I should preface this post by saying that I work in the HIV/AIDS sector in Ontario, Canada. Identifying HIV-stigma is kind of easy, being that it is a part of my job and all. After nearly half a year in my position, I think I getting to the point where I can pick up on a lot of very little things - a word here, a sentence there - that I might not have previously recognize as a possible cause of discrimination against those live with HIV/AIDS. It didn't really take any of that skill to find the problems with the New York City Health Department's newest PSA, entitled "It's Never Just HIV." Yes, it's that offensive.

The video stigmatizes and alienates people with the disease and aims to create an overwhelming sense of fear for those who do not have it. I could tell you how much I hate it, but I don't know if there is enough time in the world, so let's look at a few other opinions, shall we? Glad to have you on onboard! How about the official word from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Gay Men's Health Crisis?

The two organizations sent out a joint press release this week condemning the ad. They also called for its termination. Here are some highlights from the media blast:

The PSA, which is intended to encourage condom usage among gay and bisexual men, claims that those with HIV face a higher risk of bone loss, dementia, and anal cancer.  While older adults living with HIV may be at greater risk of these conditions, the PSA creates a grim picture of what it is like to live with HIV that could further stigmatize HIV/AIDS, as well as gay and bisexual men.

"We know from our longstanding HIV prevention work that portraying gay and bisexual men as dispensing diseases is counterproductive,"  said Marjorie Hill, PhD, GMHC's Chief Executive Officer.  "Studies have shown that using scare tactics is not effective. Including gay men's input, while recognizing their strength and resiliency, in the creation of HIV prevention education is effective.  Gay men are part of the prevention solution, not the problem."

From the very beginning of the epidemic, gay men have been developing courageous and innovative solutions to reducing HIV, often lending their prevention activism to communities of color and heterosexual people. GMHC and GLAAD realize there is still a pressing need for safer sex education and that HIV and AIDS are still pressing public health issues.  Yet the educational material must avoid perpetuating damaging, hurtful stigmas that harm gay and bisexual men.

Those are three very powerful paragraphs of a beautifully written letter. And now we need to act. Please sign the petition and make sure this ad gets pulled from the air!