You may have seen the Get REAL outreach boys in Philadelphia bars, clubs, LGBTQ events, or in your neighborhood- sporting their blue t-shirts and handing out condoms. You may have even seen Get REAL posters and fliers in coffee houses, restaurants, gyms and even public restrooms! Hopefully, you picked up our brightly colored flier and read the story about a young man and checked out www.getrealphilly.org and added us as your friend on www.myspace.com/getrealphilly!

If not, the luck of the stars is on your side! PhillyGayCalendar has been gracious enough to give us a space on their already highly informative LGBTQ centered website. We are actively promoting and displaying Get REAL Philly – an exciting new outreach project for young men!

Get REAL Philly is a community-based project coordinated by Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and Mazzoni Center. The themes of these stories range from sex and drug use, coming out, relationships, and community issues. Through the use of peer-based stories, we hope to promote frank discussions about HIV, safer sex, drug use, health and wellness issues of young gay and bisexual men in Philadelphia. Our goal is to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by helping men in our community connect, relate, and support each other. We want your involvement-share your story to help make a difference.

Our first story is about Rashan, a young man who talks to us about his “gay family.” While Rashan depends on this family to discuss sex and risky behavior, others may discuss private topics with doctors, counselors, co-workers, and friends.

If you would like to share your story, please contact us at 877.557.3251 or info.getREALphilly@gmail.com.

Stay tuned for more to come from Get REAL Philly!