ORGS INVITE DABABY TO DISCUSS HIV ISSUES

In an open letter to DaBaby, 11 organizations have requested a private meeting to discuss HIV and the long-term opportunity for him to share the facts about it with his fanbase.

The letter was drafted and signed by organizations providing HIV education and direct services to the people most impacted by HIV/AIDS, especially Black LGBTQ+ communities in the South, which accounts for the majority of new HIV cases.

DaBaby has apologized for comments he made onstage at the Rolling Loud Festival about people with HIV, LGBTQ+ people and women. He has since been dropped from several festival lineups.

"DaBaby's words reflect the mindset of many Black folks,” said Raniyah Copeland, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute. “Whether it's stigmatizing people who are gay, trans and/or living with HIV or it's a deeply rooted misogynoir, we can end HIV within our lifetime only if we work past the ignorance that holds up systems of anti-Blackness that hurt and divide us. It's why critical conversations about shaming and oppressing our own people must be had in the whole of Black communities. Having Black-led HIV organizations, particularly from the South, join this effort underscores the need for widespread Black leadership in brokering conversations that turn the misinformed into messengers of truth. We must ensure we ourselves are creating a world where all Black lives are afforded the humanity we deserve.”

Joining the Black Aids Institute as signatories of the letter to DaBaby are Arianna’s Center, GLAAD, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, the Prevention Access Campaign, Relationship Unleashed, The 6:52 Project Foundation and leaders of the Gilead COMPASS Initiative.

Read the letter here.