Blacks, Hispanics Targeted in HIV Campaigns

Two new HIV
awareness campaigns were launched Wednesday by the New York
City–based Gay Men's Health Crisis targeting women
and gay and bisexual young men of color. "HIV: We're
Not Taking It Lying Down" is geared toward women of
color and promotes safer sex, according to a GMHC
press release. The multilayered campaign is an attempt to
empower women to get tested for HIV. The other
campaign, "I Love My Boo," features young men in
relationships and emphasizes a message of love and
responsibility that emphasizes safer sex and HIV
prevention.

"These
provocative new campaigns address rising HIV infection rates
in two of the groups most directly impacted by focusing on
the strength and resiliency of people of color within
their communities," Marjorie J. Hill, chief executive
officer of GMHC, said in the release. "They speak to
individuals and communities in a language of love, respect,
acceptance, and sexual health — highlighting what is
possible in intimate relationships instead of focusing
on problems with negotiating safer sex and getting
tested for HIV."

New figures
released by the city's Department of Health and Medical
Hygiene show that HIV diagnoses have increased by 6% in
women and bisexual and gay men of color ages
13–29. The campaign also references information
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showing
that one in four teen girls in the U.S. have been
infected with at least one sexually transmitted
disease. Nearly half of African-American girls in the
study were infected. (The Advocate)