GMHC Announces Anti-Homophobia Campaign, "I Love My Boo," to Be in NYC

New York, N.Y. -- In conjunction to the 3rd annual National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (9/27), GMHC announces its innovative campaign "I Love My Boo" campaign will be in 1,000 NYC subway cars and 150 subway platforms during the month of October.

"I Love My Boo" is a multifaceted social marketing campaign that thoughtfully increases the visibility of black and Latino gay men. This campaign educates the community at-large, and promotes acceptance and understanding in a climate where gay men of color are seldom represented favorably in the media. "The I Love My Boo" campaign speaks to, and celebrates, gay men of color by highlighting their strengths and resiliencies. Rather than only sexualizing gay relationships, with chiseled bodies and glossy imagery, the beauty of this campaign is that it features intimacy and focuses on what is possible for gay men of color as they express trust, respect and commitment for one another.

"This campaign reinforces GMHC's ongoing commitment -- since our earliest days -- in addressing homophobia and reducing the spread of HIV among gay men," said Marjorie Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "The campaign directly challenges homophobia, and acknowledges the value of love, sex, desire, and relationships in the lives of gay men while encouraging dialogue."

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new analysis indicating that 1 in 5 gay and bisexual men in a study of 21 major U.S. cities is infected with HIV, and that nearly half of these men (44%) are unaware of their status. Of the gay men studied, young men, blacks and Latinos were least likely to be aware of their status. Other findings of the report underscore the racial disparities that exist among gay men, with black gay men most disproportionately affected by the virus, and higher rates of HIV prevalence among communities with lower rates of education and income.

GMHC continues to develop and advocate for innovative and expanded prevention approaches that:

• Address homophobia and anti-gay bias as public health threats that contribute to gay men's heightened vulnerability to HIV infection;
• Promote family acceptance which strengthens the resiliency within gay youth to better negotiate safer sex practices;
• Support gay-affirming interventions and activities in schools such as gay-straight alliances and anti-bullying curricula;
• Ensure that age-appropriate sex education programs are implemented and evaluated in schools.

Launch Information

What:
Launch of "I Love My Boo" -- featuring guest speakers and performances

When:
Monday, October 4, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Where:
Christopher Park
Sheridan Square
(7th Avenue at Christopher Street) in New York City