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Jonathan Van Ness Calls Out Trump Over Planned Parenthood Defunding

jonathan van ness

The comments came as a part of a new sexual health campaign.

MikelleStreet

After revealing to the world that he is living with HIV, Jonathan Van Ness is already hard at work on his mission to help de-stigmatize the virus and topics surrounding it.

The member of Queer Eye's Fab Five uploaded a video from a sexual health campaign to Instagram on Monday. The spot was created in collaboration with Planned Parenthood.

"Hi everyone, I'm here today to talk to you about sexual health," he says in the clip. "Everyone deserves a sex life that is safe, fun, and empowering. Talking with your partners about STDS and safer sex is an important part of any healthy and sexy relationship."

In the campaign, Van Ness goes on to give a primer on sexually transmitted infections. In it, he explains that most STIs are common, and not worthy of shame, and that all can be either treated or completely cured with medicine. The hair stylist also noted that most infections do not show symptoms which is what makes regular testing important, which is available at places like Planned Parenthood -- the organization provided a reported 4.7 million tests for STIs in 2018. But that important work is in danger.

"What you should also know is that the Trump-Pence administration is making it even harder for people to access free or low-cost STD testing and treatment by forcing Planned Parenthood out of the Title X Program," Van Ness says, referencing a move by the administration in February that would redirect funds to anti-abortion and faith-based groups. "A 50-year-old federal program that 4 million people use for affordable sexual health care like low-cost STD testing, birth control, and cancer screenings."

Van Ness closed out the campaign with a call to action. "Join us to protect Title X and Planned Parenthood, to make sure everyone can get the sexual healthcare that they deserve," he said. "Text Title X to 22422 to take action and stand with Planned Parenthood!"

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Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.