"Get Tested" Campaign

Background
Divisive politics, social stigma, and personal shame continue to be barriers to ending the transmission of HIV/AIDS. HIV is not a disease of any particular group or individual. It is a human disease, and until the public takes action and gets tested, it will continue to adversely impact our society. The City of Los Angeles is taking concrete steps to increase awareness and promote testing and social services for all of city's residents.

Target Audiences
All of the diverse residents of Los Angeles, particularly the African American, Latino, Asian, women, and transgender communities.

Objective
To remind every resident of Los Angeles who is sexually active or has shared needles that he/she should commit to getting educated, getting involved and getting tested.

Implementation
The "Get Tested" campaign was developed for the City AIDS Coordinator's office to draw attention to the disease while emphasizing the importance of HIV testing among the diverse populations of Los Angeles. The first phase of the campaign is comprised of six billboards, each addressing a different community, placed strategically around the city. Each billboard not only highlights the City's AIDS web site, but the web sites of community AIDS organizations that serve each particular group. The campaign was timed to coincide with Worlds AIDS Day, December 1, 2006, and the beginning of a community-based HIV Testing Initiative coordinated by the City.

Results
The campaign has stimulated positive collaboration among all of the community AIDS organizations and the City and better coordination of their testing efforts. Visits to all of the community websites will be tracked. Those results are yet to be determined.

Principals Involved: Toyomi Igus Simon and Tony Pinto