VIDEO: Youth HIV/AIDS Activist Venton Jones at the White House

This is brilliant. The White House hosted a discussion on Thursday entitled "Moving Toward an AIDS-free Generation." Representing Black gay leadership on the panel was R20 friend Venton Jones, the 28-year-old communications and education manager of the National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition.

Watch the discussion AFTER THE JUMP ...

Venton spoke eloquently on the need to inspire a new generation of HIV/AIDS awareness and activism. "It's important to remember the activism of thirty years ago when," said Jones, who has master's degree in health care administration from the University of Texas and will soon begin doctoral studies.

"I wasn't even born then. But the disease at that time was a death sentence and [became] a call to action. There were so many people who were dying at that time—the brothers, lovers, mothers, friends. As we progress with treatment options, it's important that we address the stigma and homophobia that exists around the LGBT community. And we need more opportunities to allow people to share their stories."

The discussion included Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett, AIDS Foundation of Chicago's David Munar, Office of National AIDS POlicy Director Dr. Grant Colfax, University of Alabama at Birmingham's Dr. Michael Sagg, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Rep. Barbara Lee (CA). The panel was hosted by Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated actress Rosie Perez, who is a member of the President's Advisory Commissionm on HIV/AIDS.

Watch the discussion AFTER THE JUMP ...

Venton Jones is an amazing and inspirational youth leader. He is quoted in several of my articles, such as "One Size Does Not Fit All: USCA Town Hall Meeting Focuses on Black Gay and Bi Men" and  our series "Reversing the Alarming HIV Increase Among Black Gay Men Part 1" and "Part 2". Venton also was part of the team that organized the Young Black Leadership Initiative two months ago in Washington DC.  YBGLI invited about 50 Black youth leaders for a weekend conference. I was honored to be invited to facilitate several media trainings and participate in a panel discussion.

Black gay and bisexual youth are the demographic that has been hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Blacks comprise only 12 percent of the population but about 44 percent of all new infections. The trend has been particularly “alarming” among Black gay and bisexual men aged 13 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Controls. New infections have increased by 48 percent between 2006 and 2009.

See our report for EBONY "New Data Show Black Gay Men Face "World's Highest" Risk of HIV, "More Black Gay and Bi Men Are HIV Positive; Most Unaware and our series "Reversing the Alarming HIV Increase Among Black Gay Men Part 1" and "Part 2".

Comments

[Ramon]

this young man is an inspiration! thank you mr jones!

[West Side]

Thanks so much for sharing this video. I've never heard of Venton Jones until now but certainly will begin following his career. It's wonderful to see so many talented young people leading and inspiring others. I was Venton's age 20 years ago and never would have thought young black gay men would be sitting on panels at the White House. Then Keith Boykin started working for Clinton and I thought the world changed. Yessir, yessir!

[JSP]

Very nice!