Katie Adsila Willingham is a woman of transgender experience and Cherokee heritage from rural northwest Alabama. She was diagnosed with HIV in 2000, undetectable since 2001, yet is somewhat new to advocacy, having begun her advocacy journey in 2017. She is now the Alabama State Lead for Positive Women's Network USA, an A Girl Like Me blogger with The Well Project, a member of the HIV Prevention and Care Planning Committee of the Alabama Department of Public Health, and an ambassador of the U=U message.
Katie uses social media to educate and raise awareness concerning HIV, transgender, and voting issues with Facebook groups such as Alabama Poz Life, Alabama Transgender Coalition and Vote Positive-Organizing for Power Alabama.
Katie lives with severe depression and social anxiety but finds comfort in her eight Shih Tzu fur babies and enjoys drawing, writing, and learning to play drums.
"I strongly believe in the healing power of sisterhood, which is why I love The Well Project," she said. "The Well Project is a safe space for women living with HIV to learn, to express, to thrive, to nurture and to be nurtured, and I'm honored to serve this wonderful organization in any capacity."
