About

Heroes In The Struggle (HITS) is the Black AIDS Institute’s flagship, annual, fundraising gala. It is accompanied by a photographic tribute of its “Heroes” – celebrities, activists, community leaders and people living with HIV that are using their voice to end the HIV epidemic in Black America. 

Black AIDS Institute (BAI) is the nation’s only uniquely and unapologetically Black “think and do tank.” Our mission is to stop the AIDS epidemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals to confront HIV.

Read the press release here.

Watch Link

Watch the show on Black AIDS Institute’s Facebook page now!

Watch the show on Black AIDS Institute’s You Tube page now!

Date and Time

This year, Heroes In The Struggle will be held on the 40th anniversary of the discovery of AIDS. It will be a virtual event.

Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021

Time: The show will go live between 6.30 – 7.00pm ET.

Tickets and Online Auction

Buy ticket and join online auction:

https://events.readysetauction.com/blackaidsinstitute/heroesinthestruggle

Get a free ticket and join online auction:

https://events.readysetauction.com/blackaidsinstitute/heroesinthestruggle/signup/bidder

2021 HEROES IN THE STRUGGLE

The Faithful: Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey

Human Rights Campaign’s Alabama State Director, our Black Treatment Advocates Network’s Alabama chapter co-chair, and longtime HIV educator, Carmarion Anderson-Harvey show us why we need to center Black trans womens’ leadership.

As HIV continues to impact Black and Trans people living across the south, Carmarion’s advocacy expertise and lived experiences will help us end the epidemic in our lifetimes.

Learn more about Carmarion Anderson-Harvey

Follow Carmarion Anderson-Harvey on Twitter


The Trailblazer: Steven Canals

Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning screenwriter and producer, Steven is best known for co-creating the iconic FX show, POSE. A show that brings unprecedented mainstream visibility to the Black LGBTQ community.


As the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to most heavily impact Black and LGBTQ people, Steven’s humanizing storytelling of Black joy, living with HIV, and overcoming transphobia set in the ’80s-’90s resonate deeply today.

Learn more about Steven Canals

Follow Steven Canals on Instagram


The Activist: George M. Johnson

George is an activist and award-winning author of “All Boys Aren’t Blue.” The Amazon Best Book of the Year, optioned for television by Gabrielle Union, is a memoir-manifesto about growing up Black and queer in America. 

They have written on race, gender, sex, and culture for Essence, the Advocate, BuzzFeed News, Teen Vogue, and more than forty other national publications. George has appeared on BuzzFeed’s AM2DM as well as on MSNBC.

Learn more about George M. Johnson

Follow George M. Johnson on Instagram


Celebrity Speakers and Presenters

Excited to announce a fabulous lineup of Black celebrities and members of the HIV community for Heroes In The Struggle on June 5 at 6 pm ET. Each of them has lent their platform and dedicated their career to ending HIV in Black communities. We are so honored they are a part of our commemoration of the 40th anniversary of AIDS.

Sponsors and Community Partners

For 22 years, the Black AIDS Institute has led a uniquely and unapologetically Black fight to end HIV in Black communities. This year’s virtual Heroes In The Struggle celebration to commemorate the 40th anniversary of AIDS is made possible by our sponsors and community partners whose values resonate with our uniquely and unapologetically Black lens to ending HIV.

Sponsorship packages starting at $2500 are now available. Please contact Mayboll Carrasco, Development Manager, MaybollC@blackaids.org

Donate

Amidst racial upheaval, political tension, and an unfolding pandemic, individual donors like you came together in 2020 to create our strongest fundraising year. Please continue to give because drops make an ocean

Give via text: Text “HERO” to 844-946-2016

Give online: . Donate here


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