If you’ve watched the recent promos for season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race and had a feeling of déjà vu, it’s likely you were reminded of the stunning photos from the HIV Equal campaign.
The campaign has been producing their signature photos with a magenta glow on a black backdrop since last July. But don’t get the wrong idea. We’re not calling anyone copycats for, as the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Thomas Evans, the HIV Equal photographer and co-creator, agrees. “It’s quite a coincidence, but we are huge fans of the show and I’m confident it was just a genius fortuity,” he says in a statement sent to Queerty. “We even photographed Bianca Del Rio before we knew she was on the show.”
The campaign has also drawn comparisons to the iconic NOH8 project and has even received the blessing of its creator, photographer Adam Bouska, who posed for the Equal cameras late last year. Still, there’s no missing the similarity to the hit Logo series, which are virtually identical in composition and color scheme
“We love the similarities to Drag Race,” Jack Mackenroth, the other creator adds. “And once we saw the teaser video we saw a perfect opportunity to have fun with it. I think both of us can benefit from a little cross promotion. Logo is doing a lot of great work addressing HIV and testing on their own. Our video is an homage.”
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.
Above take a look at the Equal campaign video featuring models Nick Adams, Colton Ford, and many other sexy men dedicated to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and compare it to the fun Drag Race teaser below.
QJ201
Reminds me of the scene in the documentary “The Gift” in which a bunch of gay HIV positive long term survivors (e.g., diagnosed pre-ARVs) who look at a wall of “HIV prevention posters” and comment: None of them make me want to protect myself or my partner, they just make me want to get laid.
#fail. Big fail.
Stache1
Part of me wants to appreciate what their doing. I do understand the message. They need more regular folks that have an actual history of involvement in HIV awareness though. Too many I notice seem to be there to advance their own fledgling careers ie Nick Gruber.
Stache1
@QJ201: Part of what their doing is trying to remove the shame. Anyone that goes looking for “the gift” is an idiot though and there’s not much you can do about that. This is just a different prevention strategy is all that’s mostly aimed at the young.
Fitz
While I am a huge fan of Colton Ford– seriously, (his music is great, the few porns he did were stupid, but he is stunning in that gym-way)… AND I am a fan of RuPaul’s show…I dislike the HIV= campaign so much that I can’t look at these photos without thinking of 1) The total BS message that we are all HIV=. If we’re HIV=, good news: throw away that bowl of condoms! or 2) Nick Gruber. Nick Gruber… Nick Gruber. And then McDouche’s defending of him on this site.
Dixie Rect
Ah yes, here we go again, this PR campaign is being shoved down our throats, again. The check must of cleared! How come they haven’t repurposed NOH8 into something else?
balehead
More media hoeing….and donation money stealing…
Geeker
Again apparently you’re only equal if you’ve had a gym membership since you hit puberty. I made a comment about it only being pretty muscle guys on twitter when this campaign first started and Jack Mackenroth blocked me.
KDub
@Geeker: Ah the old we’re-gonna-censor-you-because-you-disagreed-with-us, it’s the gay agenda way. Give a bitchy queen a little power and it’s to be expected.
KDub
Why does eveything gay have to be naked? You’re not ashamed of your sexuality…WE GET IT ALEADY!! Now go put some clothes on. Isn’t Colton pushing 50? And RuPaul looks dead already. Not sexy.
Respect4all
@Stache1: Maybe a little shame is a good thing. Really, should anyone be proud of stupidly allowing himself to be infected with HIV? Why do we treat these people like heroes? Maybe the real heroes are the ones who are smart enough, strong enough and self-confident enough to act responsibly and protect themselves and others.
Respect4all
@Stache1: @Stache1: ‘what THEY’RE doing’@Dixie Rect: ‘must HAVE’. I’m an English teacher. One of my missions is to preserve the English language for future generations.
Stache1
@Respect4all: There’s many different reasons someone might have become infected by HIV but by all means go on being a smug self righteous a**h*** if it makes you feel better. Btw. your screen name must be your idea of a joke.
Stache1
@Respect4all: How’s this for good grammar..???? ??? ??? ??? ????? 🙂
davincibarnette
Wow! Such sad, depressing comments. I cannot understand how this warrants such negativity ?!!