HIV Complexities: A community conversation

October 16, 2025

Video of the HIV Complexities community conversation.

Webinar details

This webinar features a community conversation that spans generations and settings, both urban and rural, about living with HIV and dealing with complex chronic conditions, which often share symptoms like chronic fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunction, brain fog, and memory issues.

Speakers include community leaders, advocates, and specialists working at the intersection of HIV, chronic illness, and disability justice. Together, we’re exploring critical issues of access, care, and quality of life for those navigating multiple health conditions—and highlighting strategies for systemic change. Plus, learn about HIV Complexities Toolkit, a practical guide for PLHIV and other complex chronic conditions.

We are especially excited to feature speakers representing a Southern (U.S.) perspective which is so often missing from the narrative about HIV. “The HIV epidemic is far from over — especially in the South. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated 32,100 new HIV infections across the country. More than half of those infections (52%) occurred in the South.” Source: Asheville Watchdog

Featured presenters

  • Tori Cooper, Director of Strategic Outreach and Training at the Human Rights Campaign and Member of PACHA, the President’s Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS
  • Sylvester Askins, Jr., Former Training Director at The National Working Positive Coalition, Founder of Moving Forward Consulting
  • Gabriel San Emeterio, Senior Fellow at Long COVID Justice and member of the HIV Caucus
  • Broderick Disroe, Former Community Navigator and Harm Reduction Specialist at Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP)
  • John Chaffin, Community Health Worker Program Coordinator with Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP)

Presenter bios

Photo of Tori Cooper, a Black woman with shoulder-length hair with large curls. She wears large gold earrings and an off-the-shoulder black dress.

Tori Cooper

Ms. Tori Cooper, BA, MPH, SGE (she, her, hers) is Director of Strategic Outreach and Training at the Human Rights Campaign and a Health and Equity Consultant. Since 2021, she has been among the highest-ranking transgender women in the US government as a member of PACHA, the President’s Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS. She is also a Steering Committee Member of the HIV Caucus (aka U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus).

Tori brings a long history of fighting for greater health and financial equity for those whom traditional systems have failed. She is founder of Advocates for Better Care Atlanta, and is a nationally recognized speaker, facilitator, CDC subject matter expert and public health advisor.


Over the last thirty years, Tori has built a reputation for by increasing visibility, access and opportunities for BIPOC communities, people living with HIV and transgender communities. As a proud, Black transgender woman who aims to inspire through excellence, she is dedicated to improving health outcomes and advancing policies that bring greater equity for marginalized communities.

Photo of Sylvester, a Black person with a bald head and salt-and-pepper beard, wearing glasses and smiling. Sylvester wears a black sweater with a charcoal gray windowpane plaid blazer.

Sylvester Askins, Jr.

Sylvester has lived with HIV for 35 years and recently retired as Training Director at The National Working Positive Coalition, where he also served on the Board. He founded Moving Forward Consulting to help people living with HIV access resources for employment and economic stability.

Sylvester previously worked in Virginia, directing health programs at the Urban League and coordinating a project to help disabled people find meaningful work.

Sylvester has expertise in work incentive policies that support informed financial decisions for those living with HIV. He is a certified trainer and has experience as an advocate and labor organizer, working to improve conditions for union members.

Sylvester began his HIV/AIDS work in 1998 as a Health Educator in Miami and later became the Coordinator of HIV Services for the Greater Miami & the Keys Chapter of the American Red Cross, fostering partnerships in the African American, Haitian, and Latino HIV communities.

Gabriel San Emeterio

Gabriel (they/elle/she/he) is a Senior Fellow with LongCOVID Justice / S4HI. They are a queer and disabled activist from Mexico City who migrated to New York City in the late 90’s. Gabriel holds a Masters degree in Social Work with Community Organizing as a method of practice and a certificate in Social Policy from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, where she is now part time faculty.

They are also honored to be a member of the HIV Caucus (aka U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus).

Gabriel’s life experience as a person living with HIV, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), and other complex chronic conditions, fuels their passion for disability justice and liberatory community work.

Broderick Disroe

Hi, my name is Broderick Disroe. Having a servant’s heart energizes me to motivate, inspire, and educate others, this passion has encouraged me to become the very best I can.

As a licensed Esthetician and educator I’ve been fortunate to have 20+ years in the beauty, health and wellness industry. Philanthropy is very important to me, it’s one of the ways “I pay my rent on earth.”

After moving to Western North Carolina, I worked as a Ryan White Community Navigator and Harm Reduction Specialist with Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP).

I currently serve on the Board of Directors for Western North Carolina Community Health Services.

My community comes first, and it’s always a pleasure to be of service.

John Chaffin

John serves as the Community Health Worker Program Coordinator at the Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP), where he leads a team of Peer Navigators and Community Health Workers dedicated to supporting individuals living with HIV.

John is committed to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for underserved populations, particularly those living with HIV and those at risk of HIV.

Living with HIV himself, John understands the importance of advocacy and engaging the voices of people living with HIV. He brings expertise in navigating complex healthcare systems and building partnerships to address public health challenges in the rural region of Western North Carolina.

Learn more about the HIV Complexities Project

This project is possible thanks to the generous support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action Community Grants.