National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD), a time to remember the historical impact of HIV and AIDS on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States.
Even with today’s effective prevention and treatment options, HIV continues to affect this community the most compared to other communities.
Gay, bisexual, and other MSM account for the largest number of new HIV diagnoses and the largest number of individuals living with HIV in the United States.1
National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day empowers gay, bisexual and other MSM to talk openly about HIV risk, testing, proven prevention strategies, and effective treatment options.
Couples must be encouraged to get tested together and openly talk about their test results (HIV status).
Some behaviors and activities put gay, bisexual and other MSM at higher risk for HIV, but there are proven strategies to lower risk. Knowing your HIV status and your partner’s status helps you make safer choices that keep you both healthy.
We must acknowledge lessons learned from the near 40-year history of the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
Stigma (negative and usually unfair beliefs), homophobia, and discrimination (unfairly treating a person or group of people differently) significantly affect the health and well-being of those most at risk of HIV.
These challenges may prevent gay, bisexual and other MSM from getting and receiving medical care, including prevention and treatment services for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI).
Many gay, bisexual and other MSM feel their family doctors and other healthcare providers are not familiar with LGBTQ health issues, preventing them from receiving appropriate medical care and support services in a safe and inclusive environment.
By not being in medical care, gay, bisexual and other MSM are at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and hepatitis.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that 1 in 6 gay and bisexual men with HIV do not know they have HIV.2 People who do not know they have HIV or other STIs can’t protect their health by getting treatment.
Not knowing their status also means they may pass HIV or other STI to others without knowing it. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure whether you have or do not have HIV or other STIs.
If you test positive for HIV (have HIV):
start HIV treatment right after getting your positive test result to share your HIV status with previous and current sex partners(s) and anyone you use needles or syringes with to inject drugs
Get and keep an undetectable viral load (very low amount of HIV in the body), so you can stay healthy and not pass HIV to others through sex
Continue using condoms the right way every time you have sex to prevent getting sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and hepatitis
If you test negative for HIV (do not have HIV):
continue using safer sex practices to lower your risk of getting the virus
Talk to your sex partner(s) about testing and their HIV and STI status
Continue to get tested often if you are at high risk for HIV
Talk to your healthcare provider about using HIV medicines to prevent getting HIV: PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)
Continue using condoms the right way every time you have sex to prevent getting sexually transmitted infections
HIV testing, education, and open conversation are key to ending the HIV epidemic. With better testing, treatment, and prevention options, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men can take control of their health and also help protect the health of others in their community.
New Jersey offers free HIV and other STI services to all state residents via the hotline.
Knowing who to call for resources and information is the first step in ending the HIV epidemic in New Jersey.
The hotline is staffed by health professionals (doctors, nurses, and pharmacists) available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide free, confidential help via phone at 1-800-624-2377, text/email at 8006242377@njpies.org, or chat here
Referrals for testing sites and other related services
HIV, STI and hepatitis prevention and treatment information.
Side effects from medicines used to treat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
Referrals to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) services
Counseling and treatment locations
Partner notification ADDP