Mitchum Todd
From a traumatic childhood in South Carolina to a life in dance, performance, and service, Mitchum Todd shares a remarkable journey of survival and transformation. After finding refuge and acceptance within the drag community as a teenager, his talent led him to New York, where he trained at the Alvin Ailey School and pursued a professional dance career. His path also took him through addiction, an HIV diagnosis in 1984, and the devastating loss of a longtime partner whom he cared for while their relationship remained hidden under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” After periods of grief and relapse, Mitchum rebuilt his life in California and found renewed purpose through love, mentorship, and helping others. Today, he draws on a lifetime of extraordinary experiences to support young artists and seniors while reflecting on the resilience—and love—that carried him through it all.