Testing Makes Us Stronger Launches in Houston!

The week before last, Houston was the sixth and final city to launch the Testing Makes Us Stronger campaign, a public health initiative that encourages black gay and bisexual men to get tested for HIV. The campaign, developed by BWA in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is running in specifically targeted cities that have high rates of African American Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). Testing Makes Us Stronger uses compelling messages and iconic imagery to highlight the power and importance of knowing your HIV status.

The Houston launch event was held at the Hotel Zaza and featured speakers Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Stephen Williams, Director of the Houston Department of Health and Human Services and Renol Ratchford, Intervention Specialist at St. Hope Foundation. The speakers shared information about the current state of HIV in the United States, emphasizing the impact on black gay and bisexual men in Houston. Duane Cramer, the photographer, also shared his experience in helping to develop the campaign.

For more information about the campaign, please visit: http://www.hivtest.org/stronger/

Picture: Sheldon De Souza (far left) of BWA poses with Jackie Rosenthal of the CDC and Jon Humphries of Pride Houston.