Radio talent joins HIV campaign
Gay radio identity Dean Beck has joined a national movement combating HIV stigma in Australia, alongside Olympic silver medalist Ji Wallace. Beck was appointed as an ambassador to the online awareness ENUF campaign which has focused on collecting stories of HIV stigma and educating the wider community on the barriers faced by people living with HIV.
Beck presents the popular Hide & Seek weekly program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 FM and has been a vocal LGBTI rights supporter and advocate. Beck said he saw his role as an ENUF ambassador as someone who could raise community awareness about HIV.
“Some of my best friends were HIV positive,” he said.
“Unfortunately they are no longer with us, their life derailed by a HIV diagnosis and the stigma and discrimination that came with it.
“It has got to stop and the beginning of the end is talking about HIV.”
Beck, who is HIV-negative, said people presumed he was positive since he was so vocal about HIV and the issues affecting HIV-positive people.
“HIV is something we must talk about openly, clearly and honestly,” he said.
“Being scared to discuss it reinforces the shame and stigma that currently exists in the lives of those living with HIV.”
Living Positive Victoria executive officer Brent Allen told the Star Observer Beck was an incredibly popular broadcaster and had an enormous following in Melbourne.
“From day one upon hearing about the campaign he was supportive,” Allen said.
“He provided background advice on engaging media… [and] on how to get the message out there. He’s already been the ambassador, let’s just acknowledge it.”
Allen said HIV-negative ambassadors were pivotal to the campaign.
“I really applaud him speaking up about how HIV stigma has affected his life because he’s not living with HIV and he is open about that but he still believes heavily in that this is diminishing all of us in our community,” Allen said.
Allen also added that the campaign could have some more high-profile names, but would not hint as to who.
“With Ji Wallace leading the pack, there’s lots of people now who are just saying ‘I want to join that too.’”
The ENUF campaign was launched at the Australasian HIV Conference last month in Melbourne but was announced in Washington D.C. in July at the International AIDS Conference.
