Local movie maker spotlights HIV in black community

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - In light of startling HIV statistics and National Black HIV Awareness Day, a local movie maker is putting a spotlight on the taboo topic.

Movie Director Priscilla Adams debuted her latest film Reunited on Friday. The film chronicles a whirlwind romance and what happens after the main character reveals she is HIV positive.

"They actually have to deal with the fact that she HIV positive," says Adams.

Adams says the topic of HIV can be taboo in the black community, and during the process of creating the film it was difficult to find HIV positive people to speak about their personal struggles.

"No one wanted to come out in the open and share that story."

HIV awareness locations like Shreveport's Philadelphia Center helped to fill in the gap of information for the filmmaker.The Philadelphia center tests more than 1,000 people a year for free.

In Louisiana, the HIV rate for blacks is 7 times higher than the HIV case rate for whites.

The latest data shows that there are 12,972 blacks living in Louisiana with HIV, and the Shreveport region has the 3rd highest number of new diagnosis among blacks in Louisiana.

"It can happen to your everyday, ordinary person and it does," says Adams.

During the month of February a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the movie Reunited will go to local HIV clinics in the ArkLatex, one of those is the Philadelphia Center.

Click here for more information on where to find the movie.

Copyright 2014 KSLA. All rights reserved.