New Payphone Signs Aim to Reduce HIV Infections in Youths

“Kiss and Tell” is the theme of a new HIV prevention outreach launched by Gay Men’s Health Crisis to encourage safer sex among young men who have sex with men.

“There is a 50 percent increase in the infection rate among young people 12-29,” said GMHC CEO Marjorie Hill. “Part of the reason for this is we’re not talking about sexuality. We’re not talking about safer sex or HIV.” The campaign’s posters are being placed in phone booths in neighborhoods like Harlem and the West Village, which have the city’s highest HIV rates. The effort has a Twitter presence as well.

LGBT youths “know the information,” said GMHC’s Luna Ortiz, but HIV cases continue to rise “because these young people don’t have anyone to talk to. Schools aren’t necessarily talking about safer sex.”

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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