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You are at:Home»Community»Health»Get ‘PrEP’d AF’

Get ‘PrEP’d AF’

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By on December 5, 2018 Health

“In communities of color, there is so much stigma around sex, being gay, and HIV that people are scared to even talk about PrEP—and many more don’t even know about it,” says Milan Christopher, the openly gay music artist, actor, model, and face of the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s new PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) awareness and education campaign.

With Christopher’s help, the PrEP’d AF campaign will reach those most at-risk for HIV. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), minority communities, especially African-American/ Black men who have sex with men, are particularly at-risk for new HIV infections. When used as prescribed, PrEP is a safe and effective once-daily medicine that has been proven to reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 99 percent.

“I’m proud to be a part of this campaign because I want PrEP to be something we can talk about in the open so, ultimately, we can stop the spread of HIV and save lives,” says Christopher, who is sharing his personal experience with PrEP as part of the campaign.

The new campaign, which encourages the community to be as prepared as possible to protect themselves against the spread of HIV, expands upon the success of the Center’s attention-grabbing F*ck w/out Fear HIV prevention campaign.

“That campaign was a throwback to the rallying, rebellious spirit on which the Center was founded, using authentic language that breaks through the clutter of prevention messages and commands attention,” says the Center’s Associate Director of Community Health Programs Brian Toynes.

Ever since F*ck w/out Fear launched in early 2017, the Center has seen a 130 percent increase in the number of young gay and bisexual men who have accessed PrEP. But, there’s still plenty of work to be done.

According to a study from AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) Health, those most at risk for new HIV infections—gay and bisexual youth of color and transgender women—are the least likely to know about PrEP. In fact, the study found that less than 10 percent of Latino and African-American/ Black youth are using PrEP. Among those who do know about PrEP, misconceptions about its safety and efficacy, as well as stigma from the community, have impacted its use.

“We are so pleased to have Milan as a spokesperson for PrEP’d AF to raise awareness for PrEP and to help dispel stigma and misconceptions that may be preventing people from taking advantage of this important opportunity to stop the spread of HIV,” says Center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings. “Communities of color continue to be the hardest hit by new HIV infections, making the awareness and accessibility of PrEP an ever more urgent priority.”

Christopher recently helped launch PrEP’d AF at an event held in collaboration with B.A.S.H. L.A.’s STARBOY Sundays party at RAGE nightclub in West Hollywood.

“We have got to get rid of this disease,” he told the crowd. “PrEP is here, and PrEP will help us get rid of it!”

PrEP is covered by most insurance plans and, for those who are uninsured, the Center can help make it affordable through patient assistance programs. To renew a three-month prescription for PrEP, clients need to return to their provider for HIV and STI screenings. Although PrEP has been proven to be 99 percent effective at preventing HIV, it offers no protection from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condoms remain the best protection for most STIs.

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🌈Great news! #California Gov. Gavin Newsom sign 🌈Great news! #California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law 9 bills this weekend that will help ensure the safety and dignity of the #LGBTQ+ community through measures addressing inclusive school climates, gender-affirming business licensing, and public accommodations. This is a moment to take action, click the link in bio to urge Gov. Newsom to sign AB1645 🗣️
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The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” champ accepted the event’s Model of Pride award, celebrating her epic career spanning entertainment, music, cosmetics—and even commercial renovation, with the hotel makeover series “Trixie Motel” for Discovery—at a time when drag was becoming a growing target for the far-right. 

This year, the drag bans have evolved into an anti-LGBTQ assault on California schools, but Models of Pride is back on October 14th with keynote speakers like #DylanMulvaney and #HayleyKiyoko to create the safe, empowering space our students need right now. You can register at the #linkinbio, or head to modelsofpride.org for more info.
Closing out #BiVisibilityWeek with a banger. (Did Closing out #BiVisibilityWeek with a banger. (Did YOU know the B in Cardi B was for #Bisexual?) Remember you are valid, you owe nobody an explanation, and you’re loved. 🩷💜💙
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We are excited to announce recording artist #Hayle We are excited to announce recording artist #HayleyKiyoko (@hayleykiyoko), AKA #LesbianJesus, as this year’s double headliner and honoree at our #ModelsofPride youth summit! She joins keynote speaker and Model of Pride Award recipient #DylanMulvaney and social media star @RubasWorld, who will serve as the event’s host on October 14.

At a time when LGBTQ+ education is under attack, Models of Pride lifts love, acceptance, and queer joy for LGBTQ+ youth and allies. For more info and registration, visit modelsofpride.org. 

#ModelsofPride #LGBTQYouth  #LoveAndAcceptance
Join us for #Queerceañera on Friday, Sept. 29th! Join us for #Queerceañera on Friday, Sept. 29th! 

Hosted by RuPaul's #DragRace Season 15 alum, @EsTitties, Queerce is a vivid cultural summit and community cotillion rooted in unbridled celebration. This year’s honorees RuPaul’s #DragRaceMéxico host @allaboutvalentina and actress/recording artist @MissBenny sitting down together in a candid keynote conversation. 

But wait, there’s more! The post-program reception features tropical cocktails and live performances by #LA’s own Latin dance phenomenon @Queerchata. RSVP now at our #linkinbio #LatinxHeritageMonth
We are thrilled to announce superstar and host of We are thrilled to announce superstar and host of #DragRaceMexico #Valentina as an honoree and keynote speaker at the Center’s first-ever #Queerceañera! Join us in celebrating the vibrancy of LA's LGBTQ+ Latinx community on Friday, Sept. 29 in Hollywood.

There’s more! The post program reception features tropical cocktails and live performances curated by LA’s own Latin dance phenomenon @Queerchata. RSVP now at our #linkinbio #LatinxHeritageMonth
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Happy #LatinxHeritageMonth—stay tuned for more coverage on this page over the next few weeks.

📷 Gary Coronado via @latimes
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