AID Atlanta will launch the “From Where I Stand” campaign this Friday, April 20, at the Evolution Project.

“From Where I Stand” is a social marketing campaign that will target younger African-American gay men to increase “positive identity development” and to decrease the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.

AID Atlanta hopes the campaign will encourage young African-American men to become more involved in the fight against the epidemic.

Recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention show an increase in HIV rates in African-American men who have sex with men.

Some 61 percent of new HIV infections in the U.S. are among gay and bisexual men, although this population accounts for only 2 percent of the country’s population, according to the CDC. Among black gay and bisexual men, the numbers are even more dire, with the CDC reporting a 48 percent increase in new HIV infections ages 13-29 between 2006-2009.

At current infection rates, one in 16 African-American men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime, and one in 32 African-American women will contract the virus.

“The harsh reality is that today, even in the face of great hope and promise, African-American communities continue to be devastated by HIV,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention earlier this year.

“Although only 14 percent of the U.S. population, African-Americans account for almost half of those living and dying with HIV and AIDS in this country."

For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/events/188366324606612/