Hi, I'm Cheney Ross and we're at Hollywood's first ever HIV Initiative. Many celebrities have come out to publicly take an HIV test to encourage others to get tested as well. This is a very important issue and something that has been taboo. Um people have made the mistake of believing that it's a gay disease or you know, um you know the science says this is an African-American thing. It's it's it's a people disease. I'm here with Lunell from Borad. Hello. Hello. Why was it so important for you to be a part of this event today? Because it's important for everyone to be a part of anything connected with HIV and AIDS testing.

I have several friends that have passed away from this disease and that was in the earlier days when we didn't know as much as we do now and I just feel like I wish I could have them back. But I since I can't have them back, at least I can maybe help save the ones that I do have still by just urging everyone to come out and be tested. Save yourself, save your family, save your future. Because our heroes have the power of erasing people's memories. And it's a power that I would love to I would like to have in my real life. And one of those things that I would do is probably erase the stigma and the fear that's attached to HIV. All it is is a change of of mind.

If we can change people's mind and let them understand that it is not that bad. You know, even if you do have the disease. After all, this is a disease that you get from making love. Okay? From making love. How how can you be shameful about that? Hey, Young Hollywood, get tested, okay? We always perpetuate lavish lifestyle and cars and partying. But I thought that, you know, if we can instill something in our youth today that you know, they can be cognizant of their health and you know, knowledge on health and and growing up to be, you know, strong individuals and, you know, take care of this problem, I will do anything that I can to be here. I'm here with Indigo from the hit show Weeds.

Why was it important for you to be here today? Because AIDS is is absolutely devastating. I feel like when you're a celebrity, you should use your status and your celebrity to make a difference and you are being listened to, you are being watched and if you can say something positive or say something significant, you should. I mean, it could affect me if I'm not careful. So, it was definitely important for me to come down here and do this today. There is no cure for AIDS. There's absolutely no cure. You have to go in and get tested and know your body and know how healthy you're living. Um so you can be responsible for, you know, your life and other people's lives as well.

I am here with Regina King. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us. Have you gotten your results yet? Yes, I have. Yes, they were They were You know, no, no, not at all. Oh, you did good. She knows how nervous I was. We were both very, very nervous. Yes. It's only two results, negative or positive. But the not knowing is scarier. Walking around with that fear. Because she and I before we went in there, we were both like, you know, and cuz it's been, you know, over a year since I've taken the test. We are creating a solution for the epidemic that is AIDS in our community. When I heard about the staggering statistic that 1.

3 million people are affected by AIDS, some aware, some not aware, and 50% of that statistic of that number are African-American people, there was no question that I had to get a move on with getting the word out that we can stop it in our tracks. My name is Angie Stone and I urge young Hollywood to please, please get tested. It's not as bad as you think.