“Real Housewives” stars, including NeNe Leakes, Melissa Gorga, and Candiace Dillard Bassett, appeared on Capitol Hill in March 2026 to advocate for HIV funding. The outspoken reality stars spent Wednesday speaking on panels, meeting with government leaders, and later issuing statements to the media. In October 2025, Cardi B spoke with her followers about the importance of PrEP, a medication that stops the spread of HIV by 99 percent.
‘Real Housewives’ Stars Bassett, Phaedra Parks Speak Out About HIV Funding
According to a report from The 19th, thousands of low-income Americans with HIV are losing access to important medications as states lose federal funding to support health budgets.
On March 18, 2026, several “Real Housewives” stars made their voices heard on the matter at MISTR’s DC event, including Bassett, who said curing HIV is possible. “The science to end HIV already exists,” she said. “This is no longer a disease that can only be cured with money.”
Phaedra Parks from Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta” said that speaking about HIV today is more important than ever. “Originally, when it came out, it was so stigmatized. People were so fearful,” she said. “We know people that have died from it, but we know people who have survived and they’re living very normal lives.”
Leakes Says It Is Important For Her To Ask The Right Questions About HIV Funding
Leakes, meanwhile, told The 19th that she wanted to use her platform to ask the right questions about HIV funding.
“Going back to Housewives, like, I’m the perfect person to ask all of the questions — I will ask them anyway. Literally, I ask them anything,” she said. “We usually all bust out laughing, but I need to understand, I need to know.”
Following a day of meetings and heavy conversations, Leakes spoke with The New York Post about their advocacy in the nation’s capital.
“Everybody’s been very kind. Honestly, we’ve had a great experience, because that was a big worry coming,” she said.
Gorga shared a similar message, adding that she and her “Real Housewives” co-stars feel “like very important people today.” She added, “This is definitely not a typical day. So thank you for letting our voices be heard in such an important subject.”
Other “Real Housewives” in attendance were Marysol Patton from “Miami,” Erika Jayne from “Beverly Hills,” and Luann de Lesseps from “New York City.”
Cardi B Speaks About The Importance Of Taking PrEP For HIV
The “Real Housewives” are not the only public figures to speak about the importance of HIV funding. According to The Blast, rapper Cardi B shared a message of her own in October 2025 at MiSTR’s National PrEP Day at The Abbey in California.
“I understand where the stigma came from and everything. HIV is really, like, high in the gay community. But why you think these b-tches don’t be having that sh-t?” she asked. “Y’all b-tches needa take that sh-t too. This sh-t for everybody.”
Speaking of PrEP, the once-daily medication can prevent the transmission of HIV by 99 percent, according to the CDC.
Prior to that, Tamar Braxton told her followers that she was taking PrEP to protect herself from those she may be dating.
“Dawg, like all of you is dating the same dude,” she continued. “Like, y’all is sharing the same dude. Like, it’s giving, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,” she sang to the tune of Cherrelle’s song “Saturday Love.”
Lukas Gage Spoke With The Blast About PrEP
During a previous interview with The Blast, actor Lukas Gage opened up about why PrEP has been crucial for his sexual well-being.
“Being safe sexually is very important to me and my self-care routine … just as important as working out and eating well,” Gage said. “I hope other people can feel empowered to learn more about PrEP and just destigmatize the topic of sexual health as a whole.”
Gage even shared how individuals who are unable to obtain PrEP could navigate certain hurdles or tap into assistance programs.
“It might feel like a scary step, but you just have to take the leap. And if you are uncomfortable talking to your primary care doctor, you might consider telehealth options where you can talk to someone from the comfort of your home. Regardless, there is nothing to be ashamed of. The more we talk about sex and how to have safe sex the less taboo it becomes,” Gage said.
Gage Opened Up About His Personal Life In His Memoir
Gage touched on all of this and more in his book, “I Wrote This for Attention,” which tells the story of his upbringing and the challenges he overcame to get to where he is today.
“The message that I share throughout the book is that the little boy who was desperate for attention and love and validation became a man who was also a little bit desperate for love and validation and attention,” he said. “I try to share how that manifested. And I try to put a different spin on our innate human need for attention, our desire to be seen, and show how you can do that in a positive way instead of only being seen for negative attention.”