So I was reading this article today online about the LA Gay and Lesbian Center's new ad campaign to fight the spread of HIV. Basically, the ads say "HIV is a gay disease. Own it. End it." The goal is to target apathetic gay men, which I think is valid, but the way they're going about seems seriously flawed to me. "HIV/AIDS is a gay disease" is a stereotype that the queer community has been fighting against since the disease was discovered. It has been used as a justification for homophobia. I don't think that using language that comes out of a tradition of homophobic rhetoric is the wrong way to go. It also glosses over the ever increasing numbers of black women with AIDS today. There has to be a better way to raise awareness about HIV, for gay men and for everyone.