Montreal AIDS Community Pushes the Envelope with New Prevention Campaign
Poster for ACCM’s new Jack & Jacques project
Montreal’s sole English-language HIV/AIDS support group AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) continues to push the envelope with new pro-active HIV prevention campaigns mainly targeting men who have sex with men (MSM).
ACCM has just launched three new campaigns: ACCM+, a support group for HIV-positive youth between the ages of 16 and 29 in the region of Montreal; Kontak, a sexual health initiative that seeks to lower sexually-transmitted infections (STI) transmitted amongst participants of gay and mixed-orientation sex parties; and Jack & Jacques, a new website that promotes HIV and STI testing amongst gay and bisexual men in the region of Montreal.
ACCM+ provides a space for HIV-positive youth to meet other youths living similar experiences. “The program came about from seeing how support groups are geared towards middle-aged people,” says ACCM Communications and Special Events Assistant Jordan Coulombe. “We believe youth discovering their sexuality need an open space to discuss and share their experiences.”
The weekly group meetings are held each Friday from 5 to 9 pm at the ACCM drop-in centre (2075 Plessis Street). Each weekly meeting includes a collectively prepared meal, a discussion space, as well as presentations on topics such as disclosing one’s seropositive status, how to navigate the health care system, budgeting personal finances, cooking lessons and even creative writing and independent publishing workshops.
Find out more at www.accmplus.com.
Kontak, meanwhile, seeks to lower STI transmission amongst participants of gay and mixed-orientation sex parties by coordinating the delivery of safer sex supplies (condoms, lubricants, latex gloves etc.) and pamphlets, as well as wholesale-priced sex toys to organizers of sex parties in the region of Montreal. The Kontak outreach worker also facilitates risk reduction and safer sex information sessions during sex parties and is present to answer sex-related questions in a non-judgmental manner.
“The program started out for men who have sex with men, but it is now directed to all orientations,” says Coulombe. “We have an outreach worker who attends sex parties – he’s been to seven since December – and we’ll also deliver toys to your door!”
Find out more at accmkontak.com.
Finally, in partnership with the Direction de santĂ© publique de MontrĂ©al (DSP), ACCM has launched Jack & Jacques, an online resource that sends STI testing reminders to participants’ inboxes on a schedule established by an anonymous quiz about sexual behaviour.
“The quiz is very short, and it will then advise you how often to get tested, and where,” Coulombe explains. “It has a huge resource list of where to get tested across the Island of Montreal.”
Jack & Jacques also equips gay and bisexual men with the knowledge to understand their sex-related risks, their serological status, and prevention needs.
Find out more at www.jacketjacques.ca.
“These new ACCM projects are a concerted effort to foster openness and positivity around sexuality,” says Coulombe, adding, “It’s important that we remain pro-active to reduce STI transmission.”
Volunteer-based ACCM was founded in 1987 and remains QuĂ©bec’s only English-language community organization providing support and services to people living with HIV/AIDS. For more info, surf to www.accmontreal.org.
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