A powerful new documentary special, “Living Proof,” will premiere on Hulu on December 1st in honor of World AIDS Day.
This documentary celebrates the lived experiences of Black women living with HIV and was produced by Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph. In addition to streaming on Hulu, the special will also air on the ABC-owned television station’s digital and streaming platforms.
Set in Atlanta, one of the epicenters of the southern HIV epidemic, the documentary focuses on Freida Jones and Kennedy Lowman, co-founders of LOTUS (Loving Ourselves Through Unity and Strength). “This grassroots nonprofit organization is changing the paradigm of how Black women experience, talk about, and live with HIV,” the project’s synopsis reads. Described as a story of “joy, sisterhood, and self-determination,” Living Proof focuses on the systemic challenges faced by Black women in the South, including the effects of medical discrimination, prejudice, and public health funding cuts, and how they reclaim their stories and health through support groups and open discussions about PrEP and other community-based health approaches.
“‘Living Proof’ is both a love letter and a call to action, a living testament to the healing power of visibility, truth, and community,” Ralph said in a statement. “Frida and Kennedy’s story is a reminder that Black women are not just survivors of HIV, they are at the forefront of reimagining what it means to live with strength, pride, and purpose.”
Living Proof was directed by Xeveria Newman, who also served as executive producer with Ralph, Michelle Thomas, and Norman Lee. Singer-songwriter B. Slade was in charge of music supervision and score. The film is a co-production of the DIVA Foundation (a national nonprofit organization Ralph founded in 1990), ABC-owned television stations, and Gilead Sciences.
“The history of HIV is largely a story of grassroots movements and community power,” said Deborah Tellman, executive vice president, operations and general counsel at Gilded Sciences. “We are proud to support this important documentary that amplifies the voices of Black women, celebrates their tenacity, resilience, strength and leadership, and highlights the central role they play in the fight against HIV.”
The project builds on the successful partnership between the DIVA Foundation and Hulu on the documentary “Unexpected,” which premiered on the streamer on World AIDS Day 2023. The project focuses on two mothers living with HIV, Masonia Traylor and Ciara “Cee Si” Covin, and was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards.
Watch the trailer for “Living Proof” below.
