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Samran Takant opened Violet Home in 2003.
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Out loud and proud in Chiang Mai
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
Daily Xpress, Chiang Mai
Published on May 2, 2008
HIV-positive gay men too ashamed to seek treatment are being encouraged to boost their self-esteem by volunteers at the Violet Home in Chiang Mai.
Volunteers will give essential information on the disease and on safe-sex practice. They help infected gay men get comprehensive treatment and care. Gay-rights activist Samran Takant founded the project. He says new infections in Chiang Mai have increased from 15.3 per cent in 2005 to 16.9 per cent last year. He blames this on unsafe sex and a lack of information, adding that not only are new infections rising, so is the social stigma. "That's why we founded this project: to help gay men access treatment," he says. To reduce risky behaviour and help gay men get treatment, volunteers refer them to appropriate services and provide support.
XTRA
At a glance >> 1.1 million Thais live with HIV/Aids and 50 per cent of the sufferers die. >> Only 130,000 patients have access to anti-retrovirals.
>> A quarter of the sufferers are gay men.
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