Representatives from across the gay community, including the gay media, organisations, venue owners and well known individuals, have pledged their support for GMFA’s new HIV-prevention campaign, “Count Me In”, which launched last week.
 
With the message “Together we can stop the spread of HIV”, the campaign is encouraging everyone who can impact on the epidemic, including individual gay men all across the UK, to play their part this World AIDS Day and beyond.
 
A host of gay publications, which play a crucial role in raising awareness of the issues among gay men, have already signed up to the campaign. These include Attitude, Bent, Gay Times, GScene, Pink Paper, Out In The City, and QX. Other supporters who have said “Count me in” include Paul Burston, gay author and journalist; Dusty O, DJ, club promoter, writer and recording artist; Gayromeo.com, the online dating service for gay men; and 56 Dean Street, the Soho-based sexual health clinic.
 
As part of the campaign, GMFA is calling on gay men to help stop the spread of HIV in our community by agreeing to a 5-point pledge:
I will know my HIV status.
I will not assume I know someone else’s HIV status.
I will take personal responsibility for using condoms.
I will value myself and my health.
I will stay informed about HIV and how it is spread.
 
Around World AIDS Day, gay venues across London will be helping to raise awareness of the campaign and supporting GMFA. Look out for volunteers from the charity sporting T-shirts with the slogan “Together we can stop the spread of HIV” and promoting the 5-point pledge at events including:
November 27: Cabaret night at Central Station.
November 28: Ye Rose & Crown.
November 29: Glam Jam Cabaret at The Quebec.
December 1: The Black Cap, Halfway To Heaven, King William IV, Retro Bar, Rupert Street, The Stag, and The Two Brewers.
 
Staff at these and other venues, including Chariots saunas across London, E15 Club, Locker Room, Steamworks, Prowler Soho and DV8 will also be doing their bit by wearing the campaign T-shirts to help spread the message.
 
Also this World AIDS Day, Recon will be donating a portion of its sales of virtual red ribbons to GMFA, while SG Productions will be holding a raffle at each performance of its run of “Snow White and the Seven Poofs” to raise funds for the charity. The new play is a modern day twist on the classic fairy tale, filled with comedy, audience participation and good old festive cheer and is showing at the Leicester Square Theatre from December 1 2010 to January 9 2011.
 
GMFA receives no statutory funding for its “Count Me In” campaign, so these donations and the support from the community are vital for it to carry out this work.
 
Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes at GMFA said:
“This isn’t just about what we can do around World AIDS Day - it’s what we can all do on an ongoing basis to stop the spread of HIV in our community. We’re delighted that so many have recognised the importance of what we’re trying to achieve and have joined us in the campaign. With their support, we hope to encourage gay men to re-commit to tackling the virus and to make a real difference.”
 
For more information view:
www.outspokenonhealth.com/countmein