This World AIDS day we sat down with School of Global Health student, Princess Jauan Durbin, a dedicated global health equity scholar and nationally recognized HIV prevention leader. From shaping youth-centered systems change to advancing person-centered sexual health strategies across the South, Princess brings a powerful commitment to ending the HIV epidemic and elevating the voices of Black and LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
1. What makes your approach to breaking the stigma different?
My approach to HIV prevention and community education is rooted in the belief that young people deserve more than outdated outreach strategies and passive inclusion. I intentionally center youth and young adults—especially Black, queer, and trans youth—as the architects of their own solutions, not as tokens or afterthoughts. Much of my work involves stepping into spaces where institutions haven’t consistently shown up and building trust through authenticity and genuine partnership. By bridging community leadership with national and corporate partners, I ensure that young people aren’t simply invited into conversations—they are shaping them, leading them, and driving the outcomes.
2. What misconceptions do you most want to dispel?
The biggest misconception I work to dismantle is the idea that HIV prevention has to feel clinical, uncomfortable, or something that’s talked about in private. Young people want information—they don’t want judgment. There is also a persistent myth that HIV and sexual health exist outside of broader public health. In reality, they are deeply connected to housing stability, mental and overall health, economic security, and policy. When systems fail young people, prevention efforts fail alongside them. Stigma is not just interpersonal—it’s structural, stemming from gaps in education, resources, and understanding.
3. How do you leverage storytelling, education, or lived experience to empower others?
Storytelling is the foundation of my work. I speak openly about the communities I serve, the systems I navigate, and the gaps I’ve had to bridge myself. Whether I’m in another country, in the ballroom scene, or collaborating with national partners, I use lived experience to make HIV prevention relatable, actionable, and affirming. Young people engage when they see themselves reflected in the work. My goal is always to create spaces—including academic ones—where their leadership, creativity, and lived experiences are honored, resourced, uplifted, and taken seriously.
