Mondo Guerra brought “A Night of Pozitivity” to University students Tuesday in the Student Union Theater, discussing his life and experiences being an HIV-positive man.
Guerra, a former contestant on the Lifetime series “Project Runway,” said he has faced many obstacles in his professional career as a fashion designer and in his personal life, but his overall attitude of positivity is what gets him through his rigorous and hectic schedule and life.
Guerra inadvertently announced his HIV-positive status on the show after living 10 years in silence with his disease. In a press conference Tuesday, Guerra recalled his life six months prior to being cast for “Project Runway,” describing his critical health status because of a case of pneumonia made worse by AIDS.
Jacob Brumfield, associate director of Campus Life and assistant dean of students, said Guerra’s presence on campus is not only impressive but also appropriate for University students. Guerra has multiple personality characteristics that appeal to younger people as a fashion designer, a Latino, an HIV-positive person or even just as a television star, Brumfield said.
One reason the talk is significant as well is its time proximity to the Wellness Fair put on by Student Health Services, which is today in the Student Union, Brumfield said.
“This is a day and age where we know people in our lives that are living with HIV or AIDS, and it is important to engage students about this issue,” Brumfield said.
Health promotion coordinator for the LSU Student Health Center Seirra Fowler said one of the major issues when discussing HIV or AIDS awareness is the stigma attached to it and the negative light many people adapt.
Fowler said Guerra’s famous, successful and positive status may encourage people to get tested and create more awareness of the growing issue in Baton Rouge.
“We [as a campus] are part of a bigger community that is the Baton Rouge community and this issue is too important to ignore,” Fowler said.
Baton Rouge consistently ranks in the top five cities in the country of people living with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In his talk, Guerra addressed and recalled different experiences he had gone through as a child and as a man who is HIV-positive, including his family life.
Guerra said his newest project is creating a new HIV education campaign that focuses on the arts.
While education is important, Guerra said for him it is not always about educating people but rather connecting with people who are HIV-positive or know people who are.
“There are more important issues to be addressed besides just getting up and designing a dress.”