WATCH: Black Southern Families Show That Georgia Is Greater Than AIDS

A new series of short videos seeks to create conversation around HIV in the state of Georgia after a recent survey showed that more than half of Georgians were personally connected to someone with HIV and one in four black residents have a family member with HIV.

Despite these numbers, participants reported they rarely if ever talk about HIV. 

“HIV has touched many lives, yet it’s not talked about even with those closest to us,” says Tina Hoff, senior vice president and director of Health Communication and Media Partnerships at the Kaiser Family Foundation, which directs Greater Than AIDS. “Too many are getting HIV, and even dying, because of the stigma and silence.”

The survey, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Georgia Department of Public Health this past summer, asked over 500 people about their views and connections to HIV. The survey led to the creation of a public information campaign and video series by Greater than AIDS called "We Are Family". 

Each video highlights a person with HIV and their family, and discusses how they live with the disease and their status. 

The videos highlight a diverse group of families and relationships, and demonstrate what is possible with love, care and acceptance for positive people. 

For more videos and information, go to Georgia Greater Than AIDS.