CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Many people call themselves survivors, but Kengi Carr is the real deal. The 41-year-old has lived through life on the streets, sickle-cell anemia, kidney cancer (now in remission), and now HIV. Through it all, Carr's altruistic spirit remained as strong as his will to live. He's launched two groups -- Do Something Saturday and Unpluggin HIV -- to help others in his situation embrace their inner Gloria Gaynor.
What's the goal of Unpluggin HIV?
I started Unpluggin HIV on April 3 of last year, which was the one-year anniversary of me testing positive for HIV. Its mission is to support people battling low-income life, homelessness, and HIV. So I do that on Los Angeles's skid row at a site that houses 40 HIV-positive residents. It's anything from getting them hygiene products to gently used clothes; if they need someone to talk to, they can call me.
Where does funding come from?
I have a core group of people who supported me through my 29 months of homelessness.
How did you become homeless?
I lost my job and was taking care of a family member.
What was scarier: losing your home or testing positive?
Losing my home. When HIV came, I already knew I was positive because I was sort of seeing someone who had lied about their status. For me, HIV is totally different from homelessness. I have sickle-cell anemia, so I've been fighting my entire life. I'd already battled cancer and was battling homelessness. I remember the first thing I said to my doctor: "How will I be able to continue my work?" I wasn't worried I was going to die, because dying wasn't an option for me. I was worried about the HIV because I was homeless and the services we think are there for people who are low-income or homeless are just not there.
Have we gotten to a point where people just accept HIV status as a character trait, like race or gender?
No. Most people automatically assume I was out being promiscuous. One thing I can say about being homeless and HIV-positive is that it's forced me to always believe in myself and not give up. No matter how much I feel the world is stacked against me, if I believe in me and keep moving forward, things will move forward. That's what I try to do with my outreach -- I remind people you may be in this situation, but you are still here, your life is still here, you are still valuable.
How difficult is it for people on the streets to get medications and health care?
When you're homeless, your main concern is housing. So there were times I had to make a choice: Am I going to see my cancer team, or am I going to line up for housing? You have to make those choices every day. You can't do it all. There is nothing to help you navigate it all. There were times I made the choice to get housing, which meant I had to make the choice of which trash can I was going to eat out of.
Nbroverman
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Giselle Byrd is taking center stage — and helping others do the same
April 10 2024 2:15 PM
How Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter advances equality
April 10 2024 1:39 PM
The North Face faces conservative boycott for sponsoring a queer summer camp (exclusive)
April 10 2024 8:26 AM
John Cena opens up about defending his gay brother when they were kids
April 09 2024 10:21 PM
Trans Latina Meraxes Medina killed in Los Angeles
April 09 2024 10:11 PM
Morgxn is proudly queering Southern music - here's how
April 09 2024 7:03 PM
Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report
April 09 2024 5:44 PM
Trending stories
Most Recent
Recommended Stories for You
Neal Broverman
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.