New STI campaign tells gays to get tested and get back out there
Sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has re-launched a provocative campaign to try to increase awareness among gay men of sexually transmitted infections.
The “Get it checked, Get back out there” campaign first ran in 2005.
This year will see high profile outdoor adverts as part of the campaign. It is hoped they will reach men when they’re out on the scene.
The campaign will include gay bar washroom panels, roadside adverts near gay venues in major gay centres, phone boxes near London gay venues, adverts in London Underground stations and cigarette kiosks on Manchester’s Canal Street.
The adverts feature images of “sexy men in their underwear,” but with visible signs of a STI – a sore, rash or discharge.
The waistband of the underwear features the name of the infection. One of the images appears normal apart from ‘STI’ printed along the waistband, to highlight that some infections have no symptoms at all.
Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust said:
“Gay men responded really well to the campaign last time and it increased their awareness of STIs.
“However, levels of some STIs are still high among gay men and if left untreated they can cause long term health complications.
“The message of the campaign is to get checked out and get back out there.”
The STIs focused on in the new campaign are syphilis, gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, NSU and herpes.
The adverts offer support and information through the THT Direct or by logging onto www.chapsonline.org.uk/infections.
