New Zealand's team of new Safe Sex Poster Boys have made appearances in several gay nightclubs and camping spots over the summer holiday time, and are due to appear in several print ads in coming weeks.
'Sportsman' Liam Moir, 'Boy Next Door' Josh Chapman and 'Businessman' Scott McDonald distributed 2,000 condom packs at Vinegar Hill gay campsite in the lower North Island over Christmas and New Years, doing a round of every tent each night. Bear/Leatherman Roger Moore distributed condoms at Urge's New Year's Eve party, and several poster boys have been on stage at K' Road's Family nightclub on their busy nights in early January.
All six boys have posed in front of the camera - in various states of dress and undress - for print advertisements which will appear in LGBT publications in coming weeks - including Auckland's official HERO Festival Guidebook, to be distributed in gay venues next week.
All six poster boys will join drag hostess Buckwheat on Air New Zealand's Pink Flight to Sydney's Mardi Gras Parade and party in March. Their prize package for winning their nightclub heats and securing the most votes online also includes two nights accommodation in Sydney.
"The aim of Safe Sex Poster Boy is to involve communities of gay and bisexual men in developing their own peer-led safe sex campaigns," explains New Zealand AIDS Foundation media liaison Christopher Banks, "and to reinforce condom culture among gay and bisexual men in New Zealand, in recognition of rising rates of HIV."
The poster boy team will also be giving out condoms and appearing on stage at Auckland's Big Gay Out day in Coyle Park on Sunday 10 February.
