Lawrence Stallworth, II

In 2009, at the age of 17, Lawrence Stallworth, II discovered that he was HIV positive. After confronting discrimination and stigma within his high school and his own family, Lawrence committed himself to becoming more involved in the community. Since 2010, with the assistance of one of his social workers he found the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland where Lawrence has been a member of the Ohio Advocates Youth Leadership Council, in collaboration with Advocates for Youth. As a member of the group, he has gained broad expertise on sexual health and HIV/AIDS rights issues, policies, advocacy and new media.

He has made a series of appearances on TV and at universities to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and sexual health issues, has blogged and reported on these issues, and has educated policy-makers and advisory councils -- including the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS- about the need to establish budgetary allocations specific to young people's sexual health and access to anti-retroviral therapy. He is currently BTG Bridge Outreach Coordinator/Educator at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.