GLBT Youth Respond to Increasing HIV Rates

The National Youth Advocacy Coalition responded today to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest report indicating that there are an estimated 40% more people living with HIV in the United States than previously thought. These new figures were gathered by the CDC using improved technology and methodology. The CDC’s report shows the largest population representing new HIV infection were young people aged 29 and under, indicating that existing pubic education efforts surrounding HIV prevention must be updated to be more relevant and effective at reaching youth as well as increased in breadth and depth to reach this demographic.

“The National Youth Advocacy Coalition applauds the CDC for providing the most accurate information on the status of our country’s HIV epidemic, but we are extremely concerned about the implications of these new numbers,” said Greg Varnum, NYAC’s acting executive director. “These latest figures clearly show that Americans aged 29 and under are not adequately or effectively engaged by existing methods of public education around HIV prevention and the importance of HIV testing. In this electronic era of MySpace, Facebook, Sidekicks and text messaging, NYAC will be taking a leading role in delivering public health messages to Gen Y through the technologies they use everyday.”

Read more at nyacyouth.org.