Short Version
Todd Fuqua, 54, is a queer artivist, connector & reflector based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They have a passion for asset-based community development, social justice & self-advocacy. Areas of focus include LGBTQ+ related issues, mental health, addiction & recovery, HIV/AIDS, and ex-offenders.
Todd has been living with HIV for 11 years. They are member of the Marion County Ryan White Planning Council and Marion County Ending the HIV Epidemic Task Force. Todd started a social movement called CelebrateUU to combat the stigma that comes with an HIV diagnosis. Todd is also the Coalition Building Lead for HIV Modernization Movement – Indiana, where they use the Action Network platform to engage HMM’s growing list of activists to advance ongoing efforts for HIV criminal law reform in Indiana.
Longer Version
Todd Fuqua, 54, is a queer artivist, connector & reflector based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Todd worked in corporate for 20+ years. When Todd lost their job in 2010, the period that followed helped shape what Todd would accomplish to date. They have a passion for asset-based community development, social justice & self-advocacy. Areas of focus include LGBTQ+ related issues, mental health, addiction & recovery, HIV/AIDS, and ex-offenders.
In 2012, Todd found themselves in the hospital with a form of sepsis, resulting from untreated and misdiagnosed stage-2 syphilis. It was in that hospital bed that they also received a diagnosis that they were HIV positive. On the guidance of their infectious disease doctor, Todd started on antiretroviral treatment right away and within 9 months, their viral load was undetectable.
Todd had been largely silent about their HIV status until 2019, when their story was featured in a local newspaper article about The Damien Center, Indiana’s largest and oldest AIDS service organization, where Todd receives their HIV care. After the Damien Center interview, there were approached by theBody.com, to be interviewed as part of their Eye on the End series, designed to monitor the U.S.’s ‘Ending the HIV Epidemic’ Plan. Since then, Todd has ramped up their activism – joining the local Ryan White Planning Council and Marion County’s EHE Task Force. In July 2020, they attended the virtual International AIDS Conference IAC2020VIRTUAL with 20 other Hoosiers as a member of the Hoosier IAC Scholarship Fund Group.
As an artist and activist – or “artivist” – Todd started a social movement they call CelebrateUU to combat the stigma that comes with an HIV diagnosis. CelebrateUU builds on the concept of U=U, calling on individuals living with HIV/AIDS to start recognizing and celebrating anniversaries of having an undetectable viral load. With this movement, we are putting a face and story to HIV and educating people about the science behind U=U. This is one powerful way to help end the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. For more information on how to participate, go to www.celebrateuu.org.
Todd is also the Coalition Building Lead for HIV Modernization Movement – Indiana, where they use ther Action Network platform to engage HMM’s growing list of activists to advance ongoing efforts for HIV criminal law reform in Indiana.
For current information on education, certifications and volunteer work please check out Todd’s Linked IN profile or his artistic resume.
