World AIDS Day #IAmPositive
For Immediate Release
December 1, 2015
Contact: John Yates, National Director of Philanthropy and Community Affairs
Email: [email protected]
#IAmPositive launched by Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. on World AIDS Day!
Hoboken, N.J. – World AIDS Day is observed every 1st of December in order to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Since the early 80’s, work has been done to educate, reduce risk, and ultimately find a cure for a disease that has claimed and continues to affect so many lives. Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. (LSU) has been involved in this work since 1989, when Founding Father Alberto Rivera passed away due to complications brought on by AIDS.
“We focus on education, risk reduction, and ultimately the cure,” says LSU National Director of Philanthropy and Community Affairs, John Yates. “Indeed, this is important work, however, we need to begin to create a culture where it is okay to talk about one’s status. The stigma that still exists in relation to HIV perpetuates a culture of fear and silencing. In doing so, people who are HIV+ are afraid of disclosing their status and people who are HIV- are afraid of getting tested.”
In an effort to address this, LSU continues to provide programming that creates safe, sex positive, spaces to both its membership and the community it serves. In doing so, not only are we raising awareness but also providing an opportunity to engage in conversations about living with HIV.
For World AIDS Day, however, LSU challenges its supporters to take to their social media platforms and engage followers in “de-stigmatizing” HIV. The goal is to have supporters post using the hashtag #IAmPositive followed by an affirmation. “We have to reclaim the word ‘positive’,” says John Yates. “In doing so, we hope to show solidarity with those who are living with HIV as well as promote a culture where being HIV+ is no longer taboo.”
LSU encourages it’s supported to engage in sex positive conversations with their partners where there is open communication about sexual health at all times. LSU also emphasizes the significance of knowing one’s status. To find a testing center near you please visit: www.AIDS.gov.
SOURCE: Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc.
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Founded on April 5th, 1979 at Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity is the most culturally diverse Greek-letter organization that was founded as a Latino based fraternity. Since our inception, Lambda Sigma Upsilon has been dedicated to the support and empowerment of our communities through the goals of academic excellence, cultural awareness and diversity, community leadership, and a strong brotherhood. Lambda Sigma Upsilon is a recognized member of both the North-American Inter-Fraternity Conference (NIC) and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) with over 60 chapters across the United States. For more information visit: www.lsu79.org.
