\u201cI Talk Because\u2026\u201d Video Project Brings Conversations about HIV\/AIDS to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube<\/p>\n
City Hall \u2013 Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, Council Member Rosie Mendez, and representatives from HIV\/AIDS organizations from around New York City launched a social networking driven campaign to encourage and increase HIV\/AIDS awareness. The groundbreaking campaign, which was announced on World AIDS Day, today, utilizes YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to re-start the conversation about HIV and AIDS in our communities. Actors Veronica Webb, Rosie Perez, B.D. Wong and Hazel Dukes, President of the New York NAACP Chapter, and advocates joined Speaker Quinn at City Hall for the announcement. <\/p>\n
The campaign, titled \u201cI Talk Because\u2026\u201d, will feature YouTube video clips of people talking about why it\u2019s so important for them to discuss HIV\/AIDS with the people in their lives. Community leaders, elected officials and New Yorkers will be encouraged to participate and upload their own testimonials.<\/p>\n
Open and honest conversations can prevent new HIV infections and reduce the stigma attached to people living with HIV\/AIDS. Every 9\u00bd minutes an American is infected with HIV. And today, over 100,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV\/AIDS, and thousands more don\u2019t know that they are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control.<\/p>\n
New Yorkers will be able to send in their video testimonies to the \u201cI Talk Because\u2026\u201d by emailing italkbecause@gmail.com. We are inviting all New Yorkers to submit their videos and share why they talk about HIV\/AIDS to the people in their life and why this is important to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conversation about HIV\/AIDS must be revived, and we need to take this message to the places that people now occupy: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,\u201d said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cHIV\/AIDS has personally affected me and thousands of New Yorkers and we must get this conversation back to where it use to be. Through this campaign, we hope to help prevent new infections and stop any stigmatization of people who are living with HIV\/AIDS. It is imperative for everyone to start the conversation so that every generation has access to the latest and most accurate information. Whether we know someone who has been diagnosed, infected or know a person who has lost their battle \u2013 we need to keep the conversation going.\u201d (See Speaker Quinn\u2019s video: http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HmiPDJyIAeA)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in a new era with technology making the difficult distribution of information about HIV\/AIDS simple with a click if a button,\u201d said Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera \u201cYouTube, Facebook and the other internet sites that cater to our youth and young adults gives us the opportunity to have a conversation that otherwise would not have taken place.\u201d (See Joel Rivera\u2019s video: http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=y3Sfxes1yYg)<\/p>\n
\u201cHIV\/AIDS is still a devastating disease that everyone, young and old, must not fear to discuss openly,\u201d said Council Member Rosie Mendez. \u201cUsing social networking methods gives another means for everyone affected to speak about their experiences, their fears and their hopes for a cure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201cI Talk Because\u2026\u201d campaign utilizes Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to send video links across different platforms. \u201cI Talk Because\u2026\u201d invites users to submit their home-made videos to be a part of the campaign. People can send their links to italkbecause@gmail.com to be considered by partnering organizations as a YouTube channel favorite.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe HIV epidemic is still raging, and our response must rage in return; there is no time for complacency,\u201d said Wendy Stark, Executive Director of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. \u201cSpeaker Quinn’s introduction of dialogue about HIV into new media is critical to our efforts to fight this disease, particularly among young people. Callen-Lorde applauds the Speaker for her initiative and is proud to stand beside her in the fight to keep our communities healthy and thriving.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGMHC is proud to partner with the Speakers office in providing a new dialogue focused on HIV prevention and care services for those living with HIV\/AIDS utilizing the newest media tools,\u201d said Janet Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer of the Gay Men\u2019s Health Crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the single most important health issue facing Black and Latino women today,\u201d said actress Veronica Webb. \u201cThe most important thing we can do to stop HIV\/AIDS is to talk about it. There is no faster way for people who are affected by HIV\/AIDS to talk about their experiences and get the word out then through social networking.\u201d<\/p>\n
This video project is a collaboration of the New York City Council, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Gay Mens Health Crisis, Harlem United, Visual AIDS, LIFEbeat, The Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV\/AIDS, Bronx AIDS Services, Latino Commission on AIDS, Gay Men of African Descent, Bailey House, Citiwide Harm Reduction, The Women’s HIV Collaborative, AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA), Hispanic AIDS Forum, Fortune Society, Village Care New York, Broadway Cares\/Equity Fights AIDS, Community Health Action of Staten Island , God\u2019s Love We Deliver and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Pi Iota Chapter in Springfield City. [List in formation]<\/p>\n
You can find out more about each social networking page for the \u201cI Talk Because\u2026\u201d campaign here:<\/p>\n
Twitter: @ITalkBecause
\nFacebook: http:\/\/facebook.com\/italkbecause
\nYoutube: http:\/\/youtube.com\/italkbecause<\/p>\n
Additional Quotes:<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe knowledge is power and I want my son to have power over this disease and compassion for those who are living with it,\u201d said talk show host Wendy Williams. \u201cOur kids hear so much false information about HIV and AIDS and they need to learn that it\u2019s preventable by educating them on how it\u2019s contracted. Millions of people around the world are battling this disease while living full and productive lives. That is why I talk about AIDS.\u201d (see Wendy\u2019s ITB video: http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=r25i7Axl2Ts<\/p>\n
“I applaud Speaker Quinn for her initiative to ensure that HIV\/AIDS awareness is not only addressed on World AIDS Day but also throughout the year,” said New York State Senator Tom Duane. “In order to prevent new HIV infections, and increase the percentage of HIV-positive New Yorkers who know their status and have access to appropriate care, we need to talk about how HIV is spread and confront the associated stigma and discrimination that tragically persist. I look forward to participating in this innovative social networking campaign to help stem the spread of this deadly disease.”<\/p>\n
“One of the most powerful ways to decrease new HIV infections is by increasing awareness and testing,\u201d said Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell. \u201cIt is crucial that individuals know their status. The immediacy and reach of social networking is perfectly suited to encourage individuals, particularly youth, to be tested and to reinvigorate a conversation about the HIV\/AIDS epidemic.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI Talk Because\u2026\u201d Video Project Brings Conversations about HIV\/AIDS to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube<\/p>\n
City Hall \u2013 Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, Council Member Rosie Mendez, and representatives from HIV\/AIDS organizations from around New York City launched a social networking driven campaign to encourage and increase HIV\/AIDS awareness. The groundbreaking campaign, which was announced on World AIDS Day, today, utilizes YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to re-start the conversation about HIV and AIDS in our communities.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n