Mexico Launches Antihomophobia Campaign in Effort To Encourage More People To Undergo HIV Testing

The Mexican government has launched an antihomophobia campaign in an effort to encourage more people to undergo HIV testing, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The campaign -- which currently is airing advertisements in 19 cities and will go nationwide this month -- originated with a 2001 constitutional amendment signed by Mexican President Vicente Fox that outlaws discrimination, including sexuality-based bias. Since 2003, federal agencies have been required to provide funding for tolerance campaigns in the country. The government hopes that reducing the stigma around homosexuality will allow more people to receive HIV testing and treatment and help control the spread of the virus in the country. In 2004, the government reported 93,979 HIV/AIDS cases. However, UNAIDS estimates there are about 160,000 HIV-positive people in the country (Campbell, Christian Science Monitor, 6/9).