In recognition for his contributions to the HIV/AIDS community, Von Biggs, Holy Cross Health Community Health & Well-Being Community Outreach Coordinator, received the Unsung Hero Award. It was presented by Pridelines, in collaboration with Positive People Network, on World AIDS Day.
A pastor in Indianapolis told Biggs, who was a youth pastor at the time, 17 years ago that God had a plan for him to minister to AIDS patients. As fate would have it, Biggs himself was diagnosed with the virus two years later. Upon moving to Fort Lauderdale in 2018, he struggled to navigate the healthcare system when he needed Ryan White services, which provides primary medical care, medications and support for low-income people who are HIV positive. He also noticed a racial disparity in the quality of care. That experience fueled Biggs’ passion to advocate for himself and others.
Through his advocacy work, Biggs seeks to decrease the stigma of HIV, improve access to healthcare and medication, and encourage individuals to get tested. He currently serves as the Vice Chair for Broward County’s Ryan White Part A Planning Council and is on the Board of TransEd, a non-profit community-based organization that provides scholarships to transgender and non-binary young adults. In addition to his outreach efforts in his role at Holy Cross Health, Biggs frequently contributes to local publications and appears on Queer News Tonight, a daily news broadcast geared to the LGBTQ+ community.
