Oral History Interview with Kendra Hays

Material Information

Subjects / Keywords:: AIDS (Disease) -- Public awareness -- United States
HIV-positive transgender people -- Interviews
HIV infections -- Social aspects -- United States
Genre:: Interview
Spatial Coverage:: United States--Florida--Ft. Lauderdale
Coordinates:: 26.137159 x -80.131401

Abstract:: Kendra Hays' oral history provides an insightful narrative of her experiences as a transgender woman living with HIV. Growing up, Kendra perceived AIDS as a "gay disease" and feared contracting it. Her journey includes a transition at age 18, a significant relationship at 38 where she engaged in risky behaviors, and the devastating discovery of her HIV status through a blood donation rejection. Kendra's initial response was a spiral into substance abuse and despair. However, she found resilience, sought treatment, and became undetectable within 30 days. Her story emphasizes the importance of education about HIV, dispelling myths, and advocating for greater awareness. Kendra, also a comedian, uses her platform to spread joy and a message of hope, demonstrating that life with HIV is not the end but a new beginning.
Funding:: This content is part of a Mellon Foundation-funded project coordinated by the Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab (WPHL) at FIU and eight community partner institutions titled "Community Data Curation: Preserving, Creating, and Narrating Everyday Stories."
Creation/Production Credits:: Joseph Ale edited and transcribed this interview.

Aggregations:: World AIDS Museum and Educational Center
Community Data Curation - Preserving, Creating, and Narrating Everyday Stories