Positive Talk About Testing
posted: 20/01/2011
Positive gay men talking about the HIV test are a feature of a new website that encourages undiagnosed gay and bi men to take a HIV test every year. HIV testing is rising among gay and bisexual men; seven out of ten men have now taken a HIV test (and four in ten men took a HIV test last year). But 10,000 men do not know they already have HIV. All undiagnosed gay and bi men are now advised to have an annual HIV test.
I Did It campaign
A national testing campaign is now running across England using outdoor, online and gay press adverts. The I Did It campaign believes men are more likely to take a HIV test if they hear positive things from other men about testing, whatever the result.
The new website is to inspire and encourage men through other men’s test stories. It has a handy local clinic finder, and the men can later tell their own HIV test story.
Clips of positive men talking
Aside from men’s HIV test stories and the clinic finder, the website will have key facts about HIV tests, a discussion forum for men to talk about testing, videos of positive men talking about receiving a positive test result, and information on the support available for men who test HIV positive.
Manchester test-bed
Untested men in Manchester and London gave feedback on the I-Did-It campaign, which runs until March. There will be advertising on Gaydar radio, and it’ll be pushed on social media with Facebook and Twitter and a personal message to 50,000 men on Gaydar.
Three themes – handy, protecting, habit
There are three ads, about the convenience of testing, about testing to protect partners, and about making testing an annual habit. HIV tests give undiagnosed men certainty, or peace of mind.
The ‘I Did It’ campaign is one of a series in 2011 that encourage gay and bi men to talk about the ten things that cut the spread of HIV.
Details and publicity materials
For more details, the three A4 campaign posters, or online banner ads, please contact Richard Scholey at Terrence Higgins Trust on 020 7812 1782 or email him
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