Some basic facts: in the U.S. more than one million people are living with HIV, one in five are unaware they're infected, there are approximately 50,000 new infections each year and sexually active gay men are still the most at risk for HIV infection in the U.S.
You probably wouldn't be aware of those facts by watching television these days. It's been several years since a major TV character on a scripted American series dealt with HIV infection. ER had physician's assistant Jeanie Boulet, Queer as Folk had Ben Bruckner, in 2010 Brothers & Sisters had Uncle Saul. After that the pickings are astoundingly slim.
It's not much better in the realm of reality television. Uncle Poodle might have recently come out as HIV positive, but he did that outside of the popular TLC series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Sure, MTV might have given us Pedro Zamora way back in 1994, Project Runway gave us two memorable designers willing to disclose their HIV status (Jack Mackenroth and Mondo Guerra), and season one of RuPaul's Drag Race gave us Ongina's emotional announcement. But when was the last time a Real World housemate, a Bachelor contestant, or a Survivor tribemate actually dealt with HIV on their show?
TV writers (and reality show casting agents) have a sort of herd mentality, particularly when it comes to storylines for gay characters. Right now we're awash in gay marriage, gay adoption and bullying stories. But HIV/AIDS has almost completely fallen off the radar as a TV subject. That's too bad, because young, sexually active gay men could definitely use some positive (in both senses) role models in popular culture…and a reminder that testing, disclosure, safer sex and treatment are vital.
Leave it to some puppets to rise to the occasion. Logo and Avenue Q recently teamed up for a series of PSAs. The first two spots feature characters Ricky and Rod. Ricky is positive and Rod negative and, like most gay men in the real world, the two have to navigate HIV status in a dating situation.
Here's the first spot…
The PSA might be humorous in tone, but tackling the "What's Your Status" question with a partner is something every sexually active person needs to know how to do. Hats off to Rod and Ricky for taking on this subject when no one else on TV seems to want to go near it.
Perhaps more commendable is the second spot, which is framed like a behind-the-scenes video. Where the first spot offers a sort of idealized script for discussing HIV status with a partner, the second spot addresses the insecurities many HIV positive people would have in making that disclosure.
Again, this is not something that is being portrayed elsewhere on television these days. It should be-- with live characters. It's not as if puppets are the most at-risk population for HIV/AIDS.
Find out more about the Puppet Service Announcements on Logo here.
