Overview: What is the ‘PrEP Wise’ campaign and why is actor Jeremy Pope advocating for it?
The “PrEP Wise” campaign is an educational public health initiative designed to eliminate stigma around sexual health and encourage wider adoption of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a preventive medication that significantly reduces the risk of acquiring HIV. Actor Jeremy Pope has joined the campaign as a lead advocate to confront deep-seated disparities: despite Black Americans representing nearly 40% of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the United States while making up just 12% of the population, only a fraction utilize PrEP due to lack of information, medical distrust, and social stigma. By integrating high-fashion visual storytelling that pays homage to queer trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson, Pope emphasizes that sexual health is fundamental health, urging everyone to speak openly with their healthcare providers, understand their prevention options, and move from fear into proactive personal agency
Emmy and Tony-Nominated Star Blends High Fashion with Radical Advocacy to Break Down Health Stigma and Expand HIV Prevention in Black Communities
Medications like pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, can nearly eliminate the risk of acquiring HIV. But only a fraction of Black Americans use it.
Despite advanced medical treatments nearly eliminating the risks of acquiring HIV and dying of AIDS, the epidemic continues — and disproportionately within the Black community.
According to the latest statistics, almost 40,000 new cases of HIV are diagnosed each year. Black Americans accounted for nearly 40% of those cases in 2023, despite consisting of just 12% of the U.S. population.
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Treatments such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, can almost eliminate the risk of acquiring the virus. But many of those who would benefit most from taking traditional PrEP, a daily pill — or the newer, long-acting injectable PrEP administered only twice a year — aren’t taking it.
ViiV Healthcare’s GetPrEP Wisdom campaign helps raise awareness of the new medicines and to explain the differences between PrEP options. The goal is to empower individuals to talk with their healthcare professionals, loved ones and communities.
Celebrated actor and singer Jeremy Pope recently joined the campaign. Known for his stellar performances that have garnered him nominations for Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy and Tony awards nominations, Pope has long viewed style — from the stage to the red carpet — as a powerful form of self-expression and visibility. He has brought that sensibility to the campaign by appearing in the campaign and styling the fashions that were photographed.
Pope spoke with Word In Black to discuss his work as an artist who “centers community and creating space for us all to feel seen,” and how this campaign lets him extend that advocacy to sexual health.
#PrEPWise #JeremyPope #HealthEquity
