FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steven Gibson
August 15, 1997
415.621.7177 x258
MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN:
New STOP AIDS Project campaign talks about the relationship
CRISSY HAS ARRIVED!
between sex, crystal meth (speed) and HIV
SEE ALSO BAY AREA REPORTER
FEATURE ARTICLE
SAN FRANCISCO - In a groundbreaking effort to combat the growing epidemic of methamphetamine (speed) use among gay and bisexual men, the STOP AIDS Project is beginning a new campaign to promote dialogue about the relationship between sex, speed and HIV.
"Speed use is one of the reasons gay and bisexual men continue to get infected with HIV," said Steven Gibson, a Community Organizer with the STOP AIDS Project. "A lot of guys use speed to heighten their sexual experiences and lose their inhibitions about sex."
Adds Gibson, "Studies show that gay and bisexual men who use speed are more than twice as likely to get infected. We want to get them talking about speed, sex and HIV without glamorizing the drug or dehumanizing the user."
In the past year, merchants and community members in the Castro, Polk and South of Market (SOMA) districts identified speed use (crystal meth) as a concern. The STOP AIDS Project initiated discussions with users and non-users to create a campaign that would encourage gay and bisexual men to talk about speed use and safe sex.
Explains David Boyer, Media Manager, "We decided to make Crissy appeal to a very specific group of gay and bisexual men who are part of the bar and club scene. She is pop culture and personifies what is appealing about speed. She's thin, sexy, fabulous and stays out dancing all night!" The Crissy campaign will also feature an entourage of characters who reflect the diversity of gay and bisexual men who are a part of the bar and club scene.
In print ads, posters, postcards and ads placed in bathrooms, the Crissy campaign will feature seven different messages over the next three months. A new web-site, launched on July 30, will allow the conversation about speed to continue on-line. SF Bay Yahoo!, one of the World Wide Web premiere directory services, selected the web-site as one of its ÒCool Sites of the WeekÓ for its innovative approach. In two days, www.tweaker.org received more than 3,000 unique visitors. For more information, visit the web-site at www.tweaker.org or give STOP AIDS a call at (415) 621-7177 x 258.
STOP AIDS Project is a community-based HIV prevention program by and for gay and bisexual men of all ages and colors. The Project, established in 1984, remains true to its founding mission Ñ to develop and implement a community organizing project for self-identified gay and bisexual men in San Francisco which seeks to reduce HIV-transmission and lessen the adverse effects of the HIV epidemic on the community. The STOP AIDS Project continues to serve as a pioneer and model for HIV-prevention activities nationally and worldwide.
CRISSY: to be released as bathroom and print ads as well as posters and postcards
CAMERA READY ARTWORK - AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Contact Steven Gibson: 415/621-7177, x258
INTERVIEWS - STOP AIDS Project staff and volunteers are available for interviewing. Also available are Ron Stall, Associate Professor at UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies; Greg Hayner, PharmDP, Haight Ashbury Detox; and Michael McElhaney, co-owner of the STUD bar. To arrange interviews, call Steven Gibson: 415/621-7177, x258.
For comments or questions please contact: Feedback@STOPAIDS
