Photo Credit: Getty Images
Tamar Braxton is using her platform to shine a light on an important public health issue, HIV prevention among Black women. In a recent livestream, the singer and television personality revealed that she is taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily medication that significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV.
Braxton explained that her decision to take PrEP stems from a desire to take control of her health and protect herself while dating. She emphasized that more Black women need to be informed about the availability of preventive tools like PrEP, which are commonly associated with other at-risk groups but remain underutilized by heterosexual women. Her message was simple: protecting yourself should never be stigmatized.
Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company behind some of the most effective HIV medications, recently launched an initiative aimed at empowering Black cisgender and transgender women and girls with the tools and knowledge they need to prevent HIV. Through its Setting the P.A.C.E. program, Gilead is funding community organizations across the U.S. that are led by or centered around Black women. These groups work to combat stigma, provide access to PrEP, and offer culturally relevant health education and advocacy.
In a statement, Tamar Braxton said, “I’m partnering with Gilead Sciences to help more black women see PrEP as an option for protecting their health, their peace, and their pleasure. I’m all about dating with confidence, and black women have stopped talking about HIV, and it needs to be part of our conversation again.”
Black women account for a disproportionate number of new HIV diagnoses in the United States, despite making up a relatively small percentage of the population. The combination of social stigma, limited access to healthcare and lack of awareness contributes to this disparity. PrEP remains a game-changer in prevention, yet many women either don’t know about it or feel hesitant to pursue it due to fear of judgment.