“Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”
A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article about the increase in HIV/AIDS in the US. At that that time I suggested that we all (especially bloggers) need to do our part to up the awareness level because the message has faded over the years.
With the new drug cocktails that have been developed over the years people have wrongly assumed the risk has lessened. That is simply not true. To make matters worse, there are strains of the disease that modern medication may have little effect on. Also there seems to be a common thought amongst some sexually promiscuous homosexual men that if they get AIDS then all they have to do is take the meds and not have to worry about it anymore. There are bareback clubs in particular that have been formed for this purpose – to get AIDS.
I’ve been told by several people usually in their twenties that AIDS is no longer a big deal. “That was in the 80’s,” they say. They are wrong. The numbers are creeping back up because we no longer “think” it’s a big deal. It’s time to wake up. Again.
To top it off our current compassionate President, Mr. Bush, has vetoed additional spending on AIDS awareness. It’s up to us to inform each other. When I wrote that article I pledged that my blog would support HIV/AIDS awareness. I wanted to do something special so I created a graphic. Although I designed the graphic for my blog shortly afterwards and placed it on my blog I didn’t want to officially announce it until now.
The graphic above is part of what will be an ongoing AIDS awareness campaign for this blog. About the design: I found the photo doing a Google search. I wanted a photo of two hot guys kissing for my project but I wanted to keep it clean but intense at the same time. I’m really not fond of “scare” tactics used in other campaigns. Instead I prefer to promote safe hot sex to sell the message. The photo I selected came from Queerty. It was from an old story back in 2006 about Gay Muslins seeking political asylum in the Netherlands. Gays seeking asylum had to watch videos of two men kissing in a park to prove they were gay.
“Express Yourself – Protect Yourself” is a slogan I really liked because it promotes sex while promoting safety. I also like the song, Express Yourself, by Madonna.
Of course I think we should all be creative and come up with our own projects/graphics for this cause. Uniqueness is key but if you like the graphic I made please feel free to use it with or without credit to me. I’ll keep it located near the bottom left-hand corner of my page for now. Since this is an ongoing project I figure its okay if it’s located near the bottom. Besides how many of us guys do you think won’t notice it no matter where it’s placed. If I’m looking at a page with mostly text and there’s a photo of two hot guys kissing I’m going to see it (and take a closer look) no matter where it is. *grins*
Lika Starr
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Thank you so much for the comment, and for sharing this important message, important slogan, and important graphic.
You asked if I mind. Of course I don’t. I think it was very thoughtful of you to include it for people to see.
I am so glad some people out there still have some sense
I lost my first cousin to AIDS (this is Eva) it was so sad.
he was always so funny and very bright.
It has been a few years but it seems like last week.
Eva and Nicole 7gfb.com ( seven girlfriends blog )
yes, lets not forget about AIDS and you are correct the awareness has faded a lot. i just love my government. NOT!
keep up the good work.
lika, i read your blog almost every day. most of your articles are about the same stuff others write about too. somehow you manage to make it your own and that’s what keeps me coming back.
if i had the time to write i would start a blog. I would put your aids graphic on my page because it think it’s great.
whoah! that’s nathan exposed that posted here. i saw his blog on best gay blogs a while back. you must be in the big league now. hehe