Community Stories 

Each month Face of Fifty will share a story from a member of the community. These stories will provide glimpses into their lives navigating the world as a black woman in her fifties. The stories will cover everything from family, health, dating, surviving loss, starting over, and more! We hope these stories inspire and enlighten you.
Living with HIV and Overcoming Stigmas by Tiffany Quinton
Tiffany Quinton: Overcomer, Advocate, and
​ Child of God
Hello, my name is Tiffany Quinton I am living with HIV and have been positive for 26 years. I was diagnosed at the age of twenty-six and at the time, I had a nine month old baby boy. After my diagnosis, my mom and my sister took care of my baby, so I could deal with me.

My diagnosis came as a shock because I had just returned from maternity leave, when I got a phone call at work saying I needed to be tested for a STD, which is now referred to as a STI. I got the results the day after Labor Day. Turns out, the guy who infected me, knew he had HIV! I was very angry but God told me I had to forgive him, so I could start to heal. 

I have lived half my life overcoming HIV. I have fought through stigmas, judgement, and adversity. I have seen the medication evolve–I went from taking TWENTY FOUR pills daily, now down to two pills daily. HIV is not the death sentence that it once was but having a support system is everything! I had the hardest time dealing with what would become my "new normal." But I only asked God for two things:  to let me live and let my baby be okay. And both things happened, Praise God!

When I decided to go public with my diagnosis, I went on national television and released that demon instead of keeping it a secret or cowering in shame. Today, I am thriving doing a lot of public speaking, outreach, and raising awareness as well as money for charities like the Aids Walk. I also go to camps for children living with HIV, and I am a leader of the HIV Ministry at my church, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. I work for my cause–I don't have my cause work for me. Also, if sharing my story helps at least one person, then my living hasn't been in vain!

I want everyone reading to know this: HIV is 100% PREVENTABLE. Please practice safe sex and never trust anybody with your body.

HIV Facts & Stats

  • HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. It weakens a person's immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection.
  • If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). However, HIV and AIDS is not the same thing. 
  • The first HIV case in the United States was diagnosed in 1981.
  • You can get HIV from contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Most people get the virus by having unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. Another common way of getting it is by sharing drug needles with someone who is infected with HIV.
  • Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV today. About 14 percent of them (1 in 7) don’t know it and need testing. (according to HIV.gov)
  •  In 2018, the highest rate was for Blacks/African Americans (45.4), followed by Hispanic/Latinos (22.4) and persons of multiple races (19.3). (according to HIV.gov)
  • Individuals living with HIV are high-risk for other diseases, like COVID-19.​
For more information and HIV resources, please visit HIV.gov
Tiffany Quinton is a HIV survivor, HIV activist and advocate. She works to raise money for HIV/AIDS causes like the AIDS Walk and donates her time to organizations like Camp Hope, a camp for kids living with HIV. Tiffany is also an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay. You can support her business HERE.
Tiffany's photo credit: Demarcus Jones 
HIV stat graphic: hiv.gov
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