Recently my colleagues Michael Murphy and Ivette Lopez posted on HIV communications and HIV testing awareness, for the public at large and the Hispanic LGBT population. While communications is an essential component for educating and maintaining the spread of the virus, it plays a completely different yet equally vital role for those living with HIV and the associated stigmas. With a 2006 Center for Disease Control study reporting that more than 440,000 people are infected with HIV in the United States, many individuals daily must combat personal and professional stigmas with few organizations and resources available to them, and even fewer HIV-positive role models.
I recently saw through our friends at Queerty that former Project Runway contestant Jack Mackenroth, who we’ve covered here before, has developed Living Positive By Design, a national HIV and AIDS education campaign that is partnering with local HIV/AIDS organizations across the country. Having lived with HIV for nearly 20 years, Jack Mackenroth quickly rose to be a leading HIV-positive public figure though his appearance on Project Runway, where he openly discussed his positive status and his personal management of the disease.
So just how do Jack and Living Positive By Design intend to make progress for those living with HIV and AIDS? Thoughtful conversation. He is planning to speak about his “experiences living with HIV for nearly 20 years, addressing the stigma still associated with the disease and highlighting the importance for people living with HIV to have a positive outlook on life while effectively managing their disease.”
Living Positive By Design will kick off this Saturday, Sept. 20 in Ft. Lauderdale at the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA), which is sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC). The campaign will make subsequent stops over the next few months in Houston, New York, San Francisco and Atlanta. For more details and video from Jack, visit the Living Positive By Design MySpace page.
Thoughtful conversations and open dialogues – the power of communication is a necessity in the efforts to educate others about HIV and testing, while simultaneously championing those already living with the virus ability to manage their disease and be a normal, productive member of society. This same belief in communications as a change agent is what drives our work for our clients and the Out Front Blog. We look forward to seeing the results of Jack’s efforts, as he continues to use his life to educate and communicate for those living and managing HIV like him.
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Wonderful news about Jack Mackenroth. I really think he is the perfect person to shed light on living positively and honestly. I loved him on Project Runway and I love him more now. Bravo Jack. (no pun intended)
Jack is very inspirational for all of our positive brothers and sisters all over the world. Thank you Jack for showing the world that we are not our disease. I have been waiting for years for a public figure to be honest about their status and make me feel that I am not alone. ¡cuánto te lo agradezco!