For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Justin Burke - 213.201.1525

EMAIL:jburke@apla.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2001

AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES LAUNCHES FIRST HIV PREVENTION CAMPAIGN TARGETING MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Los Angeles -- To stem the increase in HIV infections among men who have sex with men, AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) is launching a new HIV prevention campaign targeting residents of the San Fernando Valley. APLA's campaign, "Do You Talk About HIV?", addresses the behavioral aspects of safer sex, including communication between sex partners. The campaign will be targeted to men who have sex with men in areas including North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Valley Village and Van Nuys. These areas represent a unique clustering of venues where self-identified men who have sex with men congregate.

At the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an increase in risky behaviors among young gay and bisexual men. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services also announced in August 2001 that Syphilis is now endemic in the gay community. HIV was found to be a co-factor in the majority of men diagnosed with Syphilis.

"APLA is launching this campaign at a crucial time in the epidemic," stated Lee Klosinski, APLA's Director of Education. "We have developed a campaign that will trigger a discussion about HIV and encourage men to practice safer sex. This campaign will reach them in their every-day routines."

In Los Angeles County, 80% of living AIDS cases are among men who have sex with men.

To produce an effective campaign, APLA researched existing campaigns in other cities and conducted focus groups here in Los Angeles. This campaign is unique in that it has a venue driven focus through the use of small print media including posters, bus shelters, and interior bus ads. Media placements will be targeted to neighborhoods and establishments where gay men congregate.

The media campaign is the first part of a 3-year prevention campaign that includes linkages with other cities in Los Angeles County, including West Hollywood and North Hollywood.

AIDS Project Los Angeles, a non-profit community-based organization, provides direct services each year to more than 10,000 men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County. Services include a food bank, professional dental care, housing assistance, child care, transportation, mental health counseling, case management, home health care and Adult and Child Buddy support. APLA also provides extensive treatment and prevention education and advocacy on local, state and federal AIDS-related legislation.