A seminal public service announcement (PSA) targeting Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) transgender women will be released on December 1, 2008, in honor of the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day. The spot is produced by The Banyan Tree Project, a national campaign dedicated to reducing HIV-related stigma in A&PI communities, and will air locally, nationally, and online.

The PSA is the first of its kind to specifically address transgender women-particularly in the A&PI community-who are at higher risk for HIV infection and face discrimination for being transgender, of color, or both. Discrimination and stigma affect access to HIV testing and treatment; shame prevents healthy, open discussions about safer-sex choices. This community is often overlooked, and many of the outreach and prevention programs servicing transgender women are in danger of dissolution due to state and local funding cuts. This PSA is one way to continue the dialogue with an underserved, high-risk community in this historically unprecedented economic environment.

Transgender women, as a community, are deeply affected by HIV infection rates. Nationally, studies estimate that the percentage of transgender women with HIV could be as high as 27.7%; in San Francisco, that number is as high as 48%. Two different 2004 studies conducted in San Francisco estimated that up to 27% of A&PI transgender women have HIV, 20% had unprotected sex with their partners, and 50% had sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol (and substance use increases the likelihood of HIV transmission).

To address these issues, local luminary and activist Tita Aida; model, singer, and winner of Catwalk 2008, Asia Vitale; and Asian & Pacific Islander Transgender Empowerment program peer leader Erica Raney, filmed the first A&PI transgender-focused PSA. The script reads, "I am in control of who I am and how I live my life. As Asian & Pacific Islander transgender women, we are at risk of getting infected with HIV. But we can change that. We can call the shots. Be in control of your health and life. Talk to your partner about using protection every time you have sex."

The PSA will air nationally on LOGO, an LGBT-centered cable channel reaching over 30 million households through digital cable carriers. Locally, the PSA will air on KRON-4, KTVU-2, KPIX-5, and KTSF-26 which exclusively airs Asian programming in multiple languages. Additionally, an online viral campaign will assure widespread internet distribution and support.

The ad is available for viewing on the Banyan Tree Project web site homepage, at http://www.banyantreeproject.org/ and available for web embed and television distribution by contacting David Stupplebeen at (415) 292-3400 x 361, or via email at das@apiwellness.org.

About A&PI Wellness Center

A&PI Wellness Center's mission is to educate, support, empower and advocate for A&PI communities, particularly A&PIs living with, or at risk for, HIV/AIDS. A&PI Wellness center is the oldest and largest nonprofit in North America focusing on sexual health and HIV/AIDS in A&PI communities. With three sites in the San Francisco Bay Area and a staff fluent in 20 languages, A&PI Wellness Center delivers programs regionally, statewide, and nationally, and collaborates with community-based organizations throughout the Asia Pacific Region. For press materials or more information go to .

Source
David Stupplebeen
Media & Communications Coordinator
Community Development & External Affairs
Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
730 Polk Street, Fourth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109

http://www.banyantreeproject.org/