The Administration on Aging (AoA) has rolled out a new set of tools designed to educate both gay and straight older adults about the risks of HIV/AIDS.
The Toolkit, Know the RISKS, Get the FACTS, is available at http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/toolkit.aspx. Materials include:
- A 1:30 minute video introduction by AoA head Kathy Greenlee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiUPA2ya54c)
- A 1-page fact sheet (http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/docs/HIVAIDS_Factsheet.pdf)
- A 5-minute education video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm_O6Rn1U-M)
- A customizable. 9-slide PowerPoint presentation (which includes a picture of two men hand-in-hand) (download from the Toolkit page, http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/toolkit.aspx) and
- 5 posters
- African American (heterosexual) couple (http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/docs/AfricanAmerican_HIVAIDS_Poster.pdf)
- Asian (heterosexual) couple (http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/docs/Asian_HIVAIDS_Poster.pdf)
- Caucasian (heterosexual) couple (http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/docs/AoA_HIVAIDS_Poster.pdf)
- Hispanic (heterosexual) couple (in Spanish) (http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/docs/Hispanic_HIVAIDS_poster.pdf)
- Gay male couple (http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HPW/HIV_AIDS/docs/GayCouple_HIVAIDS_Poster.pdf)
While I am delighted to see the much-needed materials and the open inclusion of gay men, the suggestions about how often to get tested address only women and gay men (what’s the recommendation for straight men?) and ignore lesbians altogether. We’ve still got work to do.
