January 5, 2011

“It’s Never Just HIV” Campaign Divides AIDS Activists

The graphic “It’s Never Just HIV” campaign by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has divided AIDS activists who disagree about its effectiveness at curbing HIV risk in young men who have sex with men (MSM), The New York Times reports. The ad warns that HIV increases the risk of osteoporosis, dementia and anal cancer. The ad uses scary music and images, including a gory photo of anal cancer. AIDS activist Larry Kramer supports the ad, but many groups do not, such as GMHC, GLAAD, NAPWA and Housing Works. The debate hinges on whether scare tactics reduce HIV risk or increase stigma. This ad is the latest in a series of graphic NYC public service ads tackling health issues such as smoking, obesity and childhood poisoning.

To read the Times article, click here.

POZ bloggers also have weighed in on the issue:

“Death Anus Ad From NYC Dept of Health” by Sean Strub

“Do Scary HIV Prevention Ads Make People Safer?” by Trenton Straube

“Anally Afraid” by Oriol Gutierrez

“NYC’s Public Service Failure” by Tim Horn

“Is NYC HIV Prevention Ad Going Too Far?” by Dave Capogna

Search: New York, campaign, HIV, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, MSM, risk, stigma, activists

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Jason Farrell, , 2011-02-08 12:37:38
The concept is understandable. However let us not forget it is not just the likely to happen conditions indicated in the campaign. Similiar to cigarette package warnings. The fact of the matter is depression, medication side effects, treatment resistant HIV and growing old with HIV that tend to be more of a daily concern. Especially when many who needed to adjust to a short life now need to mentally and financially prepare for living.

Frederick Wright, Jacksonvillle, 2011-01-29 10:04:48
I have ponder this add for weeks now and I am all for it. I too believe that this PAS could of help me at 25 years of age to think twice about protection and safe sex for here in the South their was no support or foward knowlege about HIV until Ryan White Monies came on board in the late 80s. One person stated that fear never helps, well, we teach children not to cross a road without looking both ways,in fear of them dieing. Healthie fear is good look at Drunk Driving campaign,scray

DW, Los Angeles, 2011-01-25 23:02:44
Fear was the reason why I did not get tested for 14 years, and as a result I ended up with many of the opportunistic infections that this ad informs. We all need this wake up call! I wouldn't want anyone to go through what I went through. I lost everything, however it's been 9 years and I am a success story. I survived. Many haven't. The sooner you know your status the better. GET TESTED, and go back and get the results.

Helena Bushong, Chicago, IL. 60643, 2011-01-13 13:12:25
The truth is HIV is a scary event in our lives today.And many myself included lived in denial about my health for to many years thus placing myself in greater risk for even more scary health events in my life I wish someone would have shared the scary truth of what "I" was putting myself into greater risk by placing myself in deeper denial about HIV...when I did become aware of the scary reality of HIV untreated I sought HELP...and got involved in helping others...Helena grateful for truth.

Rosetta M., Buffalo, NY, 2011-01-10 15:38:30
After living with HIV for 25years and working in the field for 15, it is more than HIV. If it wasn't, with effective medications out there, that would be the end of it....people can live their whole lives physically with HIV, but they will never be the same again emotionally...young people can't handle having acne, far from ready for an HIV status...it's not a scare tactic when it's the truth!

Frederick Wright, Tampa, 2011-01-09 15:14:03
Is Larry Karmer sill mad as hell. I seen the add and it is no more scarier then Saw 2, if you believe all the cartoon effects, again like cervical cancer this anal cancer, old age and bone problems happen to HIV people. I was in England some years ago and they are a little lighter in cartoons on Public Televison PSA with lots of cartoon penis-s running around and condoms running after them. With a X on the penis shooting it's seman unprotected,and OK on the penis that the condom jumbs on.

Hussain, Kalamazoo, MI, 2011-01-09 13:34:00
I think this ad is great, until the very end when it promotes the use of condoms as entirely effective. I think that in order for the gay community to solve AIDS, we need to look inwards and change our day-to-day individual behaviors, practices, and beliefs. Read Gabriel Rotello's "Sexual Ecology." It is uncomfortable to think about AIDS as something that the gay community enabled the spread of, but unfortunately its the fact of the matter. No pills or condoms can change us, only we can.

Dr. Richard Ferri, Brewster, 2011-01-08 18:46:57
Bravo to this ad. I am more than thrilled it has shaken up the "self appointment" politically correct AIDS leaders. AIDS leadership in 2011 simply does not exist. This ad is real and so is it message.

John, Washington D.C., 2011-01-08 15:21:40
Oh, Edward, give it a rest. People need to be informed about the reality of living with HIV. This is not going to lead to some Holocaust where we are all gased and burned. Get over yourself.

Edward, , 2011-01-06 13:06:11
How is this not further stigmatizing HIV+ people, making them out to be the modern-day leper? Nice way to convince society to shun us even more than they do already. Hey, moving us all by force to "quarantine centers" would help prevent spread, too, so do you support that?

J. Combs, Gaithersburg, MD, 2011-01-06 12:38:22
I've not seen the ad,tho something does need to be done to wake us out of our complacency.There used to be a need for education,now having HIV/AIDS has little if no effect anymore.Very few know that having HIV/AIDS ramifications reach far beyond meds and side effects.Since most are not that smart anyway,they will continue doing as they want, or think they want.Heck we haven't yet gotten equal access healthcare from state-to-state.

Greg H, Davenport, FL, 2011-01-06 12:09:42
I haven't seen the ad, but it sounds great. For too long there has been an attitude that HIV/AIDS is no big deal with the miracle pills. HIV/AIDS has dropped out of the media, and people have the illusion that it's just no big deal anymore, but it is a big deal, and it gets bigger, the older you get, and the longer you've had it, and taken the drugs to treat it, which come with a host of side effects. I don't think most young gay men understand the ramifications of contracting HIV.

John, Washington D.C., 2011-01-05 18:05:33
I support the ad. It goes against the falacious thinking that ARVs take care of all HIV related health problems. People need to know that HIV is not just "1 pill a day, and a blood test every 6 months". Even with an undetectable viral load you're still more likely to die of many AIDS related and non-AIDS related diseases.