Contributed
Bryan C. Jones, of Cleveland, Ohio, was a leader, advocate, and friend whose tireless work for people living with HIV shaped HIV advocacy in Ohio and beyond. As the founder of the Ohio Health Modernization Movement (OHMM), Bryan dedicated his life to fighting for the decriminalization of HIV, believing deeply in justice, fairness, and dignity for all. His efforts helped create a more compassionate and informed understanding of people living with HIV, inspiring others to join the movement.
Bryan’s journey began in 2009 when he attended the United States Conference on AIDS and learned that outdated HIV criminalization laws were still being actively enforced in Ohio. This discovery ignited his passion for advocacy. Returning home, Bryan started conversations with advocates, professionals, and stakeholders across the state, quickly realizing that most people were unaware of these laws. Through persistence and determination, he formed the Ohio Health Modernization Movement, which has grown into a coalition of people living with HIV, allies, and organizations working to end these harmful laws.
For over a decade, Bryan was a force. His advocacy work helped elevate the voices of those directly impacted, emphasizing the need for community-led efforts to address HIV-related stigma and discrimination. In recent years, Bryan’s vision led to the introduction of House Bills 513 and 498 in the Ohio Statehouse. These bills represent a major step forward in modernizing Ohio’s HIV laws. They aim to align the state’s legal framework with current medical science, reduce stigma, and ensure fairness for people living with HIV. Bryan’s advocacy, alongside the voices of those he inspired, played a crucial role in bringing these bills to life.
“Bryan was a force for criminal justice reform,” said Kim Welter, OHMM Facilitator. “He worked tirelessly to modernize Ohio’s HIV laws. Through his leadership and his Sankofa Initiative, he showed us the power of community and the importance of listening to those directly impacted. He built a movement that will continue to inspire us.”
Bryan’s work extended far beyond legal reform. He founded the D.I.R.T. (Direct, Inspiring, Reachable, and Teachable) Advocacy Movement and the Sankofa HIV Initiative, both of which focused on education, empowerment, and healing for people living with HIV. The Sankofa Initiative, in particular, was a testament to Bryan’s belief that those directly affected by systemic barriers should lead the way in addressing them. It created safe and supportive spaces for people living with HIV to heal, learn, and reconnect to care through Healing Weekends, webinars, and training sessions.
Bryan’s work was deeply personal. As a man living with AIDS for nearly 40 years, he used his own experiences to guide his advocacy, ensuring that the voices of people living with HIV were at the forefront of the fight for change. He believed that PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) were not just recipients of care but leaders, advocates, and changemakers in their own right. His involvement as a founding Steering Committee member and ambassador for the global U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) movement reflected this philosophy. Through national and international platforms, Bryan spoke passionately about HIV criminalization, housing instability, and systemic barriers, always centering the humanity of those impacted.
Bryan’s impact extended beyond Ohio. Many knew him through the HIV Is Not a Crime National Training Academy, where he presented at numerous events, sharing his personal experiences and amplifying the voices of others affected by HIV-specific legislation.