By Sam Skopp
As part of Venice Pride’s annual celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month, APAIT, a nonprofit that provides free HIV testing and health services, took over Venice’s Muscle Beach Saturday, June 3 to promote its “Status is Sexy” campaign, aimed at ending HIV-related stigma, and promoting sexual health.
“[Status is Sexy] is a social marketing campaign that’s aimed at ending HIV-related stigma, particularly among communities of color,” said Peter Cruz, the Associate Director of APAIT. “This is our community event to launch and raise awareness of the campaign.”
APAIT had a mobile testing unit on site, providing free HIV tests throughout the day, and gave out safe sex kits. They also brought a DJ and dancers to the Muscle Beach stage.
In addition to APAIT, a number of other nonprofit organizations were present at the event to promote various other causes. API Equality-LA, for example, is a group that promotes the rights of LGBTQ members of Asian and Pacific Islander communities that was present at the event.
“Right now we’re focused on immigration rights,” said API Equality-LA Steering Committee Member Evelyn Shieh. At their booth, a photo campaign invited event goers to write down what they thought to be the importance of immigrant rights on a paper with a hashtag on it, and post a photo of it online.
Additionally, representatives of the RESIST march promoted their upcoming march on June 11, and the Trans-Latin@ Coalition promoted rights of transgender Latina and Latino individuals.
Gretta Moreno, who was volunteering with the Trans-Latin@ Coalition, explained that the organization helps provide rent to those released from incarceration, as well as lunches during the week, and clothing and medical attention for those who need it.
For more information about APAIT and their various health services, visit apaitonline.org.
