Internationally known, award-winning photographer Duane Cramer has become an advocate for HIV awareness for over two decades after finding out that his best friend died of the disease. His best friend being his father.
Duane’s dad died of AIDS 40 years ago. Because HIV/AIDS had such a huge stigma back then, the family initially told everyone that his father died of cancer.
“He had been sick on and off for quite some time; the doctors really didn’t know what was going on,” Cramer recalled. “In the ‘80s, when my father died, there were no medications…there was a lot of shame and guilt around HIV/AIDS. We were really fearful of the stigma…we actually told people that he had died of cancer.”
Duane then started volunteering for various HIV-educational programs. But he felt like something was missing from the conversation, and that the HIV/AIDS story from a black perspective needed to be told.
After 10 years of volunteering, Duane contracted HIV himself from a relationship. Both his and his father’s diagnoses fueled his passion to educate the community even more.
“At first it was only a white gay man’s disease, and those blacks with HIV were left out in the dust.”
Duane currently encourages people living with HIV to help develop a treatment plan for each other, using his photography and creativity to bring much needed attention to the disease. He has been involved in various campaigns and HIV-education initiatives designed to get people talking about and tested for HIV. Duane captures social images, and shares those images to incite conversation and tell stories. Which is appropriate, since Duane sees himself as a professional storyteller.
Duane is currently working with Merck on Project I Design, a educational campaign that helps people living with HIV to work with doctors on their own terms. As a part of the campaign, Duane shares his personal experience to show the importance of a healthy dialogue with doctors and patients.
“If there’s one thing I want our black community to know is I want people to really be authentic, especially with their doctors. So many times–for whatever reason–we don’t tell our doctors the whole story, which delays accurate diagnosis and treatment. Be real, so you can be healthier. No matter what happens, keep a positive attitude. It’s a value that my family instilled in me and it’s kept me going all these years.”
Duane, among many other things is apart of the AIDS United Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council is tasked with providing strategic assistance to AIDS United’s Board of Trustees and executives and act as advisors and ambassadors for enhancing AIDS United’s resources and advancing its national role in strategic grantmaking, capacity building and advocacy. Dr. Jamie Nesbitt, a person living with HIV who served as secretary of AIDS United’s Board of Trustees, will chair the council. Dr. Eugene McCray, retired director of the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention and who currently serves as chair of AIDS United’s Board of Trustees will also serve as vice chair of the council. Under the leadership of these two individuals living with HIV, the council will operate as a special committee of the Board of Trustees, to ensure alignment with organizational goals and strategic plans.
“We are thrilled to launch the AIDS United Advisory Council and welcome these distinguished members to our team,” said Jesse Milan Jr., President and CEO of AIDS United. “Each member brings a wealth of professional experience from their fields and strong personal commitment to ending HIV/AIDS. Their collective wisdom and passion will be instrumental in supporting our efforts to address the challenges the HIV sector faces in this political and economic environment.”
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