It’s been three years since Truvada as PrEP was approved in the United States, and since then there have been countless success stories shared by doctors, patients and health advocates praising the effectiveness of the once-daily pill to prevent HIV infection by as much as 92-99 percent.
There’s also been backlash — “it’s too expensive,” “people can’t be trusted to take a pill every day,” “it isn’t safe,” “it promotes sexual promiscuity,” etc.
Related: Can Our Generation Stop HIV With A ‘Truvada Revolution?’ Vice Investigates.
But numerous major metro health departments from New York to SF to LA, as well as many AIDS organizations, see continued gains in educating those at risk of contracting the virus about Truvada and helping them gain access to the drug while linking them with testing, prevention education, and care.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In a recent campaign called #PrEPHeroes by Housing Works Community Healthcare, nine models currently taking Truvada were chosen and made over into edgy superheroes to draw focus to the benefit they’re providing their communities and themselves by ensuring they won’t spread HIV.
Notes art director Jack Mackenroth:
“The goal of the campaign is to portray these men as role models and as powerful individuals who are taking charge of their own defense against HIV. I love that they are depicted as bold, visionary ‘heroes.’ They are seizing control of their own sexual health and protecting others by stopping further HIV transmission. I hope that the stylish and provocative nature of the campaign will inspire others to share it on social media, participate with their own #PrEPHeroes photo, and instigate conversations about HIV prevention.”
Check out more of the photos, taken by Mike Ruiz, below:
Milton Appleby
I don’t like it.
QJ201
I already know one guy on PrEP who already caught an STD from barebacking.
I can’t tell you how many PrEP bottoms have hit me up on Grindr, et al. and asked, no demanded, to be “bred”
SportGuy
@QJ201: Exactly! I have been asked numerous times to bb because the guy was on prep! I continue to inform these guys that prep is still supposed to be used with condoms! After that they block me, thank goodness! Most of these prep guys have other std’s because they use this as a free card to bb. Condoms, condoms, condoms!
Realityis
Another ridiculous PrEP article…..
I’ll get behind PrEP if there were consequences for having bareback sex while on it.
As we all know, and what is on Truvada’s website, TRUVADA for a Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Indication
This is a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Web site. TRUVADA for a PrEP indication—in combination with safer sex practices—can help reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection as part of a comprehensive HIV-1 prevention strategy in adults at high risk. TRUVADA for a PrEP indication does not replace existing prophylaxis strategies.
What don’t these people not get. It is not intended to be used by itself.
Insurance companies will pay for this drug, for people that don’t really need it, but won’t pay for my procedures to help me look a little more normal to everyone else. I’ve put out 15 to 20,000 because insurance wouldn’t cover any of the cosmetic procedures. Indirectly insurance companies and Big Pharm are condoning unsafe sex…. now that’s a hoot, but these ignorant people will still make them rich.
Realityis
For anyone that wants to argue this, here is the website…. http://www.truvadapreprems.com
Xzamilio
Can dark and edgy look campy? Yes. Is it convincing? Eh.
Don’t know what the point of this was, because it looked like the intended destination was avant garde, but they got lost and ended up at a Hot Topic.
Giancarlo85
I don’t get it. I tried posting and it went into moderation. this website is such shit.
All I said it isn’t the cure all. And condoms are always a must.
lauraspencer
@Giancarlo85:
We agree on something. I’m so happy!!
lauraspencer
I don’t care for how the producers of this video are trying to equate popping a pill once a day with being a “hero” or “fabulous”.
The heroes are those men who have practiced safe sex using condoms and not barebacking for years.
Giancarlo85
@lauraspencer: Stop replying to me please. I don’t care for your crap.
glb4u
I personally know one of these models and know that he is positive.
Alexis Barros
Role models? Visionary ‘heroes’?
tim22much
I’ve been on PrEP for over a year without any issues. PrEP is a great option if you choose to take it at least 4-7 times a week (full stop). Whether someone else is or is not barebacking on it is none of your business unless you are participating. Take it, don’t take it but take responsibility for yourself and that’s where it should end.
lauraspencer
@Giancarlo85:
I knew we would agree on something. We are so much alike!!
Giancarlo85
@lauraspencer: You are nothing like me. First off I’m not a loser. Second, I actually have friends.
Jacob23
Wait a minute. Didn’t Queerty just run a post about a week ago by Mark King in which he crowned himself a hero for having HIV? Now Queerty tells us that these guys are heroes for trying to avoid getting HIV when they have sex with strangers. But if they don’t PrEP and get HIV, then they’ll still be heroes according to Mark King. No matter what, everyone’s a hero in Queertyland!
None of them are heroes. Women in Kurdistan fighting ISIS are heroes. Doctors who flew to western Africa to fight ebola last year are heroes. These clowns are hedonists, incapable of having sex within the context of stable relationships. They are a warped subset of gay and bi men who have sex lives which are qualitatively different than 99.9% of the human species, gays and lesbians included. Their need to copulate with multiple strangers brings horrific costs, which they expect others to pay for. They are more parasitic than heroic.
L Daniel E Kaufman
Nope. Just no.
Prinny
They look like idiots in those outfits.
Saint Law
They look awful. Did anybody actually believe make up would disguise that?
tdh1980
I won’t judge anyone for his choice to use PrEP, but what has made me weary is the constant proselytizing about it in gay media and on hook up apps and websites. It’s gone far beyond merely providing the population with information into rabid evangelism, and that’s getting on my nerves. Yes, a risk of contracting almost any STI with any type of protection one uses exists, yet pretending that condoms have suddenly become obsolete or ineffective because of the creation of this pill — which clearly doesn’t shield against diseases other that HIV/AIDS — is silly.
