For Immediate Release
January 26, 2005
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Contacts:
David Windt, 415.837.1100 or
Noel Alicea, 212.367.1216
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HIV STOPS WITH ME CAMPAIGN
DEBUTS IN NEW YORK STATE
Bold HIV Prevention Campaign Targets Those Who Are HIV-positive
New York, NY, January 26, 2005 — New York
State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello, MD, MPH, Dr. PH joined
with Gay Men's Health Crisis, Better World Advertising, community
leaders and people living with HIV/AIDS to launch the New York
leg of the HIV STOPS WITH ME campaign, an innovative prevention
and awareness effort that targets HIV-positive individuals. The
first campaign of its kind in the state, HIV STOPS WITH ME promotes
responsibility and self-esteem in messages carried by the real
voices of people living with the virus. The launch took place at
the offices of the New York State AIDS Institute in New York City.
At the Community Event held to celebrate the launch of the campaign,
Commissioner Novello commended the campaign spokesmodels for setting
an example of hope and understanding and putting a human face on
HIV. The current campaign consists of ten volunteer spokesmodelsseven
from New York City and three from Buffaloselected directly from
communities most impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Together they
bring a human dimension to the multiple complexities of living
with HIV . Spokesemodels include women in recovery from substance
use, a bisexual male, a transgender female, a newly diagnosed younger
gay man, and a long-term survivor – all making a personal
commitment to educating others and preventing further infections
by sharing their experiences.
"HIV doesn't stop me from having a full and productive life," said
48-year-old Charles, a Buffalo resident and an HIV positive role
model for the new campaign.
As the campaign evolves, members of other affected communities
in New York will join and be represented in the campaign.
"This campaign embodies GMHC's philosophy of getting HIV in people's
minds before it is in their bodies," said Ana Oliveira, Executive
Director of Gay Men's Health Crisis, one of the partners in the
campaign. "We commend the campaign's spokesmodels for publicly
sharing their lives so that others can save theirs."
HIV STOPS WITH ME was first initiated in San Francisco and is
currently in nine locations, including New York, around the country
and is supported by the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Formal evaluations have shown that the campaign has been successful
in increasing personal responsibility among HIV-positive individuals
by modeling safer sex behaviors and attitudes.
"This campaign gives people living with HIV a chance to be part
of the solution by taking responsibility as individuals and as
a community," said David Windt, Vice President of Better World
Advertising, the company that created the campaign.
The campaign can be viewed online at
www.HIVSTOPSWITHME.org and
in print ads, web banner ads, posters in New York City subways
and bus shelters, and postcards and posters at selected venues
throughout New York City and Buffalo.
© 2005 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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