Selection Signals Bold New Communications Strategy in the Coming Year
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| Dr. George Ayala and Jack Mackenroth |
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV
(MSMGF) appointed HIV activist Jack Mackenroth as its new Senior Communications
Officer. Jack will be responsible for implementing the MSMGF’s communications
strategy and for ensuring the agency’s brand recognition. In addition, he will maintain the agency’s
commitment to global information exchange and knowledge translation, helping to
ensure that advocates and stakeholders working for the health and human rights
of men who have sex with men are well supported to continue their respective
work.
As a gay man living openly with
HIV for over 25 years, Jack is acutely aware of the challenges faced by our
communities, including the toll taken by consistent experiences of stigma,
discrimination, violence and criminalization. Jack also understands the
opportunities that come with recent advancements in the areas of prevention and
treatment.
“It’s an exciting time within the
HIV community”, notes Mackenroth. "For one, the rapid adoption of PrEP as HIV
prevention is the most revolutionary development in the HIV arena since the
advent of protease inhibitors. It will have astonishing ramifications regarding
transmission, stigma and countless dialogues about HIV. I’m thrilled to be a
part of such an amazing organization at the precipice of so much global
progress and innovation.”
Jack has been involved with
several media campaigns designed to raise awareness and combat stigma and
discrimination faced by individuals living with HIV. For several years he was
the spokesperson for the HIV education campaign, Living Positive by Design. He
was the creative force behind the anti-stigma campaign, HIV Equal. Most
recently he conceptualized and launched the HIV Shower Selfie Challenge with
the hashtag #weareALLclean on World AIDS Day 2014, which went globally viral in
multiple countries.
“We are excited and honored to
have Jack join the MSMGF team”, said MSMGF Executive Director, Dr. George
Ayala. “Jack is a tireless advocate who
is a role model and inspiration to gay and bisexual men everywhere.” Prior to
Jack’s appointment at MSMGF, he served as Media Strategist for Housing Works in
New York City.
The Global Forum on MSM and HIV
(MSMGF.org) is an international advocacy network devoted to ensuring equitable
access to effective HIV prevention, care, treatment and support services for
gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), including men living with
HIV, while promoting their sexual health and human rights worldwide. MSMGF
works to influence policy through: watchdogging, lobbying, and educating
governments and policy makers; conducting or commissioning research;
facilitating information exchange; and coordinating strategies through
coalitions of activists, service providers, researchers, donors and other
stakeholders. We also work to develop communities through the delivery of
technical support to front-line community-based organizations and advocates.
Media Contact:
Jack Mackenroth
510.849.6431
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is an expanding network of AIDS
organizations, MSM networks, and advocates committed to ensuring robust
coverage of and equitable access to effective HIV prevention, care, treatment,
and support services tailored to the needs of gay men and other MSM.