CAMP Safe:  

We have all been in the situation where a handsome man walks by and catches your eye. You want to talk to him but think he is too beautiful to approach. You probably have a nice little conversation with yourself like you have a hundred times before. You tell yourself "just do it."

And like you have learned before, unless you "just do it," you will never know if he is as interested in you as you are in him. You will tell yourself: "What have I got to lose?" and of course, a variety of other thoughts run through your mind.

Summer is here again. It’s time to see those beautiful men on the beach, in the bars, on the boardwalk and hopefully a little closer to home; like in your arms! It is also that time of year again for something else very special: National HIV testing day on June 27. For the past 8 years, testing day has been a way to encourage individuals to know their HIV status. Having a test takes away the anxiety of not knowing.

Currently, the biggest problem facing the US now is people who are HIV+ and don’t know it—either because they don’t get tested regularly or they don’t think they are at risk. Then there are those that would rather live in denial or who are just too scared to deal with the realities of being diagnosed with HIV. Many gay men think they could be HIV+ but have chosen not to test—often making that decision based on incorrect information about HIV, or fear about what happens to you once you test positive. If you have HIV, all the evidence suggests that you are better off knowing it, and the sooner you test, the better. Knowing your HIV status allows you to make informed decisions about the sex you have.

Obviously a negative result offers you no guarantees for the future. So whatever the result of the test, you need to think carefully about the sex that you have and avoid sharing needles and injecting equipment. While we offer testing at CAMP just about any time you need it,

June 27 is the day every year when we stress the importance of HIV testing and counseling.

Hit the beach this year with a whole lot more than a beautiful body, great tan, and the perfect suit. Hit the beach this year equipped with knowledge. Know your status. Know how to be safe. It is important to know your status and we recommend getting tested regularly. Some people choose monthly, most a little less often. We recommend every six months but make sure you get tested. To make your life a little easier, we offer free and anonymous HIV testing.

Many of you handsome men out there do not know your status. Testing is free, anonymous and painless. No needles are used so there are no pokes or pricks. All we have to do is put a swab in your mouth and then we send it off to the lab to get the results. You get your results in two weeks. Painless!

So, just like when you see that beautiful man walk past you and say to yourself, "just do it…what have you got to lose." Just do it…get tested! What have you got to lose? Nothing! In fact you have a lot of powerful stuff to gain…KNOWLEDGE. And we all know that knowledge is power. Get tested in a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment. Just do it!

We have a whole lot of other suggestions just like this one that makes being safe sexy, smart, and fun, and once you know your status, we can help you practice discussing status with your partners so that both of you can make informed decisions and use that knowledge to make informed decisions about your safety and pleasure.

Come see us. Just do it!