At 31, Avena LaRue is not only a Seattle Central College student pursuing a degree in biotech engineering, but she’s also a woman on a mission: to cure HIV. LaRue discovered that she was HIV positive in 2017 after a fight with her father, during which she unintentionally cut her arm. The injury led to a doctor’s visit, where the doctor encouraged her to get tested for all infections, including HIV. The test results came back positive, revealing she had undetectable HIV.
The diagnosis greatly affected LaRue. She felt “trapped,” and the news sent her into a mental spiral. Despite the overwhelming challenges, her story didn’t end there. She embarked on her own version of an Eat, Pray, Love journey that led her to Maui, a trip that became a turning point. “I felt renewed in life,” she recalls. It was in Maui that she made a life-changing decision: to rebuild herself and begin making positive changes in her life.
In 2019, LaRue shared her HIV status and journey publicly for the first time during an interview with Kinder Grindr. Opening up about her experience was both liberating and healing. “Sharing my story helps me get closer to finding a cure,” she says. Her motivation to speak out stems from a deep belief that the world’s lack of education around HIV contributes to the shame and stigma people like her endure. “I felt unlovable,” she admits. But by telling her truth, she’s reclaimed her sense of self. The moment she shared her story out loud, something shifted. She took her power back. Today, she speaks for others who still feel voiceless.
LaRue’s diagnosis didn’t just shape her personal life, it also shaped her academic path. She chose to study biotech engineering with a clear goal: to explore cutting-edge technologies that could lead to a cure for HIV. “The journey is a struggle,” she says candidly. Her greatest challenge, she shares, is her own mind, particularly during times of instability and homelessness. But she’s driven by something greater. “I needed to do something bigger,” she says. “I realized I needed to find the cure to HIV.”
Living with HIV hasn’t been easy, especially in a society still plagued by misunderstanding. “Sometimes, the stigma weighs me down,” she shares. Despite rejection, LaRue remains committed to living a life rooted in “transparency and truth.” “People’s ideas, thoughts, and fears don’t define me,” LaRue emphasizes.
LaRue currently lives in a shelter supported by Seattle’s Crisis Solutions Center, where she has her own space. A close friend regularly sends her money for basic necessities, and she recently won a scholarship that has greatly eased her financial burden and helped her to continue pursuing her education.
Throughout her journey, she shares that spirituality has kept her grounded, “I don’t know where I would be without prayer,” she says. Though she doesn’t currently have a strong community support system, being at Seattle Central College has helped push her out of isolation. “Part of survival is being able to accept, heal, and allow community as it may come.”
To anyone struggling with the same condition, LaRue advises, “Don’t give up, because we are close to the cure.” She remains committed to being part of that breakthrough, both through her studies and her story.
Author
Mbaire is an international student at Seattle Central College, majoring in economics. Whether she’s traveling, diving into a good book, or catching up on her favorite shows, Mbaire loves exploring different perspectives. As a writer for the Seattle Collegian, she enjoys interviewing people and uncovering the stories that connect us, hoping to offer her readers thoughtful insights and spark meaningful conversations.
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