still Here, a groundbreaking magazine dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of Black women affected by the virus, is determined to reignite these essential conversations and bring marginalized stories to the forefront.
The Fading Dialogue and Historical Context
During the 1990s, mentions of HIV and AIDS were commonplace in everyday discussions and pop culture. Public figures like Magic Johnson and Eazy-E coming forward with their positive diagnoses served as wake-up calls for many, challenging the dangerous misconception that the virus only impacted gay men or intravenous drug users. Journalist and cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux, an "elder millennial," recalls this period vividly, noting how rappers began referencing condom use in lyrics and television PSAs like BET's "Rap-It-Up" campaign took initiative in spreading awareness.
"That fear that was instilled in the '90s led a lot of us to be really responsible about our sexual behaviors," Lemieux told HuffPost.
Despite this increased attention, stories of Black women—who have been disproportionately affected by HIV—remained largely absent from the conversation until 1994. That year, Rae Lewis Thornton graced the cover of Essence magazine with her powerful declaration: "I'm young, I'm educated, I'm drug-free and I'm dying of AIDS." Her courage helped debunk myths and finally placed Black women at the center of the HIV crisis narrative.
The Vital Role of Still Here Magazine
While medical advances have transformed HIV from the death sentence it was once feared to be, the virus remains a significant threat, particularly to Black women. Statistics reveal alarming disparities that underscore the continued urgency of addressing this public health issue.
"That's why Still Here is so important," said editor-in-chief Jamilah Lemieux. "Because we, as a community, are not having these conversations the way that we need to."
The single-issue magazine—produced by WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater Center with funding support from Gilead Sciences, Inc. and guided by WACO founder Tina Knowles—serves multiple crucial purposes:
- Amplifying voices of Black women impacted by HIV and AIDS
- Featuring first-person testimonies, essays, interviews, and cultural criticism
- Exploring HIV through societal lenses including health, motherhood, and activism
- Providing guidance for allies to support those living with HIV
"We talk about ways that loved ones can be supportive of somebody they know who's living with HIV," noted Lemieux. "How they can ensure that their life still has softness and joy, and a reminder that these people are our people."
Disproportionate Impact and Statistical Reality
The data reveals a troubling picture of health disparities that Still Here directly addresses. According to the CDC in 2023:
- Black women accounted for 50% of HIV diagnoses despite representing just 13% of the female population
- They faced the highest diagnosis rate at 19.6%
- This rate is three times higher than Latina women (6.7%) and eleven times the rate among white women (1.8%)
While gay and bisexual men continue to be heavily affected—with 71% of new HIV infections occurring among them in 2022—Black women carry an unequal and often overlooked burden of the disease.
"Once there was no longer a crisis for white gay men, it's kind of like the country turned its back," Lemieux pointed out. "But HIV is very much still here, as are the women who are living each day with HIV or AIDS."
Beyond Print: The Still Here Live Experience
Still Here extends beyond traditional publishing through innovative experiential components. The magazine has inspired an interactive exhibit and immersive live performance staged in hair salons—spaces that have long served as safe havens and gathering places for Black women across generations.
"It was important to us that the Still Here Live Experience be presented in a space that feels comfortable and natural for the Black woman," explained creative director williambryantmiles. "Since we are exploring such a personal topic, we know it needed to be produced in a place where the Black woman knows she is centered, respected and cared for. The hair salon was immediately the obvious choice."
The live event, which premiered in Los Angeles in September, incorporates humor, drama, and multimedia elements to engage audiences across all age groups. According to creative director Nickolas Vaughn, "We recognized that there's no age limit when it comes to HIV." The experience is scheduled to tour additional cities including Baton Rouge, Houston, and Atlanta later this year.
A Full-Circle Moment and Lasting Impact
In a powerful full-circle moment, Rae Lewis Thornton—the pioneering activist who appeared on Essence's 1994 cover—now graces the cover of Still Here's premiere issue at age 63. The magazine also pays tribute to Hydeia Broadbent, the AIDS activist born with HIV who became a leading awareness voice before her death in 2024 at age 39.
Both women are credited with reshaping public understanding of how HIV/AIDS affects Black women in America. By bringing real people and their experiences to the forefront, they helped humanize the epidemic, giving people reason to care about troubling statistics beyond mere numbers.
"It's very important for people to be able to make a human connection to HIV, and to understand that these are not hypothetical stereotypes living with this illness," Lemieux emphasized. "That these are real people who live lives like everyone else. They're in our workplaces, our churches, our schools and they're our neighbors."
Still Here arrives following National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (observed February 7), continuing the necessary work of highlighting real stories and keeping ongoing struggles in public view. For Lemieux, who came of age when HIV was frequently part of pop culture discourse, curating these stories holds particular significance. She recalls television storylines featuring Black women living with HIV on popular shows like "ER" and "A Different World" during the 1990s—narratives that have since largely vanished from television and public consciousness.
Looking Forward: Education, Empathy, and Empowerment
Still Here represents more than just a publication; it's a movement toward more enlightened conversations where education, empathy, and empowerment intersect. The magazine aims to touch those who need it most while serving as an accessible resource for learning about HIV prevention and community support.
"We want Still Here to touch people who need it," said Lemieux. "It's an accessible way of learning about HIV and how to protect yourself, and how to support people in your community who have it."
Beyond encouraging testing for those undiagnosed, the magazine hopes to foster deeper understanding of realities faced by Black women living with HIV. Ultimately, Still Here seeks to ease the burden for women who have long fought to be seen, heard, and truly understood within their communities and society at large.
"If Black women could rely on getting the healthcare they deserve at all times, and the education that they need to protect themselves, there would be less of us living with HIV," Lemieux concluded. "And those who are living with HIV would know that they can count on being treated with respect and care. That they are treasured and loved and valuable and essential, and just as much a part of our community, our everything, as anyone else."
