Tag: PrEP

In this era of the HIV epidemic, talking saves lives. It pierces stigma and turns ordinary conversation into something lifesaving. Daniel Driffin, an Atlanta-based HIV activist and project manager with the international nonprofit the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, talks a lot. Armed with a PhD in public heath, he speaks on expert advisory panels and directly to people with HIV—both online and in person. In 2025, ongoing dialogue became more critical than ever.

Georgia law hasn’t caught up to science. For people living here with HIV, consensual sex can still lead to felony charges. An Atlanta writer shares his concerns and why it's time for change.

For years, Georgia has been near the top of states with the highest rates of HIV/AIDS cases. In parts of Atlanta and the metro region, rates are as much as eight times the national average, and researchers say they rival levels found in some developing countries.

“A lot of gay men were uncomfortable with the growing availability of PrEP because they felt it would increase promiscuity,” says AIDS activist Michael Baker. In fact, almost as soon as Truvada was endorsed by the CDC for HIV prevention two years ago, stories appeared in national media about a “slut-shaming” backlash within the gay community against the drug’s users.