A conservative group has launched a campaign opposing an advertisement that raises awareness of the HIV prevention drug PrEP, despite it not mentioning sex, HIV or the LGBTQ+ community.
The clip in question, known as “PrEP Wisdom”, is funded by ViiV Healthcare and stars RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage. In the 35-second commercial, Visage explains various questions that patients considering using PrEP might have for their doctors.
When they launched the advertisement at the start of June, Viiv Healthcare said in a statement that the intention of the spot is to “empower people to make informed decisions about long-acting injectable (LAI) HIV prevention, beyond the dosing schedules.”
It is estimated that 2.2 million people in the United States could benefit from using PrEP, which significantly reduces the likelihood of contracting HIV through sexual contact. It is estimated that around 25% of that number are currently using it.
The Conservative Christian group One Million Moms, however, believes the advertisement is inappropriate to run on the largely sitcom-based television channel TV Land.
The group is calling on its members to “urge TV Land to no longer air PrEP Wisdom ads.”
In a statement posted to their website, OMM argues that TV Land is “a Paramount-affiliated network commonly known for providing nostalgic, wholesome, and familiar comedy shows without the need for edgy programming” and that the channel “steps out of line with current ads for PrEP Wisdom.”
The group went on to criticize the inclusion of a spokesperson known for their work on RuPaul’s Drag Race, arguing that it is “no surprise that many of those ads include transgender and cross-dressing individuals.” Visage is neither transgender nor cross-dressing.
OMM’s petition asking TV Land to pull the advertisement from its network so far has over 8,000 signatures.
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In a statement at the time the commercial was launched, Visage spoke about the importance of raising awareness and increasing access to these potentially life-saving drugs.
“HIV prevention is not one-size-fits-all, and injectable PrEP options are not the same. Everyone’s day-to-day life, needs, and comfort level are different,” said Visage.
She continued: “Real empowerment around sexual health and well-being includes having ‘PrEP Wisdom’ and knowing about the available options, including the differences in long-acting injectable PrEP beyond the dosing schedule, so you can work with your doctor to determine what may work best for you.”
The Independent has approached Visage for further comment.