I was surprised – and glad – to see firsthand how far we’ve gotten when it comes to HIV prevention.

I first learned about it in 2013. Since then, it’s impacted my approach by adding an added level of safety from current methods of prevention.

A hero is someone that understands the responsibility that comes with freedom.

I want to help educate others the best way I possibly can.

By encouraging an open channel of communication and knowledge between peers. You cannot open a book without learning something.

First, talk to your doctor, but also consider opinions from other legitimate sources.

“Wow!” was my first reaction. It is a true scientific breakthrough with so much potential to change the story of HIV, just as the introduction of the first antiretroviral medications did years ago. Until now, the fight has been focused on treating HIV, and we’ve made miraculous fronts on that end. This is the first time a major stride towards prevention of HIV has been made within the medical community, and I cannot wait to see the benefits – socially and medically – it will offer all sexually active persons, regardless of serostatus.

I learned about PrEP shortly after the media began to talk about the promising, yet controversial, results of the iPREX trial, and the FDA approval of Truvada for this purpose. At that time, I spoke in depth with a wonderful friend and mentor who is a primary care physician with special interest in HIV and LGBT health. He certainly influenced my decision to not only start the medication and take control of my sexual health, but also feel confident in being an advocate for the use of PrEP.

A hero is anyone who shows courage in the face of adversity. You can be a hero for yourself or for others, with the smallest deed to the biggest accomplishment. Most importantly, everyone can be a hero in their own way. Normally I try to avoid cliches, but everyone needs a little Mariah Carey in their life, and I trust her when she sings, “a hero lies in you."

There are two main reasons why advocating for PrEP is important to me. First and foremost, I believe in its potential. Its potential to fight the stigma posed on HIV-Positive men and women, to empower sexually active men and women to take control of their own health, and to reduce or even eliminate the spread of HIV. Secondly, PrEP is in desperate need of advocates. Unlike many medical breakthroughs and preventative strategies, PrEP, and its users, faced criticism from the beginning. People who used the medication are stigmatized and stereotyped, rather than supported for taking steps to protect the health of themselves and their communities. This is wrong, and history has taught us that the only way to combat this is by openly expressing support for PrEP, and giving it the positive voice it deserves.

I think PrEP is a great start. Many of these stigmas associated with HIV come from a place of fear that is rooted in the frightening history of the disease. There are plenty of other STIs out there, but they don't carry the same stigma because they do not have the same consequences. I think this stigma has already improved dramatically with effective treatment for HIV and the understanding of the "undetectable" status, but we have a long way to go. For now, the focus needs to be on delivering messages about HIV prevention and sexual health in a positive light, instead of a scary one. By doing so, we can move away from separating communities by serostatus, and instead focus on bringing them together to keep everyone healthy.

I would advise them to educate themselves about the medication as best as they can. Whether that means talking to friends who are using it, or reading about in on *reliable* websites, try to get the answers to all the questions you have. It is of course preferable to see a physician who is knowledgeable about PrEP, but not everyone has access to this type of provider. It is important, especially as PrEP is still relatively new, to be your own advocate when you feel PrEP is right for you.

I was surprised and intrigued. It inspired hope that we are getting closer each day to a full-on cure.

A hero is someone who defies normal limitations in order to serve the community around them. Heroes are harbingers of social justice, equity, and transcendent truth. They prevail in purveying goodness and kindness, while demonstrating selflessness and strength. Heroes, although ordinary in form, show extraordinary character and are willing to challenge ideas, customs, and social hegemony in their efforts to introduce auspicious realities and shift paradigms to bring hope to all people.

I believe that people are empowered with knowledge, and that knowledge can only be attained via education. As a PrEP Hero, I hope to inspire others to learn more about PrEP’s “power” and benefits. I want people to know that they, too, can transcend the norm and live above life’s limitations.

It’s all about cultivating paradigm-shifting conversations. In essence, we have to promote TRUE HIV awareness, which isn’t about “sickness”. True awareness gives people an understanding of what HIV really is, including the impact modern medicine has had on the treatment and prevention of it. Our language also has to change, so that we can stop ascribing denigrating terms to people who have HIV. Let’s develop a syntax that empowers people who have HIV while honoring them as people. No one is a pariah. Everyone can be a hero.

Understand that this treatment is meant to further responsible sexual practices, and that it should be used by someone who is at risk of infection. PrEP is not a cure, but it is a gateway towards bridging people on each end of the HIV spectrum. PrEP kicks down barriers between those who are HIV-positive and HIV-negative, allowing us to develop affirming relationships with partners we would not have felt liberated to bond with sexually prior to PrEP’s existence.

I learned about PrEP during the trials at the University of Pennsylvania. I had a few friends that participated and were very vocal about the benefits. I was happy to hear about something that could help stop the spread of HIV in all communities, especially the ones I was part of. I was very glad that another option was soon to become available to prevent HIV.

When it became available, I started PrEP after a few conversations with my healthcare provider and decided it would be a smart addition to my current sexual health routine. The approach to HIV prevention has stayed constant throughout my life, through routine testing, preventative measures, and informed decisions.

A hero can be something different at various occasions, or calls to duty, but generally I see it as someone who has displayed courage and integrity to go above what is normally expected. From Marines to Moms, everyone has the capacity to become a hero.

Being a part of the PrEP Hero campaign was important because it was an opportunity to show diversity in communities where HIV and LGBT intersect. I am a man who is queer and trans, and I wanted the chance for other trans men who have sex with other men who may be considering PrEP to know they aren’t alone. I have a variety of tastes in genders, including gay and bisexual men, and a campaign like this is exposed to many of those men in NYC, making it the perfect opportunity to show that bodies of all gender expressions can be visible, informed, and sexy. All kinds of men can be PrEP superheroes, and superhoes can be quite hot!

We can stop throwing stones from glass houses. I have heard way too many people stigmatize behaviors believed to be prevalent in the HIV/AIDS and HIV-Positive community that may actually mirror behaviors in their own, which comes from a lack of information.

Don’t let PrEP run your sex life, let YOU run your sex life on PrEP. It’s a safety belt for HIV, but you can still go crashing through the metaphorical windshield of other STIs if you throw caution to the wind. I would say evaluate your sexual practices, and if PrEP feels like something you should do, do it. I would recommend what I do for myself: routine STI testing and whatever preventative combinations (including PrEP and condoms) works for their life.

I was in awe that they created such a medication.

I learned about PrEP about a year ago from social media. It has educated me more about HIV and how it can and cannot be transmitted.

A hero is someone that is willing to do the hard job for the greater good. They are selfless.

Someone needs to be the face of this movement and show the community that this is a personal issue.

Give the public a face to put to the movement towards a cure. It makes the issue more personal so it doesn't feel so scary.

Do your research. And it's your own personal choice. Listen to your doctor. Other people will have opinions as well but what matters is what you want. Not them.