JB
They don’t look like “edgy superheroes.” They look like a bunch of WeHo wannabe glam queens getting ready to go to a gay prom in the 1980s. And I totally agree with tdh1980. Wtf is wrong with people? They’re really entrusting their lives to an unproven drug?
Ummmm Yeah
Don’t worry. When you catch HIV or another STD big pharma will sell you something else expensive to keep you alive enough to be contagious and bring in the new customers.
Mykaels
I hope Qweerty is getting ad revenue from Gilead for all this advertising. Goddess knows, for what they charge for that drug, they can afford it
lauraspencer
@Giancarlo85:
That statement shows we are even more alike. I have plenty of friends and I’m not a loser.
Clark35
@QJ201: Exactly. I personally would not have sex with any woman or man who claims to be on prep and wants it raw.
Bauhaus
CDC – Fact Sheet:
“the most effective ways to prevent transmitting or becoming infected with HIV are to be on antiretroviral medications (to either treat or prevent infection) and to correctly use a condom every time for anal or vaginal sex.”
Clark35
@Jacob23: Well said.
ethan_hines
OMG the smirk on that last guy’s face says it all! “We are all heros”
McShane
I actually really look up to Mike Ruiz. He’s just so talented. And his talent agency, Aardvark Aartists has some hugely accomplished photographers.
Avery Alvarez
I kinda like the photos. They remind me of an ANTM scene.
I think an important point that’s been touched upon in many of the comments is the need to emphasize that PrEP really works best with, and is meant mostly for use with condoms.
asby
Why are they tossing around the word “hero” for this?
Giancarlo85
@lauraspencer: You don’t have any friends, you’re hated and you are a political conservative. We couldn’t be anymore opposite. I’m a leftist… you are a right winger. You are an economic conservative… something I cannot stand at all. You disgust me.
Stache99
@Clark35: I’m really glad that you agree with yourself.
Stache99
@Jacob23: No. Mark said no such thing. Maybe queerty should run a post on piece of shit trolls such as yourself. Oh wait. No one would read it. Maybe put you as another victim in the gay bashing thread. I for sure would read that with a smile on my face:-)
lauraspencer
@Giancarlo85:
I love your passion! You are so fiery. You obviously enjoy role playing. You constantly like to cast me as the bad guy…the right winger. You miscast me though. I haven’t been to church in years, I believe in gay rights and abortion and I have voted for way too many Dems to be part of the right winger club. If it excites you to keep casting yourself as the good guy who is the victim fighting for all that is good then go for it.
Cartwheels & rainbow wishes. Nite nite 🙂
Giancarlo85
@lauraspencer: Sorry I don’t find anything in common with a disgusting tool. you voted for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. You said you are a economic conservative. That’s enough for me. I don’t care where you stand on with regards to gay rights or abortion… your economic views are a pile of shit.
I never said I was a victim. I stand against the self victimization you do because of your phony beliefs.
Realityis
@tim22much: That’s great for you Tim, but you do sound like an ad when you say “PrEP is a great option if you choose to take it at least 4-7 times a week”….
Yes I will make it my business if someone is taking PrEP and barebacking, knowing that insurance companies are paying for their behavior at the expense of me not being able to get the facial fillers paid for by insurance companies… and yes I am on Truvada, so I can say all of this. Also, again I have to say it, Truvada is meant to be taken while using other safer sex items… TRUVADA for a PrEP indication does not replace existing prophylaxis strategies. (this line is direct from their website.)
My thought is, anyone knowingly barebacking while on Truvada should be discontinued payment of the drug by their insurance company.
Jacob23
@Stache99: It doesn’t surprise me in the least that you would take pleasure from a gay bashing. You harm gay people on a regular basis for your own pleasure. You have written about how you seek out the young ones. You may have severely injured or been the cause of death of young gay and bi men, and you do not care. So it stands to reason that violent anti-gay assaults would also get you off.
BTW, here’s what King said:
“So, joy is allowed us, as are labels like “courageous” and “heroic.” HIV positive activists have long been admired for our fortitude, or for just having survived. We have even been sexualized – the greatest social cache available to gay men. But feeling pride, not in our response to HIV but in our very being with HIV, crosses into threatening territory.”
Heroic and proud. Not for how he responds to HIV. Not for taking every possible precaution to ensure that he never infects anyone else with HIV. No, he’s proud and heroic for being infected with it. Very appropriate that someone like you would be his most ardent defender. Peas in a cesspool.
notevenwrong
Pretty much only trolls posting nowadays (with one or two exceptions) who feel the need to put down everything Queerty reports. Why they bother allowing comments anymore is beyond me.
Clark35
@Bauhaus: Yes you’re supposed to use condoms with Truvada/prep; but the majority of men who take prep don’t use them and do it bareback. *facepalm*
Clark35
@Stache99: That’s nice troll. I don’t post under other names like you probably do.
Kieru
Truvada wlll not be a solution to the rise in HIV infections until the costs of a prescription go down. It’s still around $140 for a 90-day supply ($560 a year). The most “at-risk” members of our community are the underprivileged / impoverished. They are the ones also least likely to be on truvada because guess what… food is more important than a pill.
Until that changes these people aren’t heroes; they are just the privileged elite who can afford their meds.