Minnesota AIDS Project has worked to prevent new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) since the epidemic came to Minnesota in 1983.  The PrideAlive program is designed to create a community of gay and bisexual men who maintain and advocate for health-promoting choices for themselves, peers and community affected by HIV, by confronting social issues including homophobia, HIV/STD prevention and health disparities.  The target audience for PrideAlive are MSM who are at high risk for HIV and STDs. MAP emphasizes reaching men who are 25 and over, a population that represents approximately two-thirds of the incidence of HIV in Minnesota.

The service primarily reaches white men, who represent approximately 75% of the incidence of HIV among gay and bisexual men in Minnesota. In the last 5 years, PrideAlive has reached 89,400 people through programming and community outreach. PrideAlive has held 990 educational trainings, social events, and safer sex workshops for MSM and distributed more than 100,000 condoms, lube and dental dams. In addition, 950 people have used PrideAlive’s HIV counseling, testing and referral services. PrideAlive targets the highest-risk MSM through community outreach and on the Internet. A recent focus on reaching methamphetamine using MSM has also met with some success both in community venues such as bars, clubs and community groups as well as on the internet, a venue where many meth-using MSM gather.  

PrideAlive is a multi-level intervention that aims to prevent HIV and STD infections by supporting participants’ capacities to adopt and maintain health-promoting practices, as well as their abilities to become peer leaders who shape knowledge and attitudes within their communities of influence.  PrideAlive draws from empowerment theory to create community ownership and participation.  A long-term effort is critical. Social norms cannot be changed quickly. Change occurs as a result of sustained, consistent intervention over time. 

Sexual health education and health promotion is visible in every aspect of PrideAlive’s programming: Outreach is conducted during community mobilization activities at venues frequented by MSM including bars, clubs, and community groups several nights a week. Safer sex kits are distributed, informational materials are provided, and, most importantly, personal connections are made with MSM by other MSM by engaging them in conversations about HIV prevention.  Volunteer nights are held in PrideAlive’s community space called QueerSpace each week and provide MSM the opportunity to learn more about HIV prevention and PrideAlive’s activities, as well as contribute to the health of their community. Whether it’s assembling safer sex kits, generating ideas for marketing or designing a community mobilization event, HIV prevention and health promotion are infused into every volunteer night.  Counseling, Testing and Referral are provided by PrideAlive at venues such as bars and coffee shops frequented by MSM several times a month.  

PrideAlive has two ongoing advisory groups that seek input from the community. They guide the program’s everyday activities as well as inform the program emerging risks and co-factors.  SafeR Zone is a popular, one-day safer sex workshop that provides MSM with intensive HIV and STD information, skill-building exercises around disclosure and communication in sexual relationships, and personal empowerment techniques. It’s held six times a year.   Community Mobilization Events are held by PrideAlive throughout the year. Infused with health promotion messaging, these large events help draw the MSM community into the PrideAlive program and help spread the word about the program. While social in nature, these events draw a wide cross-section of MSM communities and provide community-wide awareness of HIV and STDs.  Peer Educator Internet-based Outreach provides online communities with information and referral in internet venues where MSM meet for sex. Conducted daily during the week, PrideAlive staff and volunteers connect MSM, many of whom do not identify as gay or bisexual with referrals to needed resources. Internet-based outreach enables PrideAlive to break-down geographic and cultural barriers in the delivery of risk reduction and health promotion information.   

This is the link to our PrideAlive website -- please note that the website contains sexually explicit information targeting adult gay and bisexual men.  http://www.pridealive.org/