02/04/2026
Honoring Reggie Williams, a leader in HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy. Born in Cincinnati, he worked as an X-ray technician and saw firsthand how AIDS was impacting men in his community. In the 1980s, he moved to San Francisco and began organizing to address the epidemic, pushing for HIV prevention efforts that were culturally responsive for Black gay men and other men of color. He helped develop the National Association of Black and White Men Together and co-founded the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention. Diagnosed with HIV in 1986 at age 35, Reggie later relocated to Amsterdam with his partner to escape stigma and discrimination during a time when HIV status could determine your freedom to travel and live without barriers.