Lifelube blog navigates PrEP debate
Researchers, policy-makers and advocates around the world are debating the pros and cons of pre-exposure prophylaxis ( PrEP ) , the use of a daily antiretroviral medication to reduce HIV infection risk. Now a new interactive series on the gay men's health blog LifeLube called My PrEP Experience ( lifelube.blogspot.com/p/my-prep-experience.html ) is the first to highlight the real-world experiences of people using PrEP.
"Everybody's talking about PrEP, but most of those talking have never used PrEP themselves, or even know anyone who has," said Jim Pickett, director of prevention advocacy and gay men's health at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. "My PrEP Experience provides a platform for the exchange of real experiences and personal perspectives of PrEP users who have important things to add to the conversation. The unedited voices and viewpoints which are shared in My PrEP Experience are a critical addition to the global debate on new prevention strategies."
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, involves uninfected people taking antiretroviral medications, which are usually used to treat HIV, to reduce their chances of HIV infection. Results of the iPrEx study, announced in November, 2010, demonstrated that PrEP can help reduce HIV infection risk in men and transsexual women who have sex with men ( www.iprexnews.com/studyresults/english.html ) . Two additional studies released in July 2011, called Partners PrEP and TDF2, demonstrated that PrEP also reduces HIV infection risk in heterosexual men and women ( www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/PrEPHeterosexuals.html ) , while another study, FEM-PrEP, was not able to find benefit from a PrEP regimen in heterosexual women ( www.fhi.org/en/Research/Projects/FEM-PrEP.htm ) . An additional study testing whether PrEP works among injection drug users is expected to announce results in 2012.
My PrEP Experience is accepting video, audio or written contributions from men who are using or considering using PrEP for HIV prevention at ( lifelube.blogspot.com/p/my-prep-experience.html ) .
David Furnish and Don Lemon to address U.S. Conference on AIDS
The National Minority AIDS Council ( NMAC ) reports that chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation ( EJAF ) David Furnish will give a keynote address at a special opening plenary focused on gay men at the United States Conference on AIDS ( USCA ) , slated Nov. 10-13, 2011 in Chicago. Joining Furnish in addressing the plenary will be CNN Anchor Don Lemon, Arizona State Sen. Jack Jackson and former Project Runway contestant Mondo Guerra.
Furnish serves as chairman EJAF both in the U.S. and the U.K., taking an active leadership role as a public speaker on behalf of the Foundation, writing editorials on the epidemic, and traveling the world as an ambassador to develop partnerships with like-minded organizations. Lemon anchors CNN Newsroom during the weekend and serves as correspondent across CNN's U.S. programming. He recently came out as a gay man in his book, Transparent. Jackson is a long-time HIV/AIDS activist and was recently appointed to the President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Guerra made national headlines when he came out as both gay and HIV-positive on Project Runway.
This year's USCA target population is gay men.
"We are extremely excited about this important session," said NMAC Deputy Executive Director Daniel C. Montoya. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new estimates of HIV infections in the U.S. that highlighted the devastating impact this epidemic continues to have on gay and bisexual men, especially gay men of color. Young gay men age 19 to 29 account for approximately 27 percent of all new infections, and the number of infections among young African American gay and bisexual men of the same age doubled between 2006 and 2009. What's more, for the first time ever, Latino gay and bisexual men now account for more annual HIV infections than African American women."
Also participating in this session will be singer and Broadway legend, Jennifer Holiday. Jennifer is a long-time supporter of the gay community and ally in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She is most commonly known for her Tony award-winning performance in Dreamgirls and her Grammy Award-winning song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."
USCA is the nation's largest annual AIDS-related gathering, bringing together over 3,000 workers representing all fronts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic — from case managers and physicians, to public health workers and advocates, people living with HIV/AIDS and policymakers — to build national support networks, exchange the latest information and learn cutting-edge tools to address the challenges posed by this epidemic.
To learn more about this year's USCA and to register to cover the conference, visit the registration page www.2011usca.org .
Grassroot Soccer announces program at Clinton Global Initiative
Grassroot Soccer co-founder Ethan Zohn announced the expansion of a program called "Skillz Street" to provide girls in South Africa with the opportunity to play in a newly formed girls-only soccer league. In addition to the empowerment inherent in playing organized sport, all participating girls will gain life skills and HIV prevention education. The announcement was made in conjunction with a Special Session entitled "Sports as a Tool for Social Good" at the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.
Of the 1 million registered soccer players in South Africa, only 1 percent are girls. For most girls in the Skillz Street program, this will be their first chance to play an organized sport. "Skillz Street can impact South Africa in the way that Title IX transformed the landscape for girls in the U.S.," said Zohn.
Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS executive director, visited a Skillz Street program in South Africa and commented, "Grassroot Soccer is restoring dignity and building self-esteem of young girls living in a challenging environment, transforming them into actors for the HIV prevention revolution."
See www.grassrootsoccer.org or www.clintonglobalinitiative.org .
