On June 27th, celebrity and cultural advocate Miss Lawrence returned to Atlanta with Plated Purpose, an immersive dining experience crafted to foster connection, promote education, and spark meaningful dialogue within the Black community. Powered by Gilead Sciences, this intimate gathering brought together actors, influencers, and community leaders to spotlight a powerful message: the importance of HIV prevention, testing, and holistic self-care.
But this isn’t just a dinner. It’s a movement.
Bridging Communities Through Conversation
At its core, Plated Purpose is about building a bridge between the LGBTQ+ and heterosexual communities, two groups often separated by stigma, misunderstanding, and silence when it comes to issues like HIV. But Miss Lawrence is changing that, one conversation at a time.
“This dinner is about raising awareness and de-stigmatizing the conversation around HIV testing,” says Miss Lawrence. “We want to empower people to take control of their health and encourage everyone, no matter their background or identity, to know their status.”
And what better day than National HIV Testing Day to bring this message home?
Leveling Up Self-Love
Since its inception in 1995, National HIV Testing Day has served as a call to action, reminding everyone to take charge of their health. This year’s theme, “Level Up Your Self-Love: Check Your Status,” reframes testing not as a chore, but as an act of empowerment.
By centering self-love, Plated Purpose invites guests to rethink what it means to care for themselves and their communities. It challenges us to dismantle the shame, stigma, and outdated myths that too often surround HIV, especially in Black and brown communities.
Beyond Testing: The HIV Prevention Toolbox
While regular testing is a key focus, the dinner also aims to broaden the conversation to include other vital tools in HIV prevention, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and the newer innovation, DoxyPrEP. These solutions are reshaping the future of sexual health, making prevention more accessible and more effective than ever before.
Gilead Sciences, a long-standing leader in the fight against HIV, continues to invest in these conversations at the community level.
“This program is part of Gilead’s ongoing commitment to help end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere,” said Darwin Thompson, Senior Director of Public Affairs at Gilead Sciences. “We believe that grassroots leaders are essential to real change, and we’re proud to support events like Plated Purpose that create safe spaces for education and empowerment.”
Get Involved. Get Tested.
Whether you are attending the dinner or just feeling inspired by the message, you can take action today. Know your status. Share your story. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
To find a testing location near you or to order a free at-home test kit, visit hivtestnow.com.
