HIV Story of Henry

The HIV Story of Henry Levingston III

Henry Levingston III is native to Kansas City, Missouri and moved to California in 1981 to pursue his dreams. After attending acting school, he worked in Hollywood as a TV/film extra. He moved back to Kansas City in 1986 to pull things together and decide the next step to living his dreams. Henry was soon diagnosed with HIV a year later, which began his journey to utilizing the arts as his new found way to cope with having the virus. His 15 year work with youth began in 1987. He wrote his first play, a stage drama called Am I Dying Secretly? It was produced in 1992 and he performed as the lead actor. Henry also got a break in his first speaking role in the movie Article 99, filming right there in his hometown.

He relocated back to Los Angeles in 1993 and directed and produced “Am I Dying Secretly?” at the Marla Gibbs Theatre that same year. The following year he produced it in Hollywood at the Complex Theatre. In 1995, Levingston returned to working in the film and television industry as an extra. During this time, he would begin to take HIV medication. In 1997, he returned to working with youth at the Los Angeles LGBT center and its’ youth shelter as a Youth Advocate. He returned to school in 1999, as he yearned for his new found dream 21LPK (21st century love...peace...kindness), an artistic peace movement. The movement was an epiphany in 1997 and will soon continue its’ social media journey. By 2006, Henry graduated with four degrees, with an Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Arts Communication and Marketing Management being his last.

Levingston moved to San Diego, California in 2008. His wife passed in January 2010, who also lived with HIV. He moved to San Diego to get a new start, reinvent himself and produce his 21 LPK passion project. While residing in San Diego, Henry has served on the San Diego HIV Planning Council and the Priority setting committee. He also has been adjunct theatre instructor for Southwestern College and front of house staff at the San Diego Civic and Balboa Theatres. His passion for the arts began at an early age and he still has plans on enjoying its’ many layers.