The Red Tie Project

[ 4 ] July 17, 2009 | Luvvie

Reason I thought this was appropriate for today is because I’m on my favorite blog Very Smart Brothas and there’s a thread in there that I’m all up in discussing HIV/AIDS. Then I realized that I haven’t told you all about:

In March 2009, Karyn (The Fab Giver) and I launched The Red Pump Project to help bring awareness to the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. However, as we branched out and met more and more people, we kept hearing one particular question: What are you doing for men?

Very good question. We now welcome The Red Tie Project. Much like The Red Pump Project, it will serve as a resource for local and national news and discussions related to HIV/AIDS but from a male perspective. If you would like to get more information or become involved, you can email theredtieproject@gmail.com.

Key Snapshot of the U.S. Epidemic Today

* Every 9.5 minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV
* Number of new HIV infections, 2006: 56,300
* Number of people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.1 million, including more than 468,000 with AIDS
* Number of AIDS deaths since beginning of epidemic: 583,298, including 14,561 in 2007
Percent of people infected with HIV who don’t know it: 21%

Key Statistics Regarding Men and HIV/AIDS

In 2006, men accounted for 73% of new HIV diagnoses, with 53% of cases coming from gay and bisexual men

While 67% of new male diagnosis were the result of male-to-male sexual contact, 16% of new male cases came from high-risk heterosexual contact.

Between 2001 and 2006, among males between the ages of 13 and 24, there was annual increase of 12.4 percent, compared to 1.5 percent for men overall

From 2004-2007, there was a 26% increase in HIV diagnosis amongst men who have sex with men, and a 9% increase among heterosexual males

These statistics were pulled from The Center for Disease Control’s website. You can find more information there.

The Red Tie Project will not just be focusing on issues around HIV/AIDS and MSMs (men who have sex with other men). It will be exploring the role men that men play in the epidemic as well as the impact the disease has on men and boys.

So fellas (or ladies, if you please). Wanna “Rock the Red Tie” on your blog or be involved? Shoot us an email at theredtieproject (at) gmail.com or leave a comment and info will be sent to you. Also follow The Red Tie Project on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook!

Comments (4)

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Peyso says:

July 17, 2009 at 1:45 pm

I'm interested and I'm sure the ladies over at the single sister's speak out would be also? (I am the lone male writer over there). Just to clarify, I can wear a regular tie right? They traditionally dont make bow ties above a neck size 20

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Kindred Smile says:

July 17, 2009 at 1:54 pm

Yayyy to all of this. I'm not a dude, but I love the male support

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Cheekie says:

July 17, 2009 at 5:49 pm

I have been reading up on your Red Pump Project and I have have to say I have mad respect for this project and for ya'll. Most definitely.

And what a terrific idea to add the male version. This foundation is already doing big things and I only expect it to get bigger.

Many, many, props to ya'll!

Imma shoot you an email today regarding representing the project on our blog. I saw when ya'll did this for the Red Pump and was quite pouty that I didn't see it in time to rep, but I'm all over this. Gotta call my sister and let her know.

Great job!

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Lite Bread says:

July 17, 2009 at 11:07 pm

Yer High Exellencelly Awesomelenessis,
Hummmm, middle-age whiteboy in a (red) bow tie? Uh, I think I’d end up lookin’ more like the Senator from Illinois (Chicago’s there, right? LOL!) Paul M. Simon! Geek City!!!
Sooooo, can I just rock my bright red Triathlete Speedo instead? SEGY!
In the office, lol!

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