January 4, 2018 – AltaMed’s English and Spanish telenovela webseries Sin Vergüenza (Without Shame) was developed to address a range of topics surrounding HIV in the Latino community overcoming stigma, seeking STD testing, treatment, behavioral health services, and violence. Earlier seasons encouraged viewers to seek HIV testing, promoted HIV medical care, treatment and the use of prevention methods including PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and the impact of HIV on a family. The third season returns to address themes that are also heavily stigmatized but with an HIV lens including alcoholism, homophobia, and transphobia.

Natalie Sanchez and Hilda Sandoval from AltaMed discussed the process of developing an HIV social marketing campaign that is relevant and accessible to Latinos across multiple generations. They also addressed how the telenovela can be a channel to address the social determinants which are identified in the Los Angeles County HIV/AIDS Strategy 2020 and Beyond.  Ramon Garcia also spoke on the social impact of the series, breaking down the metrics and the reach of the videos and their goals with this new season. With the success of season’s one and two, Sanchez talked more about the use of entertaining content to increase awareness on HIV-related issues such as the ones they focused on in Season 3.

The colloquium finished up with a panel featuring the AltaMed team as well as Actor J.M. Longoria who plays Enrique Salazar and Actress Joanna Zoella who plays Christina Salazar who gave an in depth look at what it was like to play these characters and to meet people who were have watched the series.

You can download the flyer and presentation power point below and watch the full Colloquium presentation on YouTube!

No Stigma, No Shade, No Shame! Addressing Life, Love, Sex, and HIV Through Digital Media - Flyer
No Stigma, No Shade, No Shame: Addressing Life, Love, Sex and HIV Through Digital Media - Slides

CHIPTS hosts a monthly HIV Research and Community Colloquia Series in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV to highlight current issues and conversations surrounding HIV. Click here for past lectures and check out the events page for more information on future Colloquia presentations!