Free HIV testing to be offered at sex education event

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and Positive Link, a provider of prevention and social services for those affected by HIV in south central Indiana, will be host to “Love in this Club,” a free HIV testing opportunity and education event from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. today at the Back Door Club.

The event is free and open to people 21 and older.

It is inspired by the nationwide Get Yourself Tested campaign, according to a press release.

Every April during Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month the GYT campaign encourages young people to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, according to the release.

Currently, young people make up half of the patients contracting an estimated 20 million STDs every year, despite only accounting for one-quarter of the sexually
active population. One in two sexually active young people in the United States will contract an STD by the age of 25, according to the release.

This GYT event is specially geared toward the LGBT population. It will also provide information in the form of games with topics such as communication, STDs, HIV and prevention methods, and prizes will be awarded, according to the release.

“This event is designed to encourage conversations between partners that will help them make healthy sexual decisions by helping them feel comfortable discussing subjects that may be difficult or awkward,” Jasmine Utterback, a Planned Parenthood educator, said in the release. “The ultimate goal of the event is to encourage participants to get in the know and make sexual health a priority.”

Free rapid-results HIV testing will be provided by Positive Link, a program of IU Health Bloomington Hospital Community Health. The Back Door is located at 207 S.
College Ave.

As part of GYT month, the PPINK Bloomington Health Center is one of 18 statewide that will have free STD testing opportunities April 18 and April 25. More information is available at ppink.org.