"CDC's 'Testing Makes Us Stronger' First Federal Campaign Focused on Gay Men"
Georgia Voice (Atlanta) (11.29.11)

CDC recently launched a new public awareness and education campaign to encourage HIV testing among black men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 18-44. The new $2.4 million “Testing Makes Us Stronger” campaign is part of CDC’s national “Act Against AIDS” testing and prevention initiative.

“This is the first time the federal government is focusing a national campaign on gay and bisexual men and to black gay and bisexual men,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention.

CDC worked closely with black MSM on the campaign, said Fenton. A key goal is to empower these men to be “safe, wiser and stronger,” he said.

Testing Makes Us Stronger will include:

• Online and magazine ads in black MSM-targeted and mainstream media outlets.
• Billboard, transit and print ads in six US cities where black MSM are especially hard-hit by HIV/AIDS.
• A website (www.hivtest.org/stronger) that includes a campaign overview, listing of local events, graphics and resources, testing site locator and basic HIV/AIDS information.
• A Facebook page (www.facebook.com/testingmakesusstronger) encouraging users to interact and get others to take charge of their health, with regular video updates, event listings and posts to start conversations.
• Twitter updates and related events shared through @AIDSgov, @HIVTalk and partner accounts.
• Promotional materials, including downloadable content for use locally.
• On-site outreach, promotional material distribution and related advertising at Black Pride events in 15 cities.