People living with HIV and those at risk of infection lost a fierce advocate when Bryan Jones passed away last month. Bryan brought his lived experience for the benefit of the community to which he belonged.
Bryan brought his lived experience for the benefit of the community to which he belonged.
Bryan was particularly helpful (and outspoken) when Community Solutions led the development of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) plans for three Ohio communities in 2020. To ensure the voices of marginalized individuals were elevated, Bryan facilitated a state-wide virtual focus group exclusively for Black and Brown people living with HIV. His personality and his empathy shone that day and he quickly put the group at ease. Thanks to Bryan’s leadership, it was one of the most open and robust conversations of the dozens which were part of the EHE process. Those who knew him well can probably recognize his fingerprints on some of the recommendations which made it into the final plans.
Recently, Bryan and his Sankofa HIV Initiative were instrumental in surprising AIDS Funding Collaborative Director and Community Solutions colleague Julie Patterson with the Marilyn Kuczynski Faith & Strength Award. No one else could have done it quite like Bryan.
Bryan had a unique talent for recognizing the systemic pressures impacting his personal experience and identifying clear and actionable recommendations to improve the situation not just for him, but for all people living with HIV. His frustration at the lack of progress was sometimes palpable, but he never stopped advocating. We won’t either.
Local advocate Robert Toth shared a celebration of Bryan and his work in his Cleveland.com piece on January 5: Remembering Bryan C. Jones, long-term fellow HIV survivor, activist and friend. “You were adamant, like you’ve been known to be, that we — long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS — are not forgotten. You were adamant that we be remembered locally. You also wanted a place where LGBTQ+ individuals who’d been recognized for their community service could be honored as heroes, role models for the younger LGBTQ+ population. I promised you I’d try. You died 48 hours after that promise.
Trent Straube, writing for POZ in December, heard from those who knew Bryan’s activism well. “Bryan Jones was a great activist, both outspoken and fearless, determined to have underrepresented voices heard and suffering no fools in the process. Years ago, I remember a meeting of about a dozen people dancing around a complicated and delicate issue. It took Bryan to state what was obvious but conveyed in a manner that opened up the discussion rather than shut it down.”
R.I.P. Bryan C. Jones, “Outspoken and Fearless” HIV Fighter for the Most Vulnerable, December 2024
Bryan would want his transition to elevate to the causes he cared about, especially the plight of Nushawn Williams, who continues to be unjustly incarcerated for HIV non-disclosure.
In a tribute to Bryan posted on social media, Bruce Richman of Prevention Access Campaign wrote, “Bryan would want his transition to elevate to the causes he cared about, especially the plight of Nushawn Williams, who continues to be unjustly incarcerated for HIV non-disclosure. Here's a website about Nushawn's case: https://www.freenushawn.com/ and below are some articles about some of Bryan's work and passions.
- Oral History - podcast: Bryan C. Jones, 26 July 2023
- Taking Care of Our Own: Bryan & Dee: 2023
- Positive thoughts about a negative situation: Nushawn Williams - 2022
- DIRT Brings HIV/AIDS Advocacy Down to Earth for Black Communities in Ohio - 2021
- 2021's Amazing People Living with HIV: Activist Bryan C. Jones - 2021
- Cancer Survivor Bryan Jones Shares His U=U Message - 2020
- Bryan Jones on U=U: “From the beginning... to the beginning of a new era” - 2020
