"GLAAD's 2025 Where We Are on TV report found that only one character - Argentine sensation Cris Miró from the self-titled series Cris Miró (She / Her / Hers) - depicted a person living with HIV across all cable, broadcast, and streaming platforms.The biographical show followed the rise of the transgender entertainer and media personality in the 1980s and 1990s before she was diagnosed with HIV. While her on-screen portrayal is a step in the right direction of representation of people living with HIV, it revealed how much more humane and consistent such representation could be."
"It's hard to fathom that almost 40 years after the HIV epidemic, on-screen representation of people living with HIV remains so sparse and uninspired. The situation is even worse for Black people living with HIV.However, a few films have left their mark on HIV and Black representation, and create a path towards a more inclusive future. So, here are 10 essential films about the Black community, HIV, and why they remain culturally significant today."
"The Lee Daniels-directed film, adapted from author Sapphire's novel Push, follows Claireece Precious Jones (played by Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe in her feature film debut), a teenager experiencing poverty, illiteracy, HIV, pregnancy, and parental abuse in 1980s New York City. With a star-studded cast that included Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Patton, and Mo'Nique, who won Best Supporting Actress for the film and became the fourth Black woman to receive the award, Precious became a critical and commercial success. Precious received numerous awards, lauded for its ensemble performances and its uncompromising examination of despair, adversity,"
A 2025 GLAAD report identified only one on-screen character across platforms who is depicted living with HIV: Argentine entertainer Cris Miró, shown before and after her diagnosis. That portrayal marks progress but also exposes a lack of humane, consistent representation. Nearly 40 years after the HIV epidemic began, portrayals of people living with HIV remain sparse and uninspired, with Black people facing even poorer representation. A small number of films have provided significant, enduring portrayals that influence public perception and point toward more inclusive storytelling. Precious (2009) exemplifies impact by centering a Black teenager confronting poverty, illiteracy, HIV, pregnancy, and abuse while earning major awards and attention.
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