The campaign was developed in partnership with adolescents, between the ages of 13 and 19. "Kiss & Tell" encourages young African American and Latino gay and bisexual men to have open and loving discussions (tell) with partners (the people they kiss) about their sexual history and HIV status. The youth who helped to create the campaign are part of GMHC's youth leadership-development program, CLUB1319 (club1319.org). CLUB1319 provides HIV prevention education, social networking, skills training to these young men, as well as opportunities to participate in developing social marketing campaigns. "Kiss & Tell" builds upon GMHC's widely respected campaign, "I Love My Boo" which also targeted young African American and Latino gay men.
The name for the campaign emerged as a result of reflection on the now-relinquished US military's anti-gay "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, turning it from words that disempowered LGBT people into something pro-active and pro-LGBT, with a goal to protect the health of our youth.
So when I was approached by the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) to shoot Kiss & Tell, not only did I feel compelled to do it but I was ecstatic at the prospect of being a part of such an important project, one whose message resonates so closely with my own. The campaign was developed in partnership with adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19. Kiss & Tell encourages young African-American and Latino gay and bisexual men to have open and loving discussions with partners about their sexual history and HIV status.
Watch the NY1 Segment here.
With cell phones as common as watches among young people, chances are they won't be using any of the dwindling number of phone booths in the city. But Gay Men's Health Crisis is hoping these signs plastered on the side will get them talking.
"There is a 50 percent increase in the infection rate among young people 12-29," said Marjorie Hill, the CEO of Gay Men's Health Crisis. "Part of the reason for this is we're not talking about sexuality. We're not talking about safer sex or HIV."
The signs are part of an HIV prevention campaign called "Kiss and Tell." It was created by its target audience, young men who have sex with other men.
The placement of the signs is no accident. They're in neighborhoods like Harlem and the West Village, which have the highest HIV rates in the city.
For those who walk around with their eyes glued to their smartphones, there's a push on Twitter as well.
19-year-old Matthew Rosado says as he's gotten older it's gotten easier to broach the topic.
"I'm a little bit more blunt," he said. "I think when I was younger, it was one of those touchy things subjects. But now that I'm exposed more and educated on the subject, I'm more open and more comfortable with talking about it."
For men who lived through the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, it might be hard to comprehend the spike in infections among young people. But those who work with LGBT youth say it's because they're not constantly reminded of the risk.
"They know the information and it's out there," said Luna Ortiz of Gay Men's Health Crisis. "Why do the numbers go up? It's simply because these young people don't have anyone to talk to. Schools aren't necessarily talking about safer sex."
The good thing about young people is their habits and ideas are still being formulated. Rosado says his thinking has evolved in the last six months alone.
"It's not only going to save me," he said. "It could save both parties."
That type of awareness is exactly what the campaign is aiming for.
Kiss & Tell Palm Cards
