In February, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) reported that a billboard campaign supporting the homosexual lifestyle had appeared in the Capitol Region. The “I Am Gay" advertising campaign features billboards that depict young African-American males and include slogans such as “I Am Gay, And This Is Where I Stay,” “I Am Gay, And This Is Where I Play,” and “I Am Gay, And This Is Where I Pray.”

As a result of a NYCF Action Alert, hundreds of emails flooded into both the Department of Health and the Governor’s office. Those e-mails prompted a response from Dan O’Connell of the AIDS Institute.

According to recent correspondence from Mr. O'Connell, this advertising campaign has been conducted using $50,000 in federal funds that were funneled through the New York State Department of Health.

Purportedly the ad campaign was designed to combat sexually-transmitted diseases in the African-American community, but NYCF believes this campaign could actually be counterproductive. It is undeniable that there is a strong link between HIV infection and same-sex behavior among men in the State of New York. Any efforts by the Department of Health to reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases should frankly acknowledge this connection rather than downplay it. The promotion of same-sex behavior through a campaign such as this one could encourage risky behaviors and lead to more instances of HIV infection, both inside and outside the African-American community.

On March 8, NYCF sent a letter to New York State Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah sharing these concerns. NYCF respectfully suggested that the Department of Health re-evaluate the "I Am Gay" advertising campaign and refrain from facilitating similar campaigns in the future.

To read the full text of the letter, please click here.