Sorry for being a little late on this one but it's definitely worth mentioning.
Stage and television star Sheryl Lee Ralph stopped by The Mo'Nique Show a little over a week ago and continued her impassioned plea for increased knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS in the black community and explained why she has been so heavily involved in AIDS activism over the past twenty years, specifically at a time when it was unpopular to even say the word out loud.
"It was the best and worst time in my life", said Ralph. Speaking of her time as Deena Jones in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls and the beginning of the AIDS epidemic.
But mixed in with all of that came a time when men just started dropping dead. They were sick today and they were dead tomorrow. But what made it worse for me was the horrific silence that fell over their suffering and their dying. And I said this is horrible and it shouldn't be! I don't care what you think about them or their sexual preference they were kind men...good men.. somebody's son-a brother-a lover and I felt that we could do better".
Ralph urged the audience to get tested. "You must know your status", echoed Mo'Nique. "Regardless of the results we will love you through it."
We have two amazing straight allies in Sheryl Lee Ralph and Mo'Nique and their passion for all people regardless of race, sexual orientation, and HIV status is to be commended and supported.
Watch Sheryl Lee Ralph on The Monique Show below beginning at the 14:00 mark. And as an added bonus watch Ralph's keynote address during the 2008 State of Black Gay America Summit during Atlanta Black Gay Pride here.
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