'Farmer Dave' Among New Voices on AIDS

A gay farmer and former reality-TV star, David Graham, has been named as a member of a new government advisory panel on HIV/AIDS.

The committee, created by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg, will direct $2.6 million in prevention funds formerly given to the Queensland Association of Healthy Communities. The panel will be chaired by Cairns Sexual Health Service Director Darren Russell.

According to a 2011 Kirby Institute Surveillance Report, Queensland’s HIV diagnosis rate jumped from 2.8 per 100,000 people in 2001 to 5.4 in 2010.

Graham left his Goondiwindi farm in 2006 to become a contestant on “Big Brother,” where he revealed he was gay. The former model also was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” He has since returned to farming and dog training.

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.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!