DiAna DiAna

DiAna DiAna is an American hairdresser and HIV/AIDS activist from Columbia, South Carolina.[1] Her work in the field of HIV/AIDS and basic sex education was featured in the 1989 documentary film Diana's Hair Ego.

Career

Troubled about the lack of sex education and HIV prevention within African-American communities, DiAna began distributing condoms free of charge from her salon. When she noticed that the women were reluctant to carry these condoms home with them, she "decided to wrap the condoms up in gift wrap as a means of destigmatizing the process."[1] DiAna's efforts soon began to be recognized outside of her network of clients. She gave presentations to church groups,[2] in local elementary schools,[3] and engaged high school students to become community leaders.[4] DiAna's activism was instrumental in the development of beauty locations as sites of HIV outreach and education across the United States.[1]

South Carolina AIDS Education Network

DiAna founded the South Carolina AIDS Education Network (SCAEN) with Dr. Bambi Gaddist (née Sumpter) in 1987.[4] Working out of DiAna's hair salon, the two women organized film screenings on the topic of HIV/AIDS, safer-sex presentations, "Tupperware"-style sex toy parties, and free condom distribution.[5] SCAEN has been praised for its "creative strategies and nonjudgmental concern" in its grassroots campaign against the spread of HIV.[2] The group estimates that it has provided one-to-one information on HIV to over 9,000 people in South Carolina.[4] In addition to face-to-face activism, DiAna, Bambi, and other volunteers for SCAEN created informational videos, music, pamphlets, and colouring books to distribute statewide, accessible to children and adults with low or little reading ability.[4]

References
  1. Delgado, Melvin (1999). Social work practice in nontraditional urban settings. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 98. ISBN 9780195112481.
  2. Longfellow, edited by Brenda; MacKenzie, Scott; Waugh, Thomas. The perils of pedagogy : the works of John Greyson. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 9780773541443.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. Gever, edited by Martha; Parmar, Pratibha; Greyson, John (1993). Queer looks : perspectives on lesbian and gay film and video. New York [etc.]: Routledge. ISBN 9780415907422.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  4. Holmlund, Chris (1997). Between the sheets, in the streets : queer, lesbian, gay documentary ([Online-Ausg.]. ed.). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 42. ISBN 9780816627752.
  5. Delgado, Melvin (1999). Social work practice in nontraditional urban settings. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 99. ISBN 9780195112481.
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