The Damien Center — an Indianapolis nonprofit dedicated to fighting HIV and AIDS — will offer HIV prevention medication for the first time at this year's Indy Pride.
The medication, as well as HIV testing, will be available June 13 at Military Park. Eligible people will receive a two week supply of medication that day and can continue receiving ongoing care from the Damien Center.
President and CEO Alan Witchey said it’s important for people to know their status. Testing will come first.
"This is really a two-step process for us. Let’s find out if you are HIV positive. If you are, you can get into medical care right away. If you are HIV negative, you can get on PrEP right away,” Witchey said.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is an oral pill for people who do not have HIV. It is taken once a day. PrEP reduces the chance of contracting HIV from sexual activity by about 99% and from injection drug use by at least 74%.
The Damien Center said many insurance programs cover the medication, but if people do not have insurance or need financial assistance, the organization can help them.
"If people have been worried they couldn’t afford PrEP, or that they just couldn’t have the time to get it, this is a great way to start,” Witchey said.
These services offered at the festival are an extension of the organization’s existing services and can be accessed any time outside of Indy Pride.
“We’re very excited to offer this new option,” said Witchey, “at a time when, you know, health care has been reduced across the country and across the state.”
The rate of new HIV incidents in Marion County increased from 18.8 per 100,000 people in 2018 to 31.7 in 2024, according to state data.
Contact WFYI Data Journalist Zak Cassel at zcassel@wfyi.org
