LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has endorsed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an HIV prevention strategy, according to an announcement and policy paper posted on the HRC blog.

“We believe that PrEP is a critically important tool that must be part of any and all efforts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States,” states the HRC policy paper. “It is important to note that HRC’s recommendation applies especially to populations deemed most vulnerable to HIV infection.” Such groups include gay and bisexual men, black men and transgender women.

PrEP entails taking an antiretroviral to prevent infection. Noting that the daily pill Truvada (made of the meds tenofovir and emtricitabine) is the only drug currently approved as PrEP and that it can cost nearly $1,300 a month, HRC also urges that the regimen be made more affordable and accessible.

The policy paper details HRC’s reasoning for supporting Truvada as PrEP. The paper also lists five calls to action and says HRC will target five key audiences with PrEP campaigns.

To read POZ’s current cover story “PrEP and Prejudice,” click here.