California: San Francisco Resident Graces AIDS Campaign

San Franciscan Jason Villalobos is featured in a new campaign that aims to encourage people living with HIV/AIDS to seek treatment and break down disease-related barriers. "Asking for help when I needed it," is what the Castro resident calls his "Deciding Moment."

The Greater Than AIDS campaign targets at-risk minority populations, including African Americans and men who have sex with men. It is part of CDC's broader effort, Act Against AIDS.

In an online video, Villalobos discussed being diagnosed with fully developed AIDS at age 25. Seeking treatment was a difficult decision, he said in the profile. "It felt like I was in quicksand. My life had stopped," he noted, adding that getting into care changed his life.

Now Villalobos wants to get that message out to people who may be in a similar situation. "I want them to know they can still have a healthy, sexy, fabulous life," he said. "People will still touch you and love you."

"My motivation is to prevent what happened to me to happen to other kids," Villalobos explained. "HIV and AIDS is still something you don't want to get. You need to pay attention to your health, to your partner's health, and need to get treated."

For more information, visit http://greaterthan.gay.com/. To learn more about Villalobos' "Deciding Moment," visit http://greaterthan.gay.com/deciding-moments/jason/.

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