Reflections from an HIV Advocate's Journey: Venton Jones

By: Venton Jones, MSHCAD, PMP, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Black Policy & Advocacy Network (SBPAN)

In June 2022, I recognized the 15th anniversary of my seroconversion. Reflecting on this huge milestone as a long term HIV survivor, I am humbled by the opportunities I have had to use my story and advocacy to make the world a better place for people living with HIV, communities of color, young people, and those who are part of the LGBTQ community. I would have never thought 15 years ago that I would be running to serve as a Texas State Representative, and becoming one of the first openly Black LGBTQ and HIV positive lawmakers to be elected to a state legislative body in the United States.

On World AIDS Day 2021, I made the decision to run for Texas State Representative in the house district that I grew up in in Dallas. House District 100 is one that is a majority-minority district which has a population of almost 200,000 people of which 80% are constituents representing communities of color. The issues I have championed during my campaign are: healthcare, public education, jobs, the economy, infrastructure (including our power grid), and civil and voting rights.  

During my primary, I faced a lot of obstacles as a person living with HIV and first time political candidate, including an opponent who publicly attacked my HIV status and sexuality on the campaign trail. In the face of these attacks, I continued to run a race that was focused on service to the people, and on May 24th, I earned the Democratic nomination for the seat, and advanced to the General Election with almost 70% of the vote. Now I am continuing the work to win this position against an opponent in the General Election which will take place on November 8, 2022. 

I often reflect on my HIV and public health work over the past 20 years. I am grateful for my roots as an HIV advocate. So many of the lessons about service to the community and fighting for the voiceless started in this work for me. These lessons are ones that are deeply ingrained in who I am today. I stand proudly on the shoulders of those freedom fighters who gave their lives working to abolish HIV for Black and Brown communities. So much of the work that I have focused on during my life and career has influenced my campaign. 

As I continue this legislative race, I continue to ask for the support of the HIV community. Please continue to follow the campaign and support our efforts to increase representation of people of color, the LGBTQ community, and people living with HIV in elected office. You can find out more about my campaign by visiting ventonfor100.com.

Editor's Note: As a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization we cannot endorse Venton's candidacy, however, we did ask him to include a link to his campaign website due to the historic nature of his candidacy for Texas State House District 100. We invite you to learn more about him and his candidacy.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.

HIV & COVID-19 in Southern Black Communities

By: Venton C. Hill-Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Black Policy & Advocacy Network

It is no secret that Black Americans in the U.S. South lead our nation in diagnoses and deaths caused by HIV, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol and lack of mental health resources. Knowing this, it came as no surprise that the Black community would also lead the nation per capita in diagnosed and undiagnosed cases of COVID-19, as well as the virus’ mortality rate. According to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, Black communities are facing a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 in the U.S. South. 

In a May 2020 study conducted by amfAR, it was reported that in the United States: “COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths increased in counties with a greater proportion of Black residents. While disproportionately Black counties constitute only 22% percent of U.S. counties, they account for 52% and 58% of COVID-19 cases and deaths, respectively. Ninety-one percent of disproportionately Black counties are located in the Southern U.S.” 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SBPAN has worked to utilize social media and digital engagement (web meetings, virtual conferences, etc.) to continue the dialogue with Black public health and community leaders representing, and serving, these Southern Black communities. Through our engagement, we have found that many leaders feel that, prior to COVID-19 pandemic, conversations and actions surrounding the overarching state of public health in the South were limited. As a result, Black communities living in the U.S. South face a disproportionally high number of health disparities directly linked to the social and economic barriers rooted in the unique history of racism, religion, segregation, and slavery in the U.S. South. Because of this environment, the U.S. South remains the epicenter of health disparities that continue to reduce the morbidity and mortality of Black communities living in this part of the United States.

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest and the ongoing call for racial equity in the South, we must focus our conversations and mobilization efforts on addressing intersecting epidemics and social challenges. Now is not the time to regress in having open dialogues, showing human solidarity and human perseverance, nor showing collective support for our society. Look at how promptly we bonded together to administer personal prevention essentials (PPE), enacted federal/state legislations and local ordinances to assist families and individuals with food, housing, and supplemental income that have been financially impacted, or ensured everyone that wants to get tested has the unencumbered availability to do so. Now imagine if we utilized those same strategies, focus, and fortitude and applied them to the same public health emergencies that will remain once COVID-19 is gone?  

People living with HIV/AIDS in the Black community mirror the same external barriers that require the exact same meaningful impact that we have responded to COVID-19 with. There are basic human right essentials including employment and housing that we need all local municipalities to pass anti-discrimination ordinances against. Only through solidarity and perseverance can we collectively make further progress in addressing health disparities for southern Blacks."

About the Southern Black Policy & Advocacy Network. SBPAN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was created in 2018 to improve health, social, and economic conditions facing Black communities living in the U.S. South. SBPAN's mission is to improve health outcomes and reduce social, and economic disparities impacting Black communities living in the U.S. South through training, education, advocacy and mobilization. SBPAN is committed to building and strengthening programs and partnerships focused on improving the health and quality of life for diverse populations of Black southern communities in the U.S., specifically those living at the intersection of marginalized Black communities including, but not limited to those who are same gender loving (SGL), lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), youth, women, and persons over the age of 55. Donate to Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.