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For Immediate Release
June 29, 2004
Contact:
Lynn Schulman, 212.367.1210
Justin Burke, APLA 213.201.1525
Gay Men's Health Crisis
and AIDS Project Los Angeles Join Forces to Establish National
HIV Prevention Effort
Institute for Gay Men's Health is Created
New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA, June 29, 2004 — Gay Men's
Health Crisis (GMHC) and AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), two of
the oldest HIV/AIDS service and advocacy organizations in the United
States, today announced the formation of The Institute for Gay
Men's Health, which will develop and promote a nationwide health
and wellness agenda for men who have sex with men, in order to
address the critical health issue in the lives of gay men — HIV
and AIDS. The partnership between GMHC and APLA will establish
a new level of strategic planning, along with environmental and
community-based interventions that will shape national and global
HIV prevention efforts aimed at gay men, who continue to have the
highest rates of HIV transmission in the United States and many
other parts of the world.
The Institute for Gay Men's Health will focus its efforts in several
areas, including influencing social norms to reinforce positive
health values within the diverse communities of gay men, stimulating
public policy, and advancing community research that will evaluate
the utilization of models of prevention and direct services for
people living with HIV and AIDS, and assess health trends among
men who have sex with men. This enhanced research capability will
bolster the ability of both agencies to mold public discourse and
opinion around the critical issues of HIV prevention.
"The partnership of GMHC and APLA represents a unique opportunity
to combine the energies, resources and expertise of the organizations
that provide HIV/AIDS services in the epicenters for AIDS cases
in the United States (New York City and Los Angeles), to prevent
and reduce HIV transmission on a broad scale," said Ana Oliveira,
Executive Director of GMHC. "We look forward to a successful collaboration
on the launch of The Institute for Gay Men's Health."
The Institute for Gay Men's Health, operational as of July 1,
2004, will be directed by George Ayala, Psy.D., a nationally recognized
expert on HIV prevention. Dr. Ayala, who currently is the Director
of Education at APLA, is part of a team of researchers for a CDC
funded epidemiologic study of gay and bisexual men of color and
is Principal Investigator for a study documenting factors associated
with the successful integration of science-based prevention interventions
into Latino community-based organizations.
The Institute will reside within each agency, on both the East
and West coasts, and be staffed by GMHC and APLA, respectively.
GMHC and APLA, through The Institute, will continue to maintain
current, targeted HIV prevention programs in New York City and
Los Angeles, while creating new prevention initiatives for those
cities. The Institute will also foster national and global relationships,
and initiate and define public dialogue on HIV prevention, as well
as other issues related to the health and well being of gay and
bisexual men.
"The Institute for Gay Men's Health will strengthen HIV prevention
efforts on a local and national level, and better position APLA
and GMHC to meet the broadening scope of the AIDS epidemic," said
Craig E. Thompson, Executive Director of APLA. "It will allow us
to consider new strategies for HIV prevention in the overall context
of the health of gay men, an approach that is long overdue."
About GMHC
Gay Men's Health Crisis is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported
and community-based organization committed to national leadership
in the fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread
of HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their
health and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and
cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. We provide
services and programs to over 15,000 men, women and families
that are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City.
About APLA
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), one of the nation's largest AIDS
service organizations, provides direct, bilingual services to
more than 7,500 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS
in Los Angeles County each year. Services include prevention
education, food banks and nutrition education, professional dental
care, mental health counseling, housing and transportation assistance,
information and referral services, case management and home health
care. APLA is a leader in the development of HIV prevention programs,
and helps shape fair and effective HIV/AIDS-related policy and
legislation in response to the local, national and international
epidemics. For more information, please visit www.apla.org.
© 2004 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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