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15 Dec 2010

GMHC, GLAAD demand 'sensationalistic and stigmatising' HIV/AIDS ad to be pulled

The Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) are demanding the video be withdrawn.

 


Click here to read Fridae's earlier report 'New York Health Dept. video
to promote condom use among gay men sparks controversy'
.

 

The Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) issued a press release on Dec 13, 2010:

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), the nation's oldest HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy provider, today joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, to demand that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene pull a sensationalistic and stigmatizing television public service announcement aimed at gay and bisexual men.

The PSA, which is intended to encourage condom usage among gay and bisexual men, claims that those with HIV face a higher risk of bone loss, dementia, and anal cancer. While older adults living with HIV may be at greater risk of these conditions, the PSA creates a grim picture of what it is like to live with HIV that could further stigmatize HIV/AIDS, as well as gay and bisexual men. 

"We know from our longstanding HIV prevention work that portraying gay and bisexual men as dispensing diseases is counterproductive," said Marjorie Hill, PhD, GMHC's Chief Executive Officer. "Studies have shown that using scare tactics is not effective. Including gay men's input, while recognizing their strength and resiliency, in the creation of HIV prevention education is effective. Gay men are part of the prevention solution, not the problem."

Both GLAAD and GMHC have reached out to the department to demand that the commercial be pulled and to offer to assistance with framing the conversation around HIV/AIDS more accurately.

"While it's extremely important that we continue to educate New Yorkers about HIV/AIDS prevention, the sensationalized nature of the commercial, including its tabloid-like fear tactics, misses the mark in fairly and accurately representing what it's like to live with HIV/AIDS," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "It's our hope that the department will work with us to create a PSA that promotes safety and solutions, rather than stigma and stereotype."

From the very beginning of the epidemic, gay men have been developing courageous and innovative solutions to reducing HIV, often lending their prevention activism to communities of color and heterosexual people. GMHC and GLAAD realize there is still a pressing need for safer sex education and that HIV and AIDS are still pressing public health issues. Yet the educational material must avoid perpetuating damaging, hurtful stigmas that harm gay and bisexual men.

United States

Reader's Comments

1. 2010-12-15 14:04  
My, we really hate being reminded of how irresponsible the so-called 'gay community' is getting when it comes to safer sex, don't we? There is nothing defamatory about reminding gay people we have a responsibility to public health, same as anyone. Would straight people have similar gripes with an ad targeting promiscuity? I think now.

Harsh steps to stop people dismissing HIV and other STDs as minor inconveniences is necessary and justified. Period.
2. 2010-12-15 15:40  
@1: agreed.

Maybe the ad should appear as an announcement reciting the long list of diseases commonly associated with HIV/AIDS.
3. 2010-12-15 22:14  
This is another example of 'gay rights' being abused. If the gay community want the society to respect them, it has to stay clear of such antagonist syndrome. All the warnings in the ad are backed by medical evidence. The ad, by the way, has not discriminated against self-respecting gays and HIV+ by making MORAL judgments such as:
1) Having gay sex is sinful
2) Gays deserve to get AIDS as a form of punishment from some higher being
3) Gays deserve to get osteoporosis, dementia and anal cancer
4) HIV+ deserve to get osteoporosis, dementia and anal cancer.

In fact, it is saying that it's OK to have gay sex, but just play safe for one's own health's sake.
4. 2010-12-16 13:55  
just some gay censorship going on, anyway controversy and banning stuff only gets more people interested, i heard the New York Health people did lots of focus groups with gay new yorkers, gay teenagesand gay dads support it, anyway I support the Trevor Project this year with major cash-- its my thing and its staffed with really nice salt of the earth gay people

gay dads and lesbian moms are the new well heeled force to be dealt n the gay community in New York, wow these folks love their kids so much and a powerful tsnunami of love requires some tough measures

am I the only one with a powerful gay older brother with a married husband on the Upper East Side and on every A list? does anyone know how much pressure it is to live up to an uber gay? i need a personal shopper just to get ready for the holiday party they will throw, perfect apartment, perfect everything

gonna see Anderson Cooper and his hot new boyfriend soon

off to New York now for the hoiidays with kids in tow

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