Self-identified gay men in Connecticut make up a growing percentage of new HIV infection cases, an alarming trend over the last decade that's forcing AIDS activists to get creative.
Shawn Lang said that in the earlier days of the AIDS epidemic, there were lots of different places bringing the LGBT community together.
"We used to be able to go to bars and hand out condoms, and give people information on where to get tested," said Lang, deputy director at AIDS Connecticut, an outreach group for people living with HIV or AIDS. "Over the past 30 years, those social hubs have dwindled and there's not like a centralized gay community or LGBT community."
Lang said that today, the LGBT community is more fragmented, arranging dates through sites like Craigslist or through dating apps -- which is contributing to an alarming trend in HIV infections.
While overall rates of new infection among people who test for HIV are down, percentages among men who report having sex with other men are way up -- more than doubling over a ten year span.
Julia Telfer, director of prevention at AIDS Connecticut, said the rise of dating apps has complicated traditional outreach efforts and now, she does a lot of her outreach online.
"We have a profile up there that says 'two guys one van,' and it just details the services that we offer," said Telfer, referencing an AIDS Connecticut Craigslist post for services like their mobile testing initiative.
"Oftentimes we'll just get a curious question at first. Like, 'Tell me more about what you guys are doing,'" she said.
Telfer said that gives AIDS Connecticut an 'in' to start a conversation and educate people about their sexual health.
"I consider it a success any time we reach out to somebody and provide any piece of education or just plant the seed for the future," she said.
Ultimately this might inspire some people to come in to have a face-to-face conversation -- where educators can sit down, assess risk levels, and, hopefully, reverse the growing proportion of gay men getting newly diagnosed with HIV.
