GLAAD Brings Generation Z & HIV: HBCU Tour to Morehouse College

Atlanta’s historic Morehouse College will soon host an important conversation centered on knowledge, health, and empowerment as GLAAD brings its impactful “Generation Z and HIV: Human Issue. Southern Solution. An HBCU Tour” to the campus on March 18, 2026.

Taking place inside the African American Hall of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, the event will gather students from Morehouse College and the Atlanta University Center for an evening designed to educate, engage, and open honest dialogue around HIV prevention and awareness in Black communities.

Presented in partnership with Gilead Sciences, the tour focuses on equipping Generation Z with critical information surrounding HIV prevention, treatment, and the importance of eliminating stigma. Despite being the most openly LGBTQ generation in history, research continues to show that many young adults remain unaware of key facts that can protect their health.

At the center of the evening will be a dynamic fireside conversation between PrEP advocate and trailblazing out HBCU athlete Byron Perkins and Darian Aaron, Senior Director of Local News: U.S. South at GLAAD. The discussion will explore the ongoing impact of HIV, the importance of accessibility to prevention tools like PrEP, and how open conversations can shift the narrative around sexual health in Black communities across the South.

The program will also feature a storytelling panel bringing together influential voices and advocates including Dean Quincy James Rineheart of Morehouse College, Dr. David Malebranche of Gilead Sciences, Rashad Burgess, Darwin Thompson, Abraham Johnson, actress and communications director Alise Monroe, and advocates Nina Giddens, Naima Starr, and Jordan Freeman.

In a creative nod to culture and storytelling, the event will include a reenactment inspired by the groundbreaking HIV awareness storyline from the iconic 90s television series “A Different World,” reimagined with updated language and context for today’s generation. A surprise celebrity guest appearance is also expected to be part of the evening.

According to GLAAD research, only 37% of Gen Z adults say they feel knowledgeable about HIV, despite the fact that the virus continues to disproportionately impact communities across the South. The initiative aims to close that gap by delivering factual, empowering information directly to students where these conversations matter most.

Experts emphasize that HIV today is both preventable and manageable, with medications like PrEP reducing the risk of contracting HIV by approximately 99% when taken as prescribed, and modern treatments allowing people living with HIV to reach undetectable levels that prevent transmission.

Through the HBCU Tour, GLAAD hopes to empower young people with knowledge that protects their health while encouraging open conversations that break down stigma.

The event begins at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, and is open to Morehouse College students, Atlanta University Center faculty, and invited guests and media.

As conversations around health, identity, and community continue to evolve, initiatives like this serve as a powerful reminder that knowledge remains one of the most important tools for protecting the next generation